What size paddleboard should a first-timer buy?

Across the reviewers and community threads we read, wider boards (32–35 inches) with a 10'6" to 12' length are repeatedly recommended for beginners because the extra width buys stability while you learn balance. Narrower, longer boards track straighter and cut chop better but feel tippier, so most first-time buyers are steered toward the wide all-around shape.