We often get first-time surfers coming to Costa Rica Surf Camp looking for surf lessons, and requesting a shortboard to start on. Here is the deal fellow surfers – taking the shortboard route from the start may be the long way to go! When first starting to surf, fast way to get up and riding is to start on a longboard. You’ll have plenty of time to hone your skills and move toward the shorter boards as you improve, but the longboard start can give you an edge in the beginning.
Longboards range in size from 8 -12 feet or more. The bigger the board, the more stability you have on the water. The additional length and volume allows faster paddling , making it easier to catch waves. The downside is longboards can be hard to turn and almost impossible to duck-dive, leaving you no other option than turtle-rolling your board to avoid the break.
Shortboarders may not paddle as fast or have to work a little harder to catch waves, but the reward is in the ride. Once on the wave face, the surfer can perform more radical maneuvers, take later drops and on the paddle back out, deep duck dive. Shortboards are just easier to carry around too!
In big waves, it can be harder for a longboarder to get to the outside where the waves starts to break. Having patience and good ocean knowledge to time the sets are critical skills to take into the water. The advantage of paddling faster does give longboarders a jump to getting up earlier on the wave face, giving them the priority to the wave.
If you’re a beginner looking to start your surfing career on a shortboard, Costa Rica Surf Camp’s best advice for getting the most out of your surfing experience is chill. Start on a longboard, practice your skills to build confidence and work your way down to a shortboard. Remember, it doesn’t matter if you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced surfer, shorterboarder or longboarder, we are all here to have fun!