Choosing the right board includes a few factors, including your skill level, your size or height, and what type of surfing you want to do. Do you live in California and want to surf?
If you want to learn to surf, skip the trial and error and get a good instructor. Even experienced surfers will sometimes be caught off guard when the sets pop up a little early then expected. Another photographer and surfer named Doc Ball published California Surfriders 1946, which depicts the pristine coastal beaches and good time, relaxed atmosphere of surf living.
Ask people who have had lessons with the school. Shortboards come in a variety of styles, but they are usually the thinnest kind of board with the least buoyancy. Your instructor will be able to give you basic lessons on how to surf, and they will be watching you during your learning process and giving you pointers on what is keeping you from catching those waves or any other problems you may have with getting the hang of it.
You'll need to do a lot of this later on, and it also improves your balance. Check out the surf spot while warming up.