How to Choose the Right Surfboard for Your Level and Your Surf Trip

Choosing the right surfboard can completely change your experience in the water.

A board that is too small can make learning frustrating. A board with too much volume can become difficult to control when the waves get powerful. And sometimes, the best board is simply the one that allows you to catch more waves and enjoy your session.

Your ideal surfboard depends on several things, including your surfing level, your weight, the type of waves you usually surf and the destination you are travelling to.

If you are planning a surf holiday in Portugal or Morocco, understanding the differences between surfboards can help you choose the right equipment for your stay at a surf camp in Peniche or Imsouane.

What surfboard should you choose?

There is no single surfboard that works perfectly for everyone.

A beginner needs a very different board from an experienced surfer. Someone surfing small, slow waves will also need different equipment from someone riding powerful winter swells.

Before choosing a board, think about three things:

Your current surfing ability

The waves you are going to surf

What you want to improve

A good surfboard should make it easier for you to catch waves and develop your technique. It should not make every wave harder simply because it looks more advanced.

Understanding surfboard volume

Volume is one of the most important characteristics of a surfboard.

It is measured in litres and determines how much flotation the board provides. Generally, a higher-volume board is easier to paddle and more stable under your feet.

This is particularly important for beginners.

More flotation means that you can catch smaller waves more easily and spend less energy paddling. It also gives you more stability when standing up.

As your surfing improves, you can gradually move towards a lower-volume board if you need more responsiveness and manoeuvrability.

However, there is no magic volume formula that works for every surfer. Your weight matters, but so do your technique, fitness, age, surfing frequency and the waves you normally ride.

Does surfboard length matter?

Yes.

Longer boards generally provide more stability and glide. They are particularly useful for beginners and for surfers who enjoy small, slow waves.

Shorter boards are more responsive and easier to move around on the wave, but they require better positioning and technique.

This is why jumping directly from a large beginner board to a small shortboard is often frustrating.

The board may be technically more advanced, but that does not mean it is better for your surfing.

What is surfboard rocker?

Rocker is the curve running along the length of a surfboard, from nose to tail.

A flatter board generally creates speed more easily and works particularly well in smaller, weaker waves.

A board with more rocker is designed to handle steeper and more powerful waves. It can be more manoeuvrable, but usually requires more effort when paddling and catching weaker waves.

This is one of the reasons surfers often use different boards depending on the conditions.

The Best Surfboard for Beginners

For someone learning to surf, stability should come before performance.

That is where the softboard comes in.

Softboards

Softboards are widely used by surf schools because they offer plenty of flotation and stability while being more forgiving for beginners.

The wide shape gives new surfers a stable platform for learning the fundamentals, while the soft construction makes falls less intimidating.

Most importantly, a softboard helps you catch more waves.

And catching waves is what learning to surf is really about.

You need repetition to improve your paddling, take-off, balance, positioning and wave reading. Spending an entire session trying to catch one wave on a board that is too small is not an efficient way to learn.

This is also why softboards are not only for complete beginners.

An intermediate surfer can still have a great session on a foam board when the waves are small. More volume can mean more waves, more practice and more fun.

When Should You Move to a Funboard?

Once you are comfortable catching waves and standing consistently, you may want something that responds more directly to your movements.

A funboard is often a natural next step.

Funboards usually combine a reasonable amount of volume with a more refined shape than a traditional beginner board.

They offer more manoeuvrability while remaining relatively stable.

This makes them particularly useful for surfers who are developing their first turns and want to improve without making surfing unnecessarily difficult.

A mini-malibu offers a similar balance, with enough volume to catch waves easily while providing a more traditional surfing feel.

These boards can be particularly useful on a surf trip because they can handle a wide variety of conditions.

Longboards, A Different Way of Surfing

Longboarding is not simply another step towards riding a shortboard.

It is a style of surfing in its own right.

Longboards are generally much longer than standard performance boards and have plenty of volume. Their rounded nose and smooth outline allow them to glide over smaller waves and maintain speed through slower sections.

Longboarding is about flow, positioning and making the most of the wave.

Instead of constantly looking for powerful sections, you can work with the energy of the wave and use the entire length of the board.

For surfers who enjoy small, clean waves and a more relaxed approach, a longboard can be an excellent choice.

Why Imsouane is interesting for longboarders

Imsouane is particularly well known for its long right-hand waves in Magic Bay.

SandyCamps describes Magic Bay as one of the defining surf spots of Imsouane, with the wave potentially running for hundreds of metres on good days. The area also has other breaks offering different types of waves and conditions.

That type of wave can be particularly enjoyable on a board that generates plenty of glide.

Fish Surfboards, Speed in Small Waves

The fish is a very different shape from a traditional longboard.

It is generally short and wide, often with a swallow tail, and is designed to generate speed easily.

Fish surfboards can be particularly fun when the waves are small and lack power.

Instead of struggling to make a low-volume shortboard move, the wider shape and additional flotation help the board maintain momentum.

For an intermediate surfer, a fish can be a great option for smaller summer waves or weaker conditions.

