The shape...

Which shape?...well it's easy...don't overdo it on the first board you'll make...keep it simple...check this:

(1)-The nose of your board is very important because that's the place where you put your "control foot"...all steering comes 70% from there...so make it wide!!!...don't make a flashy rocket board...you will need that base!!!

(2)-Take a simple stretched oval-like shape to begin with...easy to finish...nice shape...easy to cut out later in the procces...

(3)-Make your board not to long...but keep it about 1.25m (125cm)...what is to big can always be made smaller afterwards...

And how to draw it...

Take your piece of paper (that will become your template) and draw a straight line on one side (lengthwise),this is the centre line of the board...measure out the length of your board on that line...chose one or the other side of your measurement as starting point (being nose or tale).
The widest place of your board is somewhere about 1/3 from the nose...measure out and mark it on the template (remember:you are actually drawing half a board [lengthwise],so...wanted with, divided in half!).

Start drawing the nose curve...you can do it manually or use that flexible wood that was in the "need"-list...this is how I do it...use some weights to hold the wood in place and shape to your needs....very simple isn't it...draw along it to get that funky curve...(these plastic curly drawing-aids are also handy)....

Be precise...1000%....any mistake or error will show up in the end result...so take care of that...and that counts for everything you do in life!!!

The end of that curve is somewhere about that widest point on your board...1/3 the total length...
Step backwards and have a look from a distance...like these artists do...really useful!
You are actually making a piece of art!!! (that's what my friends tell me...)