First board: Longboard or Funboard

[Majikow]

So I just moved to San Diego and will be living a few blocks from the beach and traveling up and down the SoCal coast for work with an opportunity to take a surfboard. I've taken 3 lessons now (2 in Costa Rica, one in San Diego) and tried surfing a few other times. I've rode a 9.5 ft longboard, a 9 ft longboard, and 8.5 ft softtop and what I believe was roughly 8 ft funboard. The 9 ft longboard felt pretty good but I was riding pretty consistent white waves in Costa Rica. The softtop was in SD and again pretty easy to get up on consistenly. The funboard was my friends and although it felt great to paddle it was a pretty frustrating experience because I was in New Jersey and the waves were pretty big, gnarly and close to shore (storm coming in). It was a bit of a struggle but I don't know how much of that was the board vs. the waves being beyond what I'd tried to surf before.

I've had people I know that surf tell me to get a funboard because it's easier to handle and transport and progress on, and then I've had others tell me to get a longboard because it's just easier to learn on. I was hoping to get some other opinions since I'm getting a bit of decision paralysis. I know I want to buy something used locally at either a shop or on craigslist (and if anyone has any shop recommendations in SD that'd be great also). I have a roof rack on my car (Ford Fusion) and will be transporting it on there.

I'm almost 6'2" and roughly 200 lbs. Trying to drop a little weight so hoping to get down to 190ish. Probably in the 12-15% body fat range.

Any guidance on a first board to buy would be greatly appreciated. Would prefer to spend less knowing that I'll probably ding it up, but don't have a hard budget. Thanks!

[drowningbitbybit]

I'm almost 6'2" and roughly 200 lbs.

Longboard.

The more board you've got, the more fun you'll have and the quicker you'll progress.

[Surf Hound]

Longboard. Spend a year on a longboard and then decide what way you want to go. My work provides me with a Ford Fusion as a company car and the seats fold down so I can transport my 9-2" longboard, a 7-0" mid length and a 6-4 short with room for a front seat passenger. You have plenty of room for a long board especially if you use a roof rack. Unless you are a 8-12 year old kid, everyone should learn on a longboard until they are fluent in the water. Meaning they need to learn the rules of the line up, handle their board in different conditions, able to surf front and backside and generally not be liability in the line up. Get a longboard and enjoy the ride. If you are one of the guys who say there athletic, skateboarder, snowboarder, etc. etc. get something shorter and enjoy the really long ride to becoming a surfer. Expect many days of frustration, many days of no rides, many poundings, many cursings, many "stink eyes" and many wasted hours. Get a longboard and enjoy the ride.....

[oldmansurfer]

I am about your size and while I learned to surf long ago, I relearned after quitting for a few years on a 9'6" longboard. I also used a 9'6" big wave gun which was almost just as good. Longboard is easier to learn on and progress for a while. After that then go to a funboard.

[Majikow]

Thanks guys. Sounds like I should stick with the 9' longboard then. Kinda what I was leaning towards anyway so that settles it. I have no delusions of grandeur, just really enjoy it and want to be out in the water enjoying myself.

Any recommendations on what kind of longboard to try and buy? Don't see a whole lot on Craigslist in that arena so I was considering going into a shop.

I also have the Ford Fusion as a company car but I didn't think there was anyway I was fitting a longboard in there. How do you put it in? Does it need to reach between the front seats or no?

[waikikikichan]

Since you're in Cali. , keep an eye out for a Hobie Peter Pan Slug. Surftech made a 8'6" version a while back. It was overly wide and overly thick ( 3" + from what i can remember ). But even though it was shorter than 9'0" it made up for it with width and thickness. So don't shy away from 8'10"s and such if they are closer to 23" wide and 3"+ thick. Just make sure to post your findings on the forum before you buy.

[Majikow]

So these guys are local (no pun intended) and seem to have a lot of used longboards:
http://www.lokalsurfboards.com/#!used/c1dt8

Do those seem like reasonable prices?

Also found a few on craigslist:
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/sgd/5283008338.html
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/sgd/5317443088.html
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/sgd/5317434989.html
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/spo/5290820330.html ($200)

[Majikow]

Also saw these:
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/spo/5307591178.html (not sure he understands what "brand new" means, but...)
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/spo/5282338748.html (looks like a fixer-upper maybe)
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/ssd/spo/5285253266.html (new, $450)
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/spo/5306447848.html
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/spo/5306217824.html ($285)

[jaffa1949]

At your weight there are two boards I would consider in the loKal list a lot are already sold.
The Stewart 9'6" and the Rusty 9'6" they given you a little more flotation and length to play with. In the craigs list look for a similar size. If you are OK with fix its then you can look at boards that are a little damaged. Most you can repair with solar resin kits but know the make up of the board before you start ( there are some things you need to know there) .
A few repairs and a basic board will stand you in good stead for those first learning years . Don't buy any that the foam is yellowed or the whole board has a paint job look for board wide repairs and stuff like that. keep posting what you are looking at and we will continue to help

[Big H]

Board wide repairs being repairs that stretch the width of the board....band paint on boards is usually a dead giveaway for a snap or crease cover up, neither is something that you want to give money for....also be wary of buying a board advertised with 5 years of dirty wax build up....good chance the wax was purposely left on to hide repairs or lack of repair (wax built up over cracks and dings)....


