Most surf lessons use soft-top boards: long, wide boards with a foam deck. They are chosen for good reasons.
- Stability: more length, width and volume make the board easier to lie on, paddle and stand up on.
- Safety: a soft deck and flexible fins hurt less when you and the board meet in the white water.
- Catching waves: a bigger board floats higher and picks up small, broken waves more easily.
When to move on
Stay on a big board while you are still learning to catch waves on your own and stand up reliably. When you can ride along the face of unbroken waves, a slightly shorter board, or a longer hard board such as a mini-mal, can be the next step. Change one thing at a time: a board that is much smaller can mean fewer waves and less fun.
If you are not sure, hire before you buy and ask your instructor which board suits your weight, fitness and the waves where you surf.