Surfing Waves

First a bit of background...

35 years young, surfing 2-4 x per week for the past 6 months. I'm about 6 feet tall and 185 pounds in decent shape. I started on a surftech merrick water hog (7'10") and I want to get into something longer. I had my eye on a Robert August What I Rdie Surftech. I'm trying to decide if I should be getting a 9' or 10'. I want to develop my turning and trim skills more as well as learn some noseriding technique. I surf mostly 1-4' mushy southern california stuff.

Thanks for your thoughts!

I'd go with a 10. I have a old school shape triple stringer single fin 10', and love it.

sounds like 10ft would be heaps of fun for your wave, we have a similar spot where I am. I ride a 10ft 3in single fin chanel bottom, its quite thick through to the rails for extra float (I'm 6ft 3in and 120kg...I think about 230 pound ). It has thick rails but with all the shape in the tail I just plant my back foot and it turns on a dime!. I'm big on trim, not to fussed about toes on the nose although I stand right up there I don't bother putting that foot out, why follow the crowd.
For me there is nothing like the feeling of keeping a big board in perfect trim with the wave.... majic

Yo Twizzly,
Go for the 10', if you're surfing LA area, it will come in handy. Try heading north to California St. in Ventura (near the fairgrounds) or head south to San Diego beaches, I'd be happy to hook up with you and give you the nickel tour. We're having a meet up at La Jolla Shores on Saturday the 17th of February, if you're in our neck of the woods, come on out and party and surf.

I gotta agree with the rest of the replies - go for 10ft!!! loads of fun and it means you can enjoy the days even when its small and the guys on the shortboards are pumping away while your glidin!!!

Check out this one, I've got the 9.6 from last year, it is a single fin, and I've had it out in in anything from 1'' to overhead conditions...I weigh more than you, but the board is super nice. They are actually a little cheaper than many other longboards here, and it is shaped by..crap now I can't remember his name...I'll figure it out..

http://www.naishsurfing.com/

check out the longboards...I have a polyester, and have a look at the woody!!!

a.

Nice looking boards, why no price list?

If you've got to ask...you can't afford??!!

Yeah, Ellie, no doubt about that. But I'd still like to know what they go for. I've got a daughter in college, a mortgage on a house in San Diego, insurance bills, phone bills, etc. etc. etc. It's like the bumper sticker on the back of some cars...

"Driver is married, carries no cash."

Otter wrote:Yeah, Ellie, no doubt about that. But I'd still like to know what they go for. I've got a daughter in college, a mortgage on a house in San Diego, insurance bills, phone bills, etc. etc. etc. It's like the bumper sticker on the back of some cars...

"Driver is married, carries no cash."

Actually they are cheaper than many of the other local boards that I was oogling before deciding. I dunno the details on all of them though..the Naish store on Oahu sells them ( www.naish.com ) but I think you have to contact them to get the details (they're my all water pleasure dealers)..I just can't remember... The guy who shapes for them is Harold Iggy..the legend...

A.

tautologies,
Thanks Brah, but with my current situation, I'm not even considering a new board at least until the kid is out of school. Would be nicer if they had posted prices on the boards, mere customer service. Why leave it a mystery?

Otter:
yeah, I know what you mean..I have no idea why...I just know my board works. I was considering a kimo board, which was really nice too, sort of a fishy shaper with a rocket cut on the side, really thick board, but I ended up getting this more classic design. It works really well, loose and easy to turn, yet floaty enough to carry my heavy limbs.


I wish I could buy indefinite amounts of boards

A.

Yeah, indefinite number of boards! Sweet dreams already!

I am old school and believe a longboard should be at least three feet taller than the person riding it. So with that said I think you are in the correct range. That Robert August board has a classic shape! Should work well.