Many times I have seen first time surfers purchase surfboards with very little concern for the basic principles of the art of surfing. I am pretty sure I was one of those new surfers that wouldn’t listen to other peoples advice about surfing. Even if they had been surfing for a while. Fortunately the choices I made on my first purchase of a surfboard suited my style. I bought a 6′6 Clyde Betty junior. it was a twin fin with a swallow tail.
It shape reminds me of a blown up modern day fish surfboard. It had great float for my weight even taking into consideration my wet suit. I was told to buy a larger surfboard but I felt more comfortable with a surfboard I could control. I actually learned to duck dive with that surfboard. At the time duck diving seemed harder than standing up and surfing the wave. I took the surfboard to Hawaii and surfed a full winter with it before I had out grown it.
What I learned is you have to buy a surfboard that floats you and one that you can control. Sure I see 200 pound guys on small surfboards that barely float them. They are usually experienced surfers, that are accustomed to surfing on smaller surfboards. If you buy a surfboard that floats your weight you will be able to catch more waves plain and simple. You will not have to paddle as hard to catch the wave. I like fish surfboards they are usually 7 ft or under and the have a fish sort of shape. They are sort of short, wide and flat.