Surfing Waves

Hello all,

I want to get a performance type longboard, about 9ft, but can't really decide which one.

I'm 6ft and my weight is 140 lbs / 63 Kg.
Want to ride waves from 2 to 8 ft. (Portugal, Canary Islands...)
I'm not interested in noseriding.
My board should be easy to paddle and be a good wavecatcher, enabling me to get many waves and to get into the waves early, having more time for getting on the board and reassembling me.
On the other hand it should also be responsive, allowing easy turns, cutbacks and such.
I have 2 different surfing skills:
1) with a shortboard on a river wave where I can turn quite good, but where I dont have to paddle and stand up. Just jump onto the board and off it goes!
2) On the sea, only up to 3 weeks per year in my holidays.
That is why I need a forgiving wavecatcher due to my low surfing-on-the-sea skills. But once I'm riding along the wave I would like the board to be responsive for turns and cutbacks (my riverwave experience comes into play).

I found the Johnny Rice 'Elite Performer' which is described as: "Flatter rocker for early speed...This board offers the stability for noseriding with a pin tail design for quick cutbacks and effortless maneuverability."Sounds quite good I think. It's also 3"think giving 66 liters volume which I think is good for paddling and wave catching.

Would appreciate hints - thanks

Have a look at a mctavish fireball

thanks, RJD. Yes, the fireball is also one of my may be choices. Only thing I dont like so much is that it is quite wide (22 7/8) and I would prefer 22 or 22 1/2. But the board is described as quite comfortable and forgiving and still liking to turn. What the hell is a 'Forward bevels for "No-Catch" re-entries' ?? What are bevels at all ? (I'm german)

A wider board can mean a curvier outline, which makes it easier to turn, so don't be scared of a wide board, although the whole package is what makes the board, not one specific design element.

I don't know if I'm too late to answer, but Mctavish Carvers and McCoy Nuggets are two boards to look at. They are both wave catching machines that can turn well.

Meanwhile in winter I bought a 9'2 Semente performance longboard (European manufacturer in Portugal). Maybe it is a little bit too performance for me it is quite thin and only has about 60 liters of volume but I am very light so it may be good for me. in 2 weeks I have my next surfing holidays (in Portugal), then I will see...
For a while I thought I would buy a Mc Tavish Fireball. They have a ling zibe in the middle of the board with not much rocker maybe that makes them extra easy to paddle and catch waves. But the Semente cost me a bit less than half, that's also an argument (if I dont like it, not a drama). I had a few rides in spring in the mediterranean sea under different conditions and it seems it's not bad. Currently I am at the mediterranean sea for a week, too, and for tomorrow and the following day waves are forecast

Wie gehts Dieter?
Is the Eisbach your Munich home break?
Nice! I think you will find what you've bought OK especially since you say you are light.
Try paddling at an angle for the initial takeoff because if you have been riding a river wave on a shorty then you will find a straight take off you will bury the nose to about the length of the nose on your short board.
Since you can turn in the short space of a standing wave the I don't think you will have too many problems. By the way if you can surf it in the Mediterranean then a little more power in Portugal will do the trick.
Lots of paddling to build up the arm strength. Nothing makes you as fit and co-ordinated for surfing as surfing, do it as much as you can in all conditions.

Dieter - I reckon you will have some disappointments before it clicks and becomes your 'endless summer' - go for it - it will come
(let us know how it all turned out for you !)

thanks for the encouragements
and yes jaffa1949 sometimes I surf the eisbach wave but more often another wave in munich (Flosslaende) because eisbach is dangerous (stones behind the wave)
Im 57 meanwhile and easy paddling and wave catching is a theme (want to get MANY waves before I'm too old

Dieter_ wrote:thanks for the encouragements
and yes jaffa1949 sometimes I surf the eisbach wave but more often another wave in munich (Flosslaende) because eisbach is dangerous (stones behind the wave)
Im 57 meanwhile and easy paddling and wave catching is a theme (want to get MANY waves before I'm too old

Grüß dich Dieter, 1949 ist mein Geburtsjahr, damit ich Sie immer schätzen in Surfen in einem höheren Alter.
Portugal ist auf meiner Liste der Reiseziele surfen, und mein Sohn genießt Surfen im Geheimen Fluss Flecken in Ihrer Nähe über die Grenze nach Österreich.

I will PM you when I go to Portugal as I have a plan for a surfing holiday with my son there
PS the McTavish Fireballs are good for what you require, I learnt to shape from the man himself