Hi I am just starting out at surfing, actually I have never been but I have been boogyboarding a number of times. I was wondering what is a decent not to expensive board that is great for beginning on.
Thanks for your time,
-Joe
funboard . . .
hit up craigslist (craigslist.org ) . . . get something 20+ inches wide, a funboard . . . generally a foot longer that your outstreched arms above your head . . .
used boards are the way to go.
just a note, surfings hard, especially shortboarding . . . practice standing in the whitewash . . .
I agree for the most part with Hiro. I would go with something even bigger though, more of a longboard and wider. The reason is easier to paddle and catch waves. It sucks enough just starting out, why make harder. As for where to get the board, well just buy one from me. Check pawn shops, newspapers, surf forums. Good Luck.
I want to echo the previous guys thoughts go bigger wider and a little thicker. It will give you the opportunity to learn the more important foundation skills quicker so you can make smarter decisions on where you go from there.
A couple of other thoughts. Learn the rules of the road first. Start off away from the main break in your area, it’s safer for you and others and will probably save you from a confrontation that could ruin surfing for you entirely. As was mentioned before, ride the whitewater for a few days just to get you familiar with paddling and catching waves. When you do go where others are in the water with you, if your going right look back to your left if anyone else is catching the wave it’s time to pull back for you. If your going left look over your right shoulder and check the same way, if someone is deeper than you its their wave.
When your paddling out do your best to avoid being in the path of the surfer up on the wave (easier said than done) but sometimes that means instead of barely making it around the shoulder of the wave for you and probably ruining the wave for the guy riding you need to head for the already broken part of the wave probably means a little beat down in the white water but it will also save you trouble and earn you a little respect.
On a longboard learn to turn turtle as you approach the breaking wave just as it’s about to hit you roll upside down on the board, keep hanging on to the board somewhere on the top third and let the wave pass over you. When it passes over you quickly roll and push yourself back upright and start paddling again. You will get quicker as time goes on.
So what are you waiting for go get wet!
Industry Talk?
Hi Joe,
I started surfing 14 years ago and must tell you to start learning your balance with a skateboard, once you have your balance go ahead and get in the water with a thick and wide funboard or small longboard… be prepared to fall a lot but be persistent, once you catch and ride your first wave you will become addicted to it!
I reccomend you to read this book, it will help you improve your surfing skills 
http://tracker.1bestweb.com/p.php?surf
Happy surfing!