Wooden skimboards are great for beginners because they're cheap and easy to find so it's ok it you're rough with the board. As you become better and more experienced skimboarder I recommend switching to a fiberglass skimboard. Fiberglass skimboards are great because they're light and fast across the sand and water which you need if you plan on doing a lot of tricks and moves with your skimboard when you hit the wave. There are many different sizes to skimboards depending on your skill level, height and weight.