The trade-off is that it does not necessarily offer the same precision as a performance shortboard when surfing steep sections or working on highly vertical manoeuvres.

For pure fun in small surf, however, a fish can be difficult to beat.

Shortboards, When Performance Becomes the Priority

The shortboard is designed for a completely different type of surfing.

It is shorter, usually has less volume and tends to have more rocker. The shape allows experienced surfers to turn quickly, generate speed and attack steeper sections of the wave.

But there is one important point to understand.

A shortboard is not automatically the next step simply because you have been surfing for a certain amount of time.

Your ability to catch waves is a much better indicator.

If you are still struggling to paddle into waves, regularly missing take-offs or losing speed on small waves, moving to a smaller board is unlikely to solve the problem.

You may actually catch fewer waves.

When is a shortboard the right choice?

A shortboard becomes much more useful when you can already:

Catch waves consistently

Position yourself correctly

Generate speed on the wave

Perform controlled turns

Read the wave before taking off

Maintain control when the wave becomes faster

At this stage, reducing volume can give you more responsiveness and allow you to work on more advanced manoeuvres.

Choosing a Surfboard for Peniche

Peniche is one of the most versatile surf destinations in Portugal.

The peninsula has numerous surf spots with different orientations and characteristics, which means that conditions can vary considerably depending on the swell, wind and tide.

According to SandyCamps, the area has spots suitable for different surfing levels, from beginners to experienced surfers. Baleal and surrounding beaches offer a variety of conditions, while more powerful waves such as Supertubos are aimed at experienced surfers.

For beginners staying at a surf camp in Peniche, a high-volume softboard or beginner-friendly funboard can be ideal.

As your surfing improves, you can move towards a more responsive board.

For advanced surfers visiting Peniche during larger swells, a performance shortboard may be much more appropriate for the more powerful waves.

This variety is one of the major advantages of a Peniche surf holiday.

You are not limited to one type of wave.

Surfing in Baleal

Baleal is particularly convenient for a surf holiday because of the concentration of beaches and surf spots around the area.

SandyCamps Peniche is located in the Baleal area, close to the beaches and local surf spots. The surf house also provides surf lessons and equipment for guests.

For someone travelling without a surfboard, this can make things much easier.

You can choose equipment according to the conditions rather than travelling with a complete quiver.

Choosing a Surfboard for Imsouane

Imsouane offers a very different atmosphere from Peniche.

The Moroccan fishing village is famous for its long waves, particularly around Magic Bay, and is well suited to surfers who enjoy spending a long time in the water.

For beginners, a large softboard provides the stability and flotation needed to learn.

For intermediate surfers, a funboard, mini-malibu or mid-length can offer a good balance between stability and manoeuvrability.

For more experienced surfers, the choice will depend on the particular spot and swell.

SandyCamps' surf instructors select the surf spot according to the conditions and the level of the participants, and surfboards and wetsuits are included during surf lessons.

This is particularly useful in Imsouane because the area has several different surf spots, including Magic Bay, Cathedral, the Oued and the reef.

Peniche or Imsouane, Which Surf Destination Should You Choose?

The two destinations offer different types of surf experiences.

Peniche is particularly attractive if you want variety. There are numerous spots in the surrounding area and conditions can range from beginner-friendly waves to powerful surf.

Imsouane is particularly appealing if you enjoy long rides, smaller village life and a slower-paced surf holiday.

SandyCamps operates surf camps in both destinations, offering surf and yoga packages as well as accommodation options.

Do You Need to Bring Your Own Surfboard?

Not necessarily.

If you are travelling to a surf camp, renting or using the equipment provided can be much easier than flying with a board.

At SandyCamps, surf equipment is included during surf lessons, with boards and wetsuits adapted to the participant's level.

This also means you can focus on surfing rather than trying to predict exactly which board you will need before seeing the conditions.

For experienced surfers with a specific board they know well, bringing your own equipment can still make sense.

But for beginners and intermediate surfers, having access to different boards can actually be an advantage.

How Do You Know When It Is Time to Change Boards?

Do not change boards simply because another surfer is riding a smaller one.

Look at what is happening during your sessions.

Are you catching waves consistently?

Can you generate speed?

Are you comfortable turning?

Do you feel that your current board is genuinely limiting what you can do?

If the answer is yes, experimenting with a different shape may make sense.

If you are still struggling to catch enough waves, the solution is often more time in the water rather than a smaller board.

The best equipment is the equipment that allows you to surf more.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a surfboard does not need to be complicated.

Start with your level.

Then look at the waves.

Then consider what you want to improve.

Beginners will usually benefit from stability and volume. Intermediate surfers have more options, including funboards, mini-malibus, mid-lengths and fish. Experienced surfers can choose more specialised equipment according to the conditions and their surfing style.

And if you are planning a surf trip, the destination should influence your choice as much as your ability.

Peniche offers variety, different beaches and waves for a broad range of levels. Imsouane offers a more relaxed Moroccan surf experience and its famous long waves.

Whether you are taking your first surf lesson or looking to improve your surfing, choosing the right board can make your time in the water much more enjoyable.