There is quite a bit of debate in regards to what a beginners surfboard should be. Should it be a costly, premium quality surf board which is able to withstand the serious wear & tear of a newbie surfer OR should it be an economical foamboard that's going to get torn up and thrown away extremely quick?

Aside from the many opinions and mumbo-jumbo that can cloud the issue, it really just comes down to two factors: personal preference and spending budget. If youve got the money, then go on and fork out the extra cash for a more dependable, stronger surfboard one which probably won't break and become dinged-up on your first wipe out. Needless to say, not everybody has unlimited sums of cash which can be spent on top-of-the-line "ding resistant" surfboards. And if that's the situation for you, well, there's no shame in tossing down less for your board, especially if you feel you're just going to bash it up like there's no tomorrow -- which isn't unheard of for a new surfer. Having said that, simply go to a local surf shop -- or better yet, an online surfboard dealership, since they often have much more options, not to mention way better prices -- and throw down two hundred or so dollars on a simple surfboard for beginners. Will this cheaper kind of surfboard have to be replaced later on? Well, yeah. But bear in mind, this approach is CERTAINLY better than trying to purchase some ULTRA board with money you don't likely have access to, wouldn't you agree?

Essential Tips When Choosing Beginner Surfboards

Go Thick, Go Big.

I know, I know -- all those awesome surfer dudes & dudets are shredding it up on super sleek, ultra smooth boards and you wish to be like them. It might be frustrating for you to read, but you have still got to read it: you are NOT an ultra cool surfer and you can NOT handle a small, narrow board, period. To be frank, you need to be working with BIG, THICK boards for your wave riding needs. Without this type of board, buoyancy and paddling start to become much more challenging than they need to be. And at this phasein your surfing career, making things uncomplicated is a MUST.

Take a second and think about it; would you rather have an enormous, thick surf board which would make surfing safer and easier (not to mention enhances your technique) OR a narrow, extra sleek board (the type all the "cool kids" use) which solely helps you to wipeout more?

Make A Friend Out Of Softboards.

As far as beginner surfboards go, this is the absolute best option for an aspiring young surfer. You wish to know why? Because they're soft of course! Softboards can be purchased in local surf shops as well as on online surfboard websites. With the increasing number of online surfboard shops sprouting up -- and their continued pricing wars -- it's usually better to buy surfboards online instead of locally. Surfing with MINIMIZED chance of injuries and trips to the emergency room -- what more could a guy ask for?

Your Boards Shape, It Doesn't Actually Matter.

At this early stage of learning how to surf, the shape and fins of the board should not be your primary concern. In fact, they shouldn't even be in your thoughts. You're not competing with champion surfers, youre trying to learn how to surf as easily and safely as you can -- that's all. You don't need to know anything else about surfboards but this: they have terrific buoyancy (the decent ones anyway), which when combined with your surfing talents will make it possible for you to ride waves.