What kind of surfboard should I start on?

Question: What kind of surfboard should I start on?

Answer: What Kind of Surfboard? A long one. Beginners need a long board or at a minimum a fun board. A longboard is between 8 to 10 feet long and a fun board or fun shape is 7 to 8 feet long. Of course, you're tempted by those pointed, streamline arrow-shaped boards that all the other great surfers are slicing and carving up the ocean with and you can learn to surf on one, but they do make it much harder. All 6 to 7 foot, three-finned shortboards, called thrusters. Because you're a beginner. Those short little boards are shaped for maneuverability, which fits into the highly technical nomenclature of being "squirrely." That mean's it's tippy, turns fast, accelerates, and requires great skill to control. Does that sound like your kind of board? (Before you answer that, remember, you're a beginner. You're what all those champion surfers will be laughing at if you chose a shortboard.) A longboard is easy to paddle, catches waves easier, catches waves earlier giving you more time to stand up, is a long smooth-riding wing that gives you a stable platform to stand on, rides well on small or big waves, turns slow, is forgiving of a moderate mis-step, and you'll be getting up and surfing it within an hour. With a shortboard, you'll be getting up and surfing it within a year.