If you want to buy a surfboard, you need to find one that is for sale, that is appropriate for you and that you like. You can take different approaches to this, here are your options:
1. Go Cheap – Find a Second Hand Board
Pros – The pros of this one are that you will save your pennies. Getting a second hand surfboard for sale will always be cheaper than buying a new one. Some good options for finding such a surfboard on the Gold Coast are surf shops, Cash Converters, garage sales and online, at websites like eBay.
Cons – The cons of this method are that the chances of getting an appropriate surfboard are slim, particularly if you are new to the sport. Further, even though you may save some coin, the chances of getting what you paid for are also slim. If you buy a second hand board from a shop, you will be paying a mark-up. This is the shop’s commission which they add to the price. This commission is not there because they have added any value to the surfboard, making it a better board. It is there for no reason other than they are the middle man, meaning you pay more for a lessor value board.
If you go direct, online or to a cash converters shop, you are dealing with people who just want to get rid of a surfboard. They may not even know anything about surfing and they will say almost anything to get a buyer. This means you may be sold a surfboard which is completely inappropriate for your abilities. So caveat emptor – buyer beware.
2. Go To A Surf Shop For A New Surf Board
Pros – Firstly, the shop assistant will know something about surfing, if only at a high level. This means you can at least be guaranteed the right category of surfboard. The prices of surf shop surfboards range during the different seasons and depending on what is going on in the surf industry. Sometimes you can pick up really good bargains, so keep your eyes peeled for these “special” times.
Cons – Surf shops work on turn-over. The more they sell, the better they go. This unfortunately, will occasionally give them a short term perspective, meaning they will 100% try and sell you now, before you leave the shop. They know once you leave their shop, they potentially have lost you business. So, you may get the big sales pitch/pressure, trying to get you to buy near enough, even if it is not good enough. Naturally, this varies from outlet to outlet.
Every surf shop will have many surfboards for sale though, so they should stock something you can ride, no matter what level surfer you are. Keep in mind though that these surfboards are mass produced. As such, they will be short on performance features, long on forgiving elements. They are mass produced for the masses.
3. Get A Custom Made Surfboard From A Shaper
Pros – You will get a surfboard made exactly for you. It will complement your abilities and assist you to develop into a better surfer. You will build a relationship with an artisan, who will track your progress and improvements and ensure your next board, then complements the next phase of your surfing life. Shapers do not so much have surfboards for sale, rather they make them to order. This way you can be confident in the knowledge that the surfboard you buy will be tailor made for you.
Cons – For getting exactly what is good for you and your surfing, you may have to pay a premium. This is not really a con though, it is the cost of the value add, of having a surfboard constructed specifically for you.
