A longboard can suit both beginners and advanced surfers, but not necessarily the same model. For learning, choose a stable board with plenty of flotation, suited to catching your first waves. With experience, your choice depends more on the style you’re after: classic glide, walking the board, nose riding or more committed turns. Board length alone doesn’t determine how challenging a longboard is.
Why does a surfer’s skill level affect their choice of longboard?
Beginners should first learn to position themselves, paddle, catch a suitable wave and pop up consistently. Advanced surfers already know how to choose their line, shift their weight and handle a longboard in varied conditions. So their needs differ: stability and forgiveness for one, precision and feel for the other. To learn more about the appeal of this board style, check out why choose a longboard.
Which longboard should you choose as a beginner?
A stable board with suitable buoyancy
A fairly full outline, a comfortable width and generous volume distribution can help you find your balance and paddle. A soft-deck construction can also be a good choice while you’re learning, but it doesn’t replace safety rules or make the board harmless. A rigid nine-foot longboard isn’t automatically a good first board: its size, momentum and weight can make it harder to handle.
The difference between catching whitewater and catching waves on your own
If you’re still learning in the whitewater, a foam surfboard suited to your build and the conditions you’re learning in may be a better choice than a rigid longboard. If you can already catch mellow waves on your own and turn, an all-round longboard is a great option for working on wave reading and flow. Switching to a shorter board isn’t essential for progressing.
Which longboard should you choose as an intermediate or advanced surfer?
A self-sufficient surfer may prefer a versatile longboard that can link turns and deliver a smooth glide. For a more traditional approach, the shape, volume distribution, rocker and fin setup affect how the board holds on the wave and how easily you can move toward the nose. A performance-oriented longboard may favor a more responsive ride, but require more precise positioning and footwork.
The Torq range illustrates this variety: the manufacturer distinguishes between its versatile longboard, the performance-oriented Don HP and several shapes designed for classic surfing. These are the uses described by the brand, not an on-the-water assessment by HawaiiSurf.
Beginner or advanced: what should you compare?
| Criteria | Beginner / first waves on your own | Intermediate / advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Catch waves regularly and find your balance | Refine your lines, style and maneuvers |
| Shape | Fairly generous outline and forgiving feel | Versatile, classic or performance-oriented, depending on your goals |
| Volume | Enough buoyancy, with no universal rule for liters | Volume distribution suited to the style you’re after |
| Construction | A soft deck can be an option for learning | Choose a construction based on how it feels and your needs |
| Something to watch out for | Board size and handling | Shape too technical for the waves you usually surf |
HawaiiSurf’s advice
Before choosing a “beginner” or “advanced” longboard, ask yourself what you can already do without help. Can you pop up consistently? Can you ride along the face of the wave? Can you turn and avoid other surfers? If your takeoffs are still inconsistent, first look for a stable, forgiving board. If you’re self-sufficient, choose your shape based on the waves you surf and your style, rather than a simple skill-level label.
Are length and volume enough to judge how difficult a board is to ride?
No. Two longboards of the same length can differ in width, thickness, rocker, rails and volume distribution. For example, Torq lists 72 liters for its Longboard TET 9'0 and 79 liters for its Longboard Soft Deck 9'0: same length, different constructions and dimensions. These figures show why it’s important to compare the specific product details; they aren’t a guide for choosing a board.
For more information, check out our guide to choosing the right longboard size. A surfer’s weight matters, but so do how often they surf, their level of independence, and the shape of the waves.
Should you choose a longboard, a funboard, or another board?
If you’re mainly after the stability and glide of a long board, check out the surf longboard collection. If you’re looking for a balance between compactness and maneuverability, compare the funboards and midlengths, whose uses can overlap with some compact longboards. To see how this choice fits among the different board types, explore our surfboards.
Don’t choose a shorter board just because you’re progressing: sticking with your longboard can make sense if you love the glide and keep improving your positioning, turns, and wave reading.
How can you make sure you’ve chosen the right board before buying?
- Assess your takeoffs: catching whitewater, catching waves on your own, or already having your lines dialed in.
- Describe the conditions you usually surf in: mellow or hollow waves, crowds, and available space.
- Compare the exact specs: length, width, thickness, volume, rocker, construction, and fins.
- Check how easy it is to transport and handle on land, especially in larger sizes.
- Ask for advice about the model’s intended use, rather than relying solely on labels like “beginner” or “performance.”
For a bulky longboard, also make sure you have a surfboard bag that fits its dimensions, especially for transport and storage.
