Bought a new board, now comes the newbie questions!

[Copple]

Just picked up my new/used board this past weekend and have a newbie question. The board is a Ricky Carroll Performance Longboard 8'10" (17.5x22x13.75). Both my wife and I went out to surf afterwards, which mostly consisted of us making a spectacular demonstration of 'How to Wipeout 101'. But we had a lot of fun doing it and definitely got our exercise. While we took some lessons that previous weekend I definitely need to re-visit the basics and practice some things before our next outing. Also, I'm almost 6'2" and 170lbs so I believe this board would be considered more of a mini-mal for me? I wanted something that I could have fun with the more I progressed with my surfing abilities, although it may be harder for me to learn on with smaller waves. Thoughts?

So now for the newbie questions! The board came with four sidebites and a central 7" fin (Wingnut Cutaway). I removed 2 of the sidebites and kept the single longer fin per recomendations of the surf shop. Is a 7" fin long enough? I'm not sure if I would be able to tell the difference anyways, but I've read that a good general rule is one inch of fin per one foot of board. Just want to start off on the correct path if I need to change something up now. Plus, as my wife would point out it would give me one less thing to blame (it was the fin's fault!!).

Thanks so much for any input. Great site too, have been reading everything I can since I was struck down with this surfing affliction. Wish I had started this journey earlier in life (32 now).

[drowningbitbybit]

Hey, Im no good to you whatsoever - I don't understand longboards!!! - but whatever you're doing...

'How to Wipeout 101'. But we had a lot of fun doing it

...you're doing it right

You're right though - 8'10 is borderline big mini-mal/short longboard territory, but will be fine for you to learn on

[jaffa1949]

As a couple Copple, you and your wife are doing well, if the fun factor is up then all is good. Now about the board, that too is good and a good size for you both but not at the same time, it's good you took the extra side bites out, it would require a different approach to standard learning.
You can try without the side bites and depending on if the middle fin is in a box try forward or backward placement in the box. forward makes the board looser and towards the back tighter in the turn.
At this stage you need to be surfing over and over on the basics until they become automatic, and then more get added to you skills as you enlarge on the basics, ie a wiggle on the face becomes enlarged to a top to bottom carve.

As a learner it's you that is less than the board can do, you will have to move up the food chain substantially before the boards reach their limits for you.
Bloody 'ell forget the talking just go surfing as often as possible

[Copple]

Thanks for the input. We've always said that if we ever find a sport or activity that we both fall in love with then we're screwed as there's no one to talk us down from the ledge on purchases, trips, etc.. She ended up getting a new board this past weekend as well. Hey, it was for our birthdays!

Looks like a nice weekend coming up for waves so we'll be headed back out to try this thing called surfing.

[SavSurfer]

Hey Copple,

First off welcome to the board.. I'm new to this board and relatively new to surfing as well.. About a year now, so I can't comment too much on the fin selections and options... Seems like Jaffa helped you out.. I'm currently waiting for my first Ricky Carroll board, so excited.... You have any comments on yours... ?? Or Pictures..?? Only another week or two and than I'll be posting comments and pictures about mine..

[Copple]

SavSurfer - The Ricky Carroll board I bought was used, although still in really good condition. I showed it to some instructors and they all thought it was a very nice board. Everything I've read online about his boards is positive as well. I'll see if my wife can help me post some picks tonight.

[jaffa1949]

The Copple Couple and Sav, I hate to say it but, you bought the boards too early, if you had got them in Decembetr they could have been Christmas Carrols. Hope you enjoy them a great road to a great thing to do for the rest of your life

[Katsura]

Arr the husband/wife stoke! Glad you both liked it.

I only wish my other half is as open to surfing, then on days off we'd BOTH be doing something fun TOGETHER instead of one stay on the beach one in the water...

[jaffa1949]

Arr the husband/wife stoke! Glad you both liked it.

I only wish my other half is as open to surfing, then on days off we'd BOTH be doing something fun TOGETHER instead of one stay on the beach one in the water...

And they have their own boards, no fight over the board and both in the water at the same time WOW