Beginner Board

[Dex]

I'm a beginner, been on a few lessons. I want to get into surfing, get down a few weeknds a year plus a week or two. I live in coventry so far far far far away from the sea. I need a board, but I'd probably like to progress onto shortboarding. Should I get a minimal to start with and when I can surf well get a shortboard?
looking to Spend no more than £300 for board, bag and leash.

Cheers

Will

[southwestsurfer]

Yeah thats a good idea. I think though if your pretty confident you cold go for the 6'7'' bic shortboard like I might, its still a beginners board, tough, bouyant etc but it'll up your game a little.

[drowningbitbybit]

search search search!!!!

[iomarti]

If you're only gonna be surfing a few weekends a year, then i'd probably go for a minimal rather than a 6'7...

[Sar]

I got a board bag and leash for £160 from ebay.

Now, I know there's a chance someone may say something about ebay being a place to fence stolen goods, which is true but not everything on there is stolen.

The free-ads had a lot of stuff in there also but then I do live in Bournemouth so I guess there would be.

Hope this is of some help. Also, all the advice I have seen is if you dont get to surf that often get a mini mal otherwise you may end up a little frustrated trying to learn on a shortboard with not much time to devote to it.

[kitesurfer]

I got a board bag and leash for £160 from ebay.

That's alot of money for a bag and a leash. Are you sure there wasn't a board in the bag as well?

KS

[Dex]

board, bag and leash.



forgot the critical punctuation that made that sentence what it is now.
sorry

[cj]

if you are only going to surf once in a while, you will probably advance your skill level a lot quicker with a longer board. They are easier to catch waves on, and easier to pop up onto (or to stand on), etc.

I would be affraid to tell you to go with the 6'7" because there is a good chance that you may not ever get to actually ride a wave before you get frustrated and give up (I mean outside of your surf lessons, I pushed people into waves and got them standing up within 10 minutes of thier first time seeing a surf board in person, but that doesn't mean they are going to be able to do it without constant instruction)

There are a lot of aspects of wave riding.

-Paddling out (easier on a long board, though not always true)
-Paddling around once you are out there to get into position (easier on a long board)
-Catching the wave (easier on a long board)
-Learning to control the board AFTER the wave has caught you but BEFORE you stand up (easier on a long board)
-Popping up (easier on a long board)

For beginners:

-Learning to control the board once you are standing (easier on a long board)
-learning to ride the line of energy of the wave (easier on a long board)
-Learning to carve (easier on a long board)
-Learning to carve hard (time to buy a short board)
-Learning to climb the face of the wave and try to catch air ( I would like to see you try that on a long board)

See the natural progression?

I would buy a long board if I were you, and that is why.

[cj]

I want to get into surfing, get down a few weeknds a year plus a week or two.

I just re read your post.

DO NOT BUY A SHORT BOARD.

BUY A 10' + You will be happier.

A couple years of that routine and you might be ready to back down to a 7'6-8'4 range

You won't get enough time on the water to make you ready to surf on a shorter board. If you want to stand up and ride waves consistantly, and actually RIDE them, buy a long board. Trust me.

[chembot]

. I live in coventry so far far far far away from the sea.

I'm amazed at how far people will travel to surf. I'll stop complaining about a 1.5 hour drive to the sea now!

[jethrodog]

I know this is an old post but I just wanted to comment that CJ's reply was probably the best response to the question of what should a beginner buy that I have ever read. And I believe he is exactly right. Because of the size constraints for me on airplanes (boards must be under 9'0") I have actually borrowed or rented 9'6" - 10' boards on all my trips. I feel that I learned and progressed way faster because of riding the longer boards. There is a warm feeling that you get when you are able to catch every wave that comes your way, even when you are a beginner, when your friends who surf twice a week are having problems on their 7'0" rides. I am now heading to Cali for Remebrance Day weekend to buy a new board, in the 8'6" range. Happy I waited until I had gotten good on the biggies.

[Sar]

I got a board bag and leash for £160 from ebay.

That's alot of money for a bag and a leash. Are you sure there wasn't a board in the bag as well?

KS

KS - missed your response post, do you think this may be why Im having trouble with my surfing?? hehe!

There was a board in the bag (phew), but for all the good its doing me I may as well try and stand up on the bag!