I’ve been borrowing a friend’s board and now need my own. As a beginner, I’m looking for an easy-to-handle board to build my skills.

For beginners we recommend looking for a board that will offset 90 – 100% of your body weight. So if you are 60kg look for something with 55 – 60 litres of volume. Probably one of our Soft or Epoxy Softboards would be best suited to this point in your surfing journey.

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Best Beginner Surfboards: The Right Boards to Start Your Surf Journey

If you’re just starting out in the world of surfing, you’re not alone and you’re in exactly the right place. As a beginner surfer, choosing the right surfboard can make all the difference between frustration and fast progress. The good news? You don’t have to figure it out alone. At Global Surf Industries, we specialise in helping new surfers find the best beginner surfboards - boards designed to give you the stability, control and paddle power you need to build confidence from your very first session.

Why Board Choice Matters for Beginner Surfers

One of the most common mistakes beginner surfers make is learning on the wrong board - often something too small, too narrow, or too advanced. This leads to missed waves, shaky pop-ups and a slow (or discouraging) learning curve. That’s why we’ve curated a dedicated collection of boards for beginner surfers, specifically designed to make learning easier, safer and a whole lot more fun.

What to Look for in a Beginner Surfboard

The best beginner surfboards have a few things in common:

  • High volume: This helps with floatation and paddling, making it easier to catch waves and get to your feet.
  • Stability: A wider board offers more balance - especially when you’re learning how to pop up and turn.
  • Forgiveness: Soft tops or epoxy softboards are more gentle on the body (and others) during wipeouts.
  • Durability: Beginner boards are built tough, so they can handle learning curves, beach knocks, and plenty of practice sessions.

In general, we recommend that beginner surfers choose a board with volume equal to 90–100% of their body weight in litres. So if you weigh 70kg, look for a board in the 63–70 litre range.

Our Top Picks for Beginner Surfers

We’ve taken the guesswork out of it with our Soft Surfboard Collection — featuring top models for beginner surfers:

These boards have been selected not just for their specs - but for their proven ability to help beginner surfers catch more waves, learn faster and stay stoked along the way.

Your Surf Journey Starts Here

You don’t need to be in perfect shape, or have years of experience to love surfing. You just need the right beginner surfboard that supports your learning and gets you in the water with confidence.

Start with the right surfboard and everything changes - from your first pop-up to your first green wave. Browse our full collection of boards for beginner surfers and take the guesswork out of getting started.