How long is too long for a surfboard?
Emily Ross
Published Jan 24, 2026
Anything surfboard that is 9 feet in length or more is probably too long for most beginners. This is because these boards, usually called 'longboards', can be harder to control and weight a lot, making them one for an intermediate surfer or above.
Can a surfboard be too long?
In short, there is no "too large" a surfboard once your out in the water as long as you can physically paddle it.
Does length of surfboard matter?
Length helps you paddle faster and catch more waves. Your surfboard will hold a longer waterline, which helps with stability. Longer boards are great for when the waves are bigger, as the extra surface area will help the board feel less shaky at high speed.
Is a longer surfboard better for beginners?
The Best Beginner Surfboards:
Are longer surfboards with plenty of stability. Have a fuller shape (which will provide more stability) Have lots of volume that will float you well (the board is on the thicker side) Are easy to paddle and catch waves.
How long should a beginner surfboard be?
If someone in a shop describes a board as 7'0" (sounds like "seven oh"), they simply mean the board is seven feet long. A good rule of thumb is to opt for a 7'0" beginner's board if you weigh under 70 kilograms, a 7'6" if you weigh 70-90kg, and an 8'0" if you weigh over 90kg, says Harry Mann.
16 related questions foundIs a 7ft surfboard good for beginners?
For kids under 12, something around the 7ft mark is ideal. If they're on the taller side, something around 6'6” or 6'2” in a fish surfboard. These are perfect for aiding progression in the early stages of learning. Choosing the right surfboard that has enough buoyancy or “float” helps in aiding paddling.
What does a longer surfboard do?
Long Surfboards
Length helps you paddle faster and catch more waves. Your surfboard will hold a longer water line, which helps with stability. Longer boards are great for when the waves are bigger, as the extra surface area will help the board feel less shaky at high speed.
Is a shorter surfboard faster?
Shortboards offer more responsiveness, maneuverability, which allows skilled and professional surfers to do amazing maneuvers and tricks. Surfboards with less length are better for making sharp cuts in the waves, as well as picking up more speed, because there is less surface area.
Are Wider surfboards slower?
The widest point of the surfboard is measured from rail to rail. Generally the wider the surfboard the more stable the board, while a board with smaller width maintains better speed and performance. Wider surfboards float better, are more stable and ideal for beginners and for surfing junk waves.
Can you duck dive a 7ft board?
Can you duck dive a 7′ board? It's possible to duck dive a board between 7 feet and 7 feet 6 inches, however, it will require strength and technique to do so.
What size surfboard does a 6 foot man need?
A lean, 6 foot advanced surfer should feel at home on a 5'4-5'6 Cloud.
Can you ride a surfboard shorter than you?
Is there a limit to how short you can go? Not really, as long as you can harness the surface area and volume you need, the only real thing holding a surfer back from going as short as possible are the waves they intend to ride and their own ability to paddle them.
Is a 10 longboard too long?
A good length to start out with is 9'6”, but I would recommend going even longer like 9'8” or 9 '10”. A bigger longboard will give you that glide you need to cover a lot of water easily.
How do you know if your surfboard is too big?
Here are some ways to tell if your surfboard is the right size for you. The waves frequently roll under you and your surfboard. Bigger surfboards tend to be more buoyant in the water and chances are your surfboard is too small for you. To get moving down the surface of the waves, you need to catch some speed.
How fast do surfers go?
The waves at your average beachbreak move in at about 7-10MPH on the average. On a really fast and steep wave a surfer might get up to 20MPH but usually averages 10-15MPH. So you could say the surfers are going at least three times as fast at JAWS.
Is longboard easier than surfing?
Overall, surfing a longboard can be much easier than surfing a shortboard since the board is bigger and will provide you with a much more stable platform to balance yourself on and carry you on the wave.
What size surfboard should I get for my height?
Rule of thumb is to get a longboard 3ft longer than your height. So for me, I'm 6' 180lbs and I ride a 9'0".
Is an 8ft surfboard good for beginners?
In order to paddle with any sort of vigor and mobility, you will need a long, wide board. A surfboard in the 8-to-9-foot range is typically 22-24 inches in width, which is the perfect general size for beginners, and the kind of board you'll find on this list (for the most part).
Can you learn to surf on a hardboard?
This makes their outer surface extremely hard, making them unfit for beginner surfers. As these boards are quite easy to get a dent or even break, it's not ideal for beginner surfers to make use of these boards as they'll most likely be falling off the board 99% of the time.
Can you learn to surf on a 6 foot board?
Conclusion. To recap, yes you can learn to surf on a shortboard, but doing so will typically cost you a lot of extra time and effort vs getting started on a longer surfboard with more volume.
What type of surfboard is best for small waves?
Longboard Surfboards– The longboard is probably one of the easiest surfboards to ride. Its extra length and width give it tons of stability and paddling power. When the surf is really small, you should always grab a longboard. They allow you to surf small waves and ride them for a long time.