buying a board
You've been to a surf school, cruised around on a big learner's board, bought loads of surf mags, and watched your one and only surf video a hundred times. You're so amped to get out there and go surfing you can hardly concentrate on anything. The only problem is you haven't got a board.

Yes, it's time to head off to your local surf shop to purchase a worthy chariot to ride along the enlightened path of wavedom into tubular utopia! So what are the options? Well, a new mini-mal will cost you upwards of £275, and you'll probably bash it to bits in your first year anyway. So the best bet is to buy secondhand. Unfortunately, secondhand boards are a bit like secondhand cars there are some well dodgy clapped-out models on offer, and lots of potential faults to watch out for.

So here are a few tips:

Look for a board that's the right size. Consider your size and weight, and most importantly your ability. A board for a beginner or intermediate should be at least a foot longer than you are tall. Go for a board with plenty of volume. Don't be lured into buying a skinny 'Pro model' - it may look good in the rack but it won't help you improve. If you've just come off a big foam board, the next logical progression is a mini-mal or funboard...in due course you can then move onto a long thruster. Getting started on a nice chunky stable board will help you develop your technique and style.

If you go too short too soon, you'll find that you hardly catch any waves and you'll struggle to control the board.

Avoid extreme design features. A board with a simple clean shape will work in a greater range of conditions than a board with extreme 'flavour of the month' design features. So avoid boards with channels, big kick-tails and so on.

Talk to the salesman (or shaper) about your needs. Their job is to help you choose a board that suits your ability, not just get the sale. Tell them honestly how well you surf, and where you normally go. Always go to an reputable shop, and only consider boards of an established make.
Shop around. Once you've found a board you like, go and check out some other shops to see what they've got. If you know someone who surfs, bring them along for a second opinion.

Haggle. Shops don't make much money out of secondhand boards, so you certainly won't get a massive discount. But you can sometimes get a chunk of deck grip, a leash, or a cheap board bag thrown in. If the board doesn't have a Nose Guard, you should definitely ask the salesman to fit one as part of the deal.

Make any necessary modifications. Check the trailing edges of the fins - if they're sharp enough to cut you, blunt them down with sandpaper. Does the leash have a rail-saver (a strip of nylon webbing) where it attaches onto the board? If not, get one. Check the leash string is securely knotted to the leash plug. Clean off any grubby old wax, and rub some new wax on.

Go surf! Remember, you're on a new board so it'll feel a lot different. Chances are it'll be faster and more manoeuvrable, but it'll probably take you some time to find the 'sweet spot' (the best place to stand). Work at it, concentrating on the benefits of your new board rather than the negative aspects. For example, you may find that your new board doesn't plane (glide along the wave) as well as the board you learnt on, but it turns a lot better. So start slashing!