How to Pick A Surfboard

Hitting the waves with the right surfboard can make all the difference and transform your experience from frustrating to exhilarating. Knowing how to pick a surfboard is crucial no matter how experienced you are but it’s even more important when you’re just starting out. With this guide, we aim to walk you through the most important factors you should keep in mind when choosing your surfboard, with insider tips particularly tailored to the waves of Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

Understanding Surfboard Types

Naturally, if you want to know how to pick a surfboard, you must first be familiar with the different kinds available. 

Here’s a quick rundown of surfboards and what they are best for:

Soft Tops – for Absolute Beginners

Beginners often use soft tops because of their thankfully forgiving nature. Covered with a soft material that lessens abrasion, soft tops are safer for complete novices still working on their balance and control. If you’re unsure about how to pick a surfboard, it probably means you are a beginner, so the best course of action is to start with a soft top and upgrade from there.

Longboards – for Beginners

As the name suggests, longboards are “long” boards that offer greater stability and ease of paddling, making them perfect for beginners who already have a decent handle on balance. Longboards typically range between 8 and 12 feet and are ideal for catching small to medium waves. If you want to dive into the Guanacaste Costa Rica surf in Tamarindo, where waves are often gentle and rolling, a longboard will be your best friend.

OK, a longboard isn’t a 100% guarantee that you’ll stay on top, but it sure does help!

Funboards – for Advanced Beginners & Intermediates

The ideal middle ground between longboards and shortboards, funboards range from 6’6″ to 8 feet. See them as the perfect compromise: more stability than shortboards yet more agile than longboards. A funboard is an excellent choice if you’re a (somewhat) beginner surfer who feels confident enough for an upgrade or an intermediate aiming to refine their skills.

Fish boards – for Intermediates

Fish boards are shorter and broader, with a swallowtail design that provides speed and flotation in smaller waves. These are great for intermediate surfers looking to maximize fun on smaller and flatter waves, which are pretty common all along the Guanacaste Costa Rica surf. Fish boards are known to be quite speedy and are super great fun to practice moves on.

Shortboards – for Advanced Surfers

Even an absolute beginner surfer will understand that shorter boards – aka shortboards – offer greater speed and easier maneuvering in the water. These boards are typically between 5’6″ and 7 feet long and are favored by advanced surfers. If you have experience and are ready to tackle Playa Tamarindo’s more powerful waves, a shortboard might be the right choice.

Learn about Guanacaste surf breaks in 2024 – for beginner, intermediate, and advanced surfers.

What to Consider When Picking Your Surfboard

Many newbie surfers think the only factor that determines one’s pick of the surfboard is skill. In reality, several factors are just as important to consider. Some, like your weight and height, might not seem obvious, but they are equally significant.

Here are the four major determining factors you ought to keep in mind:

Skill Level

There’s no denying that your experience level is the most important factor when choosing a surfboard. Looking solely at the skill level, beginners should opt for longboards or soft tops, while intermediate surfers can experiment with funboards or fish. Advanced surfers often prefer shortboards for their agility and performance. Once you are experienced, however, it’ll also come down to the kind of waves you intend to ride. Which brings us to the next point!

Wave Conditions

Understanding local wave conditions is also extremely important. Every surf spot boasts unique quirks that determine board choice and the Guanacaste, Costa Rica surf is no exception. From gentle rollers, perfect for longboards, to powerful breaks that demand the agility of a shortboard. Tamarindo and its surrounding beaches offer a bevy of different surf breaks, each one requiring a different board. By learning more about how wave conditions dictate board choice, you’ll not only surf safely but will also maximize your enjoyment. 

Discover the best Surfing Road Trips from Tamarindo.

Your Physical Attributes

As mentioned, your height and weight also play a crucial role in picking the right surfboard. A heavier or taller surfer may need a longer and thicker board while a lighter and shorter surfer might find a smaller board much easier to maneuver. And it makes sense, right? A short board to some might be equivalent to a longboard for others. 

Surfing Goals

The last factor determining your board choice is your surfing goal, which usually only comes into play once you’re past the beginner stage. What are you trying to achieve when you hit the waves? Are you looking to enjoy mellow rides, or are you aiming to perform tricks and tackle more challenging waves? Your goals will dictate whether you need a steady longboard or a more nimble shortboard.

How to Pick Your Surfboard – The General Takeaway

In essence, knowing how to pick a surfboard means finding the type that ticks all the boxes (weight, height, skill level, environment, and goal), not just one. It’s also important to note that skill improvement can come faster or slower, depending on how much one practices. 

At Iguana Surf Camp, keen surfers progress pretty quickly simply because they are out there and practicing daily. Occasional surfers, on the other hand, might take months to progress. So, in the end, time and dedication can also determine which surfboard will suit you today and in the coming months. Perhaps more importantly, you might not want to splurge on the latest high-tech board (of whatever type) if you are still progressing on your surfing journey. Renting boards is the most popular option for all but exceptionally advanced surfers. This is especially true in Tamarindo, where breaks are abundant and varied, so you’d need a different board for every day of the week.

Surfboard Rental Options at Iguana Surf

At Iguana Surf, we pride ourselves on our comprehensive surfboard rental service. Not only do we offer a wide range of surfboards, but we also have in-depth knowledge of both boards and the unique Tamarindo breaks. Feel free to ask for our advice and we endeavor to point you in the right direction. 

Our Tamarindo Surfboard Rental options abound, the most popular being:

• Longboards: Ideal for beginners and those who enjoy a relaxing ride. Choose from Walden, Surfer Factory, Channing or Hobie – they differ slightly and we can help you hone in on the right one for you. With these tired-and-tested longboards, you’ll find mastering those basics much easier.
• Fish & Fun Boards: Our range of fun boards includes models like the Surftech Xanadu Fish, Soul Fish, and Pug Performer, which are ideal for different wave conditions and skill levels. These boards offer excellent buoyancy, maneuverability, and speed, making them great for beginners and advanced surfers. 
• Shortboards: Perfect for experienced surfers looking for thrills. Our shortboard lineup includes top models like the Channel Islands Flyer, Surftech Stretch Fletcher, Eric Arakawa GX, and Rusty Piranha Quad. 

Are you still unsure how to pick a surfboard? Write to us or come see us on Tamarindo Beach, and we’ll help you choose the right board. We also offer group, private, and semi-private surf lessons so you can get the right board and learn how to use it.

NEWSFLASH! Introducing Iguana’s new Surfboard Rental Subscription

This month, we are excited to introduce our latest offer: a monthly surfboard rental subscription. This service, the first of its kind in Tamarindo, offers two options: rent a board and pay for everyday use or spend less to use it just 12 times per month. Once you’ve decided which board you’d like for the month, leave it with us for safekeeping when you’re not out at sea – it’ll be ready when you return. And FYI: you’ll also have access to Iguana Surf Camp’s lockers, showers, and changing rooms.

Not only is our Surfboard Rental Subscription an economical way to rent a surfboard, but it’s also an awesome way to try out different boards in different months (there are over 120 from which to choose) without having to buy them all. This deal is tailor-made for locals, expats, and digital nomads who plan on staying around Tamarindo for a while. Enjoy half-price rental and hassle-free surfing!

If your goal this year is to surf as much as you can – we couldn’t make it any easier 😊 

Inquire directly at the shop or hit us up if you have any questions. 

Happy surfing!