Hi there, my two daughters aged 12 and 10 dont want to play netball this year and want to surf instead . We live in Perth.

They are both very proficient surf life saving nippers and have one medals at state championships in board paddling events.

They paddle well and read the water reasonably well and have done some lessons at secret harbour

Not sure whether to get them foamies or go straight to glass boards and what sizes to get.

Your help is greatly appreciated

Id go the soft board option to start with. Get a seven foot board or so and thick. Try to get one without flex. Go grommets

I'd suggest that they are probably going to pick it up pretty quickly, so I would be more inclined to go with a cheap fibreglass board like Jacks from City Beach. Something around 6' I would suggest.

For what it's worth - I started at 14yo with no beach experience. Started on an old 7'2" and within 6 months I was on a 5'10"... kids don't take too long to get the hang of things.

Long wide and thick. Do not compromise on that, untill they start to trim.

They are are going to more than likely pick it up quickly and already will have a good understanding of wave selection etc. don't restrict yourself to getting something that covers all bases, because quite simply you won't. if you want to give them the best opportunity to be good at it and develop correct technique , the right boards at the right time are essential. Doing this may see you moving from a soft learners board to and upgrade of slightly more refined fibreglass board in only a couple of months, and then another upgrade in less than a year if they are little ocean frothers.

heaps of parents will buy kids shoes a little big to grow into, worst thing you can do for a kids feet. Best thing you can do for your pocket but worst fot their feet. Same thing with surfboards, right board at the right time is critical to effective and efficient skill and technique.

There be heaps of opinions on this for sure but the above is sport science 101.

Kids will still learn on anything you give them, there's no doubt, but you can get them there quicker and with better technique and bigger smiles with the right gear at the right time, unfortunately that can be budget and time consuming.

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GPA said..
I'd suggest that they are probably going to pick it up pretty quickly, so I would be more inclined to go with a cheap fibreglass board like Jacks from City Beach. Something around 6' I would suggest.

For what it's worth - I started at 14yo with no beach experience. Started on an old 7'2" and within 6 months I was on a 5'10"... kids don't take too long to get the hang of things.

For a kid learning i would actually be against starting out with a fibreglass board. Yes it may be cheaper in the long run, BUT kids drop them, run over their friends, fall on there fins, bang into everything and somehow whinge about the weight on their leg

My son very quickly did move from his soft board to a hard board when as Surf69 mentioned he was trimming up and down the wave and found the transition a little slow and would often ride of the wave. But he still will take out his soft board, especially when he is going out with friends.

Thats just my opinion, but id say what ever you do, take them to suitable places, don't scare them in big waves or even busy line ups.