The board you ride matters more than almost anything else in surfing. The wrong board will make you struggle; the right one will have you catching waves in minutes. Here's how to choose — whether you're booking with us or renting anywhere else.
The golden rule
More volume = more forgiveness. Volume (measured in litres) determines how much the board floats. More float means easier paddling, easier wave catching, and more stability. Beginners need much more volume than they think.
The single most common mistake we see is intermediate surfers renting boards that are too small. If in doubt, go bigger.
Board types
8'6 Longboard (soft top)
Best for: Complete beginners and anyone surfing for the first time. Also great for experienced longboarders who want to cruise.
Our biggest board and the one we recommend most for first-timers. At 8'6, it has massive volume — it paddles easily, catches waves early, and gives you the best possible chance of standing up on your first session. The soft foam deck won't hurt you when you fall on it (and you will fall).
There's no shame in riding a foamie. Plenty of experienced surfers ride them for fun. They're not "training wheels" — they're the right tool for the conditions.
When to ride one: Your first time surfing. Small, mellow waves. Family sessions where fun matters more than performance. Any time you want maximum wave count with minimum effort. Also excellent at Monte Clérigo on small days.
7'8 and 7'0 Funboards (soft top)
Best for: Intermediate surfers who can catch green waves consistently, and experienced surfers who want something forgiving.
Our funboards are soft-top foam boards with enough shape and volume to bridge the gap between beginner and performance surfing. The 7'8 is more forgiving and paddles easier — good for surfers with a few sessions under their belt. The 7'0 is a step down in volume, more responsive, and rewards cleaner technique.
Both handle the Costa Vicentina beach break conditions well. The soft-top construction means they're safe, durable, and more forgiving on wipeouts than fibreglass boards — which matters when you're pushing your comfort zone.
When to ride one: You've surfed 10+ times, you can pop up reliably, and you want to start progressing. The 7'8 if you're still building confidence; the 7'0 if you're catching green waves consistently. Also excellent for experienced surfers who haven't surfed in a while and want something forgiving for the first few sessions.
6'6 Shortboard (soft top)
Best for: Advanced surfers who surf regularly and have strong paddle fitness.
Our shortest board — a soft-top shortboard with less volume, designed for speed and sharper turns. It requires strong paddling, precise timing, and good wave selection. Being a soft top, it's more forgiving than a fibreglass shortboard but still demands proper technique.
If there's any doubt about your level, go with the 7'0 funboard — you'll catch more waves and have more fun. The 6'6 is there for surfers who know they want a performance-oriented board.
When to ride one: You surf regularly (weekly+), you can consistently bottom turn and generate speed, and you're comfortable in overhead waves.
How we match boards to surfers
When you book with us, we ask about your experience level and the kind of surfing you want to do. Here's roughly how we think about it:
| Your level | Typical board | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Never surfed | 8'6 longboard | Maximum stability and wave count |
| Surfed 1-5 times | 7'8 funboard | Still forgiving, more response than the longboard |
| Catch green waves | 7'0 funboard | Time to progress technique with less volume |
| Regular surfer | 7'0 funboard or 6'6 shortboard | Depends on conditions and preference |
| Advanced | 6'6 shortboard | You know what you want |
We also factor in the conditions. A 4ft swell at Arrifana in autumn calls for a different board than 2ft summer waves at Monte Clérigo — even for the same surfer.
Can I swap boards mid-stay?
Yes, and it's free on any booking — that's our level-match guarantee. If the board doesn't fit you after day one we swap it, no questions. Later in your stay, just ask — if we have the board available, we're happy to swap it out.
This happens more often than you'd think. Someone arrives thinking they want a shortboard, realises the conditions (or their fitness after months off) call for more volume, and we drop by with a funboard. No drama, no charge.
Our quiver
All our boards are soft tops — safe, durable, and suited to the Costa Vicentina conditions:
- 8'6 Longboard — the go-to beginner board, also great for small-wave cruising
- 7'8 Funboard — the versatile all-rounder for progressing beginners and intermediates
- 7'0 Funboard — more responsive, for intermediates ready to push their technique
- 6'6 Shortboard — for experienced surfers wanting a performance-oriented ride
Why all soft tops? The Costa Vicentina has sandy beach breaks. Soft-top boards are safer in wipeouts, more forgiving on paddling, and handle the conditions just as well as fibreglass for the vast majority of surfers. You lose very little performance and gain a lot of safety and durability.
Every board comes with a leash and wax. See our full gear list and pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What size surfboard should I rent as a beginner?
An 8'6 longboard if you've never surfed, or have only stood up in whitewater. Volume is what gets you into waves, and beginners consistently underestimate how much of it they need. Going one size down to look less like a learner costs you waves, not the other way round.
Are soft-top boards worse than fibreglass?
They're more forgiving and slightly slower on a steep face — that's the honest trade-off. On the sandy beach breaks around Aljezur, most visitors never reach the point in a week where the deck material is what's limiting them. If you surf every week at home on a hard board, you will feel the difference in a tight bottom turn.
Which board should I rent if I've surfed ten or twenty times?
The 7'8 funboard. It still paddles and catches waves easily, but it turns enough to let you work on riding the face rather than the foam. Move to the 7'0 once you're catching green waves consistently.
Should I rent a 6'6 shortboard for a holiday?
Only if you surf regularly at home and have the paddle fitness to back it. For most holiday surfers it's the wrong call — a shortboard on a soft summer day at Amado turns a good session into a swim. If there's any doubt, take the 7'0 and enjoy your week.
What if I pick the wrong board?
Tell us after your first session and we swap it free — a different shape or size goes out on the next delivery run. It's a level-match guarantee, not a favour, and it's why we ask for your height, weight and experience before we load the van.
What does a board rental cost and what comes with it?
€18 a day or €100 for 7 days for a board, leash and wax. Add a season-matched wetsuit and it's €28 a day or €150 for 7 days. Three-day minimum, delivered and collected free around Aljezur, and nothing to pay until we've confirmed your gear.
Not sure which board? Tell us your level and we'll recommend the right one. It's what we do.