There is a new water-colour kind of cover up paint job that is picking up popularity with the resellers in Poppies for those who are coming to Bali and want to pick up a used board....watch out for painted boards period!

Here's some shame shots from todays local buy and sell online list of used boards......BTW, the two listed as suspect, the owners claim no snaps.....I wouldn't trust them.

[Majikow]

You think I need to go with a 9'6"? That was the first board I rode but the instructor moved me up to a 9' the next session. I'd also like to be able to put the board inside my car if possible and it sounds like Surf Hound was able to do that in his car (same as mine) with a 9'2" longboard. Surf Hound do you think a 9'6" would fit also?

Thanks for the info on what to look for Big H. Very helpful cause I'd love to not get scammed on my first purchase.

[jaffa1949]

Go no lower than 9ft at this stage, you need to able to catch waves to improve, end of story.
The 9' 6" board i suggested were because they were better boards out of that lot.
Get roof racks the board is about surfing not suitability for car.
The ancient surfers did not worry about boards in cars. Neither should you if you wish to move up the food chain

[Majikow]

What about this 9 footer for $235?
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/spo/5322899926.html

And I plan on carrying the board on my roof rack most of the time, but since I'll be driving up past Santa Barbara for work there's part of me that wouldn't mind playing it safe and having the board in the car for those long stints on the highway.

[Surf Hound]

The 9-6 will fit but will be kinda tight. I would not go any longer than a 9-6 as the nose would probably be touching the windshield. Not a good idea if you slam brakes etc. The board above would work. Its epoxy, wide and thick. You will have plenty of paddle power which will help with the wave count which increases the fun factor times 10. Once you are fluent in the water you will know what kinda board you want next. But yeah, that would be a great 1st board and most importantly the kinda board that is gonna help with your learning curve. Trust us all, the first time you catch a wave and ride it proper along the face you will my friend, be stoked. From then on you will be hooked like the rest of us. Cheers...

[Majikow]

What about these boards? They are $475 new but there's one on there for $375 that was used once.
http://www.degree33surfboards.com/colle ... dard-epoxy

Also found these that are pretty much in the same price range new.
https://www.solanasurfboards.com/longbo ... oards.html

[Big H]

The degree 33 boards look awesome....I would make sure on the sizing; you're most of the way to the price of a new board so if the board is too small you might as well pony up and get the right size new....but that first board that you had up there for $235 should be good enough for what you need and like Hound said, after you develop you will have ideas about what you would like your next board to be able to do so I'd save the money and ride (and nosedive) the beater to death then get for my next board one that suits what you've found your tastes to be (big overhead waves, nose riding on ripples, some of both, etc).

[Majikow]

So I think that guy got rid of the one for $235.

Here's two that are $250 (if they're still around since they're from a few days ago):
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/spo/5322442716.html
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/sgd/5317443088.html

[Majikow]

So Degree 33 is having a black friday deal right now where they have their 9' longboards on sale for $375 (normally $475). I've looked on Craigslist for awhile and went into Play It Again sports to see what they had, and it looked like for anything decent that wasn't super banged up they wanted at least $300+ for any longboard 9' or over.

I'm pretty tempted to buy one of these epoxy Degree 33 boards. The reviews seem decent with most people saying they liked them and a few people saying they didn't, but it seems like it's tough to find great reviews across the board unless you're spending a decent bit more.

I'm moving a block from the beach on Sunday for 3 months and Id really like to get a board soon so that I can make use of being so close to the water.

Any reason not to jump on this deal for $375? I'm thinking about getting the 9' Longboard Ultimate Green dip Epoxy:
http://www.degree33surfboards.com/colle ... dard-epoxy

[jaffa1949]

You are over thinking everything , just get one and they offer some sort of 33 day guarantee if you don't like it return it? Buy the board you want and get surfing!
Then we can talk about all the skills and your adventures rather than boards!

[Majikow]

You are over thinking everything , just get one and they offer some sort of 33 day guarantee if you don't like it return it? Buy the board you want and get surfing!
Then we can talk about all the skills and your adventures rather than boards!

I tend to do that. Haha.

Thanks, just wanted to make sure I wasn't making the wrong choice or buying something that wouldn't hold up. I think I'll pick that board up and hopefully it'll fit the bill. If not I guess I have 33 days to try it out and determine that it doesn't work.