Help with size of new board for my son-Please!

[surfers1mom]

I am not sure if someone can give me a little bit of a professional opinion. I am looking to purchase a new surfboard for my son. We have a few boards but he really wants one that is special ordered for him. Its his birthday- 15 years old. We live on the east coast and he has been surfing about 4 years, Ever since he got a surfboard in his hand- it is literally die hard surfer. We in LBI NJ, cold winters and hot summers. They say we live in one of the harder places to learn to surf, but my son was determined and he is actually pretty good. He is on the high school surf team. He is out there in the water, sitting on that board everyday, Big waves, small waves, big swells, no swell, he does not care. He just wants to be in that water surfing. In the summer I have to drag him out of the water. So, I do not mind getting him a board that is fit for him. I just want something he can use at least most of the time. A board that he will be able to get even better on. We have a longboard- so he does not need one of those. I know he is looking for that go too board. He is 5'11. 120 pounds- a rail. He wants a board about 5'8-5'9. This is where I get confused. The width- All his other boards are 25 width, is 18 or 19 to slim. I also know the bounce is important. or thickness. Then the volume, What? don't really get why that is important, but I do know my older son tried one of the boards and he was sinking, lol. So I guess its important. I just don't want to spend a lot and he cant use it because its impossible to ride. Or he grows out of it in a year or two. Surfing has helped my son in so many ways. I just want this board to be what he needs and I want him to love it. I am looking at Pyzel- Wildcat, or Phantom. Or a Lost, Opinions -Please ? Oh also Epoxy or PU, does that matter? Any advice before I make a purchase I cant return !!! Thank you!!!!

[waikikikichan]

The width- All his other boards are 25 width, is 18 or 19 to slim.

Are you sure the width is 25 inches ? That would be very hard to get your legs around to sit on and very difficult for your arms to paddle. For reference, my longboards max are 22 inches wide.

[Geezer]

I bet he has a pretty good idea what he might want in a board, probably has a list of boards he drools over and a good idea of what fits. Any reason for not including him in the process? Some well meant surprises are better shared in advance.

[jaffa1949]

Agree with the idea of him knowing what he needs. Go round the surf shops and shapers with him, they will have a better appraisal of what will work for him!
Many well intentioned purchases of boards for surfer by a non surfer are often sadly a mistake.

If you are upfront it cash wise his first custom board is special event, the names you are looking at are good board shapes
A good epoxy is more durable the PU but the float and flexes are different.
Some shops also have try before buy options……. sharing the experience of buying is a good involvement the next if he is doing well is Mum‘s taxi to surf events

[surfers1mom]

Thank you, Probably a good idea to include him it i guess. The reason I said 25 inches , going down the center of a channel island board, it says 25- down the line. I was assuming it was thickness. I checked again, my bad , wiped some wax away it was 18.3 x 2.3 . That is more like it I think. Sorry about that. I really wanted to surprise him. Plus being so young I think he will ride anything that is why I wanted to be sure on the size.Thank you for replies

[jaffa1949]

It is a very good idea, non surfers, don‘t necessarily get the subtleties of board design, a big plus in going together is how much interest you are showing in his surfing ( and that really matters)
What I would do is ring a shop talk to a mature member of staff, tell them your idea and then make a date to go together and talk boards you and your son will learn a lot. The shop will also become an advice point into the future!