N
Glam Monitor

Can a beginner use a shortboard?

Author

Isabella Ramos

Updated on July 15, 2026

This means that a shortboard requires very powerful waves and excellent technique to even catch a wave in the first place. As a beginner, you will not be able to surf powerful waves, and you will not (yet) have the technique to use a shortboard. Learning to pop-up on a shortboard is very difficult.

Is it hard to learn to surf on a shortboard?

One of the most challenging aspects of learning to surf on a shortboard is definitely the pop up. As much as may seem cliche to practice popping up on the beach or elsewhere, it really helps. Popping up in one fluid motion requires practice and repetition of that move, in and out of the water.

What is a good first shortboard?

A few great beginner shortboard surfboards are:

The All Terrain Vehicle (shortboard) – available 5'10” to 6'2” The Bullet (performance groveler) – available 5'8 to 6'2” The Cloud (performance groveler) – available 5'5” to 5'9” The Codfather (performance fish) – available 5'4” to 6'2”

When should you move to a shortboard?

Size down, ride the surfboard for a few sessions until it starts feeling somewhat normal, and then size down again. You'll most likely need to go through this process at least 5-10 times to transition comfortably from riding a 9' longboard to a 6' thruster or alternative shape shortboard.

What kind of surfboard should I get beginner?

A minimal surfboard is what we recommend for most beginner surfers. It is the mid-range of surfboards lengthwise varying from about 7-8ft and about 2 5/8″ – 3” thick. The width of a minimal can vary to cater for the rider but typically they are about 20 1/2″-22 1/2” wide.

31 related questions found

Is a 6 foot surfboard good for beginners?

What size is a beginner surfboard? A good rule of thumb for beginner surfboards is to start with a longboard that is about 3 feet longer than your height. So if you're 5'6” to 6'0” tall, an 8'6” to 9'0” longboard would be pretty ideal.

How do you surf a shortboard?

If you want to learn to surf on a short board, you should paddle, catch and ride waves in the prone position often. The prone position is lying on your board like body boarding. This might seem like a funny suggestion because it makes sense that beginner surfers should be trying to stand up not practicing lying down.

Is a longboard easier than a shortboard?

Longer boards are better for beginners or for surfers who prefer the style and grace of surfing a longboard, Longboards are more forgiving and stable allowing beginners the stability needed to learn how to balance on a surfbaord.

How long does it take to shortboard?

6'5 Shortboard - 3 months. 6'1 Shortboard - 3 months.

Can you ride a shortboard in small waves?

Can you still ride a shortboard on small waves? Yes, you can definitely take on small surf with the right shortboard. Typically, a longboard is suggested when surfing small waves. But that doesn't mean you can't do it with a shortboard.

How tall should your shortboard be?

A good place to start is going to be 12"-24" taller than yourself but will vary by the shape and style of surfboard. Fish- Proper fish size is typically 2-4" shorter than your shortboard. Shortboard- I usually recommend going 2-6" taller than yourself.

Is a 7 6 surfboard good for beginners?

Despite being bigger and heavier than traditional shortboards, surfing beginners will paddle faster and rapidly pop up on these stable boards. Quality foam surfboards can last forever. They range from 6' to 9' sizes. An average adult should get into surfing with an 8' or 9', while a child can learn with a 6'.

How big should my first shortboard be?

A shortboard for a surfer between beginner and intermediate levels should be 6” to 12” longer than they are tall. It should also have plenty of volume. Board Choice Hack: If you're 5'6” and weigh 130lbs and have a 6'2” 220lbs friend who is an advanced surfer, their standard shortboard will work for you.

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 Funboard?

Longboards and funboards are both excellent options for beginner surfboards. Depending on your objective with surfing, one of these surfboards will be right for you. A longboard is for the surfer who wants an easy, stable ride that can be enjoyed all the time, even when the conditions in the water are small.

Can you learn to surf at 60?

If learning to surf at 30, 40, 50, 60, or well into the age of retirement is your goal, you've come to the right place. Just like there is no age limit for surfing, there is no age limit for learning how to surf. It's never too late to start!

Are shortboards faster?

A longer, heavier, surfboard turns more slowly than a short, light one. Physicists call the resistance of the board to rotation its moment of inertia. A longboard might be slower to turn than a shortboard, but it goes faster when you are paddling it.

What are shortboards good for?

Shortboards are ideal for advanced maneuvers like airs, snaps, cutbacks, etc. Their strong rocker (the curve, or “banana” shape of the surfboard from nose to tail), makes it much easier to “hit” critical parts of the wave, as the surfboard's shape “fits” the shape of a breaking wave.

Do longer surfboards paddle faster?

Long Surfboards

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.

How do you longboard shortboard progress?

Making the Leap: The Top Tips for Transitioning from Longboard to Shortboard

  1. PRACTICE GOOD STYLE. ...
  2. GAIN WAVE CONFIDENCE AND KNOWLEDGE. ...
  3. DON'T DOWNSIZE TOO QUICKLY. ...
  4. PRACTICE ON CRITICAL WAVES. ...
  5. PRACTICE YOUR DUCK DIVES. ...
  6. GO BACK TO YOUR OLD LONGBOARD. ...
  7. GO CATCH THOSE WAVES LIKE A PRO WITH YOUR SHORTBOARD.

Is a 6 foot surfboard good?

6ft is a great size to feel maneuverable on the wave face and sit in the pocket of the wave but still feel the stability of a longer board. A 6ft surfboard is also a great option for the smaller surfer. These boards typically offer flotation for surfers from around 50lbs to 180 lbs.

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.