About me. Intermediate longboarder in need of new board

[finntstratford]

Hi All.

I am a 16 year old guy and have been surfing for just over 2 years. My Dad is an advanced short board surfer, so he knows all the good surf spots and has heaps of good boards for me to borrow. I live on the Great Ocean Road, but unfortunately on the other end from Torquay known for the famous bells beach, rip curl and quicksilver. I live sort of half way between port Campbell and Warrnambool. Warrnambool was when I learnt to surf through an elective at my school called outdoor ed. I remember when I first got in the water I thought that I would hate it, but my first surf had me obsessed with the sport after only 10 minutes, as I managed to catch my first wave and stand up (for about 1 second). Since then, my Dad has always taken me out, and I have participated in 3 surf programs at school last year (2019) about a year after I started surfing... Surf Ed (elective), Outdoor Ed (elective) Open water academy (elective). At one point I surfed a total of 11 hours in one week solely through the school programs, and I have loved every bit of it and can never get enough. Last year, about year after I had started surfing, I began to surf at Port Campbell behind the jetty which was exciting for me, as it was my first consistent reef break. As well as port Campbell surfed at lorne, cape Bridgewater, Narrawong, Blacknose and, all the beach breaks in Warrnambool (mcgennans through to jap’s) and Croft’s bay in Peterborough, a mix of beach and reef breaks. I remember on a surf Ed camp to Bondi beach, I used my dad’s 5’9 board to get some waves, and I spent an eternity paddling out, couldn’t catch many waves and when I did catch them, I fell off. It was a 3.5 meter swell, and eventually I gave up, headed in and borrowed one of the schools long boards (about 8 ft). I got out the back twice as fast, caught almost every wave and felt so comfortable on the board compared to the other one. I know that that’s normal for a long board, but I could just tell that I was meant to be a longboarder after that day. The longest I have is a 7’8 and it’s too small for me. I am able to cross step on the board, but it isn’t long enough to noseride, which I have done before, but not easily and not very well. I am willing to make the next step up and get a longboard that’s at least 9’0 and at most 9’6. I am saving, but don’t know what to get, because all the recommendations for longboards to get that are listed online are for beginners, which I am not. I want something that will allow me to hang ten fairly easily that I will be happy with by the time that I become more advanced as a surfer. I have been surfing about once to twice a week if not more recently, and I don’t imagine that I’ll be surfing less frequently in the future, which only means that during the time that I have the board, I will always be improving and I don’t want to have to buy another board for a while after I get this one. I am willing to pay a fair amount of money for a quality board, as I really want something that I can keep for a long time and be able to use it as an advanced longboarder. I’m willing to pay up to $2000 as this is something really important to me, but under $1500 is preferable. What do all you guys think?

[waikikikichan]

The longest I have is a 7’8 and it’s too small for me.

You can't believe how truly refreshing that is to hear.

[dtc]

I’m not a long boarder but you might want to first consider if you are after a high performance longboard, a nose rider, a log or a more generalist board (or maybe more the one board eg a nose rider and a general board).

The suggestion of a shaper is a good one, esp for a noserider. But most shapers will make a longboard that isn’t much more expensive (or is cheaper) than an off the rack

That said a good condition second hand board is worthwhile

[waikikikichan]

I am able to cross step on the board, but it isn’t long enough to noseride, which I have done before, but not easily and not very well. I am willing to make the next step up and get a longboard that’s at least 9’0 and at most 9’6.

You can nose ride a 6'2" if you want to, maybe not hang-ten, but cheater five. A 9'0" will be plenty long enough. If you're having trouble getting to the nose, a 9'6" will require you to take even more steps. ( and cross-stepping back to the tail to turn will take more effort/time.

I want something that will allow me to hang ten fairly easily that I will be happy with by the time that I become more advanced as a surfer.

A surfboard like a baseball bat, computer or paint brush have NO potential on their own. But if you want a surfboard that noserides fairly easily, tell me what attributes it should have ?
When you become that "advanced" surfer, when that time occurs, then it's at that time to invest. Look at how you are thinking from the perspective of a beginner motor-cross rider, should he get the big 450cc. right of the bat or start off on the 80cc. ? Or how about a novice cook yearning to become a Chef, should he get the best knives and cookware ?

I will always be improving and I don’t want to have to buy another board for a while after I get this one. I am willing to pay a fair amount of money for a quality board, as I really want something that I can keep for a long time and be able to use it as an advanced longboarder. I’m willing to pay up to $2000 as this is something really important to me, but under $1500 is preferable.

What is a quality board ? Does a quality board ding less or break in half less in a beach break closeout ?
You don't realize yet, but you will go through many many boards before that time you become an "advanced longboarder". And it may be by choice or by necessity ( dings, buckles, delaminations, flying off the car racks, dropping it at the showers, rolling up on the rocks after your leash breaks )
You have $2000 to spend ? I would recommend getting a used longboard ( with the dimensions around 9'0" x 22 x 2 3/4" +/- ) for around 500-700 and save the other $1300 for two more purchases down the road. ( you can get some money from selling the first board, that's what we all do )

[odedshankar]

Hi Mate,
I am an intermediate longboarder as well, and been trying about 12 longboards in the past 2 years.
At the beginning of my longboard journey i preferred heavy glassed PU large logs 9'6 to 10'0 with 6 + 6 Glassing and big dimensions, the one i loved the most was a Kym Thompson NSP Endless PU 10'0 which was 23.75 wide and 3.5 thick with Egg rails and a fair bit of rocker. As i progressed over the past 2 years i found that i prefer lighter and shorter Epoxy longboards which have a bit more performance features in them then logs and much lighter to handle in and out of the water. But again everyone enjoys different boards, so i'll guess you'll have to take the plunge and start with something which you'll replace in the future many time i'm sure as others advises, so don't waste to much on it. Personally i love the Walden Magic Model SLX epoxy board, in 9'0 I've got the mega magic which is thicker for my weight and age its perfect but as a young guy the regular magic model should be sufficient and that's a magic board, it delivers everything it promise, you can nose ride it, you can move it around, it is fast and flows and in SLX still very light in weight. I've got also a 9'8 FireWire Wingnut noserider which is good fun and still light, but it is a down the line kind of light log, less maneuverable than the Walden Magic model which you can get in 9'0, 9'2, 9'6 so you can choose what works for you.
You've got also these companies that offers new boards in good prices and offers descent boards, so its worth looking at them too:
https://www.sanctumsurf.com.au/surfboards/longboards/
https://www.thesurfboardwarehouse.com.a ... gJkpvD_BwE
https://ecsboards-australia.com.au/coll ... ong-boards

Its worth checking them out as a first board, good value for money, and you can check what you like without spending a fortune.
Hope that helps.