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Are Fish Surfboards Suitable for Beginner Surfers?

October 1st, 2009 by Luc Stokes

Can beginner surfers start on a fish surfboard? This is a very common question. For those of you out there contemplating the purchase of a fish surfboard either for yourself, or possibly an offspring, who is still new to the sport, the answer is a resounding… “it depends”. Let me explain…

You will see that there are many reasons why a fish surfboard makes a great starting point for a novice surfer, no matter what your age, but you will also see that for almost all surfers getting started, we recommend starting on a longboard.

1. Street Cred. There is nothing worse than being labeled as a beginner before you even get in the water. A lot of beginners start with foamies as they are more forgiving and have better flotation. Unless you are in a surf school environment though, it is a bit like having training wheels on your bike when you are out in the surf.

The fish surfboard has all the great flotation of a foamie to help the beginner along, but doesn’t scream beginner, because surfers of all standards surf with them. Let’s face it, no one wants to look more hopeless than they have to.

2. Easy to Use. Due to the thickness of the fish surfboard, paddling through the water is easier. The all important concept of getting on a wave is made much easier by this design.

The other great thing about a fish surfboard is that they perform really well in smaller waves. This is pretty important when you are just starting out. You don’t want a board that will only work in 6 foot plus waves! You need a surfboard that will allow you to practice on waves that are a size you will feel comfortable with. The fish surfboard is great for picking up waves when the conditions are smaller.

3. Suited for all Ages. No matter whether the fish surfboard is for a kid or an adult it is equally suited. The fish surfboard is nice and light for the kids so they can carry it themselves. For adults just getting started the fish surfboard is wide and floats extremely well.

Retro Fish Surfboard. This design of fish surfboard has the name retro because it is based on the early boards of the 1970’s. The retro fish surfboard is very wide, making it very stable. This style of fish surfboard floats very well and is easy to paddle. The retro fish surfboard is great for beginners.

Hybrid Fish Surfboard. The hybrid fish surfboard is a mix, giving the look of a long board but the maneuverability of a short board. The hybrid fish surfboard is also great for beginners because of its thickness. Stable, easy to paddle, and buoyant, the hybrid fish surfboard is a great purchase for a beginner who wants a board they can learn on, and then still use it for more complicated techniques later on.

Whatever your age, the fish surfboard is a great choice for the newer surfer but not a brand new surfer. If you have been surfing for a few months and have the hang of it on a longboard or foamie this easy to use surfboard will have you catching waves in no time! BUT, if you are getting your very first surfboard and are still learning to catch waves you will have A LOT for fun on a longboard.

Posted at 10:27 pm: 1 comment

One response to “Are Fish Surfboards Suitable for Beginner Surfers?”

  1. Bill writes:

    thanks! very helpful post!! like the template btw ;)

    @ February 16th, 2010 at 15:33

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