For beginners, usually the first stop is the longboard (7 to 12 feet). One of the longboards commonly used by beginners is a soft-foam construction, as opposed to fiberglass or epoxy. This increases buoyancy and helps the surfer catch his or her first waves. Longboards are generally good for smaller waves and their volume allows surfers to ride these waves much longer.
The next style is a fun shape, or often called a fun board or a fun stick (7 to 9 feet). This board combines the stability of a larger long board with the maneuverability of a smaller shape, and is often used by beginner to intermediate surfers on all types of waves.
Short boards (5 to 7 feet) are the most maneuverable of all board types, but are also the hardest to ride and therefore are usually reserved for intermediate to expert surfers. They’re faster, less stable and offer surfers more control over how they want to move in the wave.
