Equipment

Advice for the Beginner

The best thing to do if you are an absolute beginner to surfing is borrow your gear if you have surfing mates or hire some gear. If you are a newcomer to surfing, you want to forget about getting a nice little smart-looking surfboard, an expensive wetsuit, and all the accessories. There are two good reasons why. The first reason is that you might not like surfing, and a new board and wetsuit are not cheap. The second reason is that the best board for a beginner is not small and sleek.

When it comes to beginner surfboards, bigger is better—as big as you can carry! You should be aiming for at least an 8' surfboard but preferably longer for the absolute beginner.
If you can get a foamy surfboard, then that's even better. A big foam surfboard will ensure that you catch the waves easily and that you don't get hurt as you spend your days falling off and onto your board.

Soft Surfboards are ideal surfboards to learn to surf on - all of the surf schools use them as their boards.
Soft surfboards are great to catch waves on, really buoyant and very stable - your surfing should come on in leaps and bounds.
Be aware that sometimes soft boards are only soft on the top, not all the way through like a foamy. Check you are looking for the board you actually want.
An ideal soft surfboard length for an adult is around 8 feet in length. A softboard around the 6 feet is best suited for a child.
However, while ideal for a single surfing lesson, softboards aren't perhaps the best surfboard to buy for an adult who will be surfing regularly.
Most people quickly outgrow these boards, not making them the best buy. For small children who won't progress in surfing so quickly, or for adults who only go surfing on vacation once a year, they are a great buy.

A pop-out is a surfboard that is made on a production line and is a cheap alternative to a custom-made fibreglass surfboard.
The pop-out is made of foam covered with thick fibreglass and is practically indestructible.
The pop-out is much heavier than a softboard or a custom. The weight reduces the performance of the surfboard, which is good from a learner's point of view; the board is much steadier in the water.
The downside of these surfboards is their weight, meaning that they can pack a hefty wallop. When using these boards you need to pay attention to where the board is going if you come off it, and be aware of other people in the water.
The pop-out is a popular choice as a beginner surfboard, and they offer more to the average surfer than softboards because they have a longer time span (they can take a surfer from complete novice to intermediate surfer without the need for a new board).
Another great thing about the pop-out is that they are in demand and always have a good resale value after you've learned to surf on them, as others commonly try to find a second-hand board.

Custom surfboards are boards that have been handcrafted as opposed to factory-produced pop-outs or soft boards. These have not necessarily been produced to an individual's specifications. They are in general more expensive than the pop-outs/ softboards.

Also known as the funboard, offers everything that a beginner should be looking for — it is wide, long and it has excellent buoyancy.
The design of the mini-mal is such that it paddles well, making it ideal for catching waves. Its width helps with stability, giving a little extra help to the novice surfer.
As a beginner, using the right board will likely see you progress quickly from novice to advanced surfer.
This type of surfboard has great mileage, giving it an edge over the soft board and the pop-out surfboard.
Mini-mals however can be quite expensive

The longboard, or malibu, is another good beginner surfboard for the same reasons as the mini-mal.
They make it easy to catch the waves and are buoyant and stable.
They lose out slightly because of their length and their weight. Additionally, the longboard is the hardest board to get out to the lineup; on a messy surf day it can seem almost impossible!
These boards are also harder to turn than a mini-mal, making the step down to a shortboard less of a natural transition.

Here are some of the main things to bear in mind when considering which surfboard to buy as a beginner.

No matter what type of board you buy, it should be at least 6 inches longer than your own height.
Remember that the wider the board is, the more stable it will be on the waves.
The thicker the board is, the more buoyant it will be, making it easier to paddle and catch waves.
An ultra-thin, light shortboard will only make learning to surf more difficult. Why do you think that performance boards are not used by surf schools?

The best type of beginner surfboard depends on different factors. You should consider how often you'll be surfing, your fitness levels, and whether you need to look cool.
Soft boards, longboards, mini-mals and pop-outs are all great beginner boards.
Shortboards are not such a great beginner board for the average surfer.

Whether to go with a new or used board depends on a number of factors including budget and availability of boards.
Buying a new soft surfboard is a good idea if you have children or you do not intend to go surfing regularly.
If you progress quickly in your surfing, you'll soon need another board more suited to your ability. These boards are for the novice only. A cheap, second-hand board might be the best bet.
Good second-hand surfboards can be hard to find. It is best to purchase from a reputable Surf Shop where you can fully inspect the surfboard.
With a beginner board, you're going to have to replace it soon. You need a board that you can resell.

If you only surf once a year, go for a softboard.
If you surf intermittently, go for a pop-out, mini-mal or Malibu.
If you surf three to four times a week, you can pretty much start on any board you like. Surfing this regularly should see you quickly move beyond the "novice surfer" stage.

You can purchase Surfing equipment both online and at locations throughout Ireland. Check these locations out and shop around to get the best value: