Board recommendation for an advanced beginner?

[jv1975sw]

Hi everyone - first post here.

I'd describe myself as an "advanced beginner" - I've probably surfed about 25 times, and am most comfortable in 2-3 foot waves and a board between 7 and 8 feet long. My local beach is Rockaway in NYC so I'll be there most of the time.

EDIT: if it's relevant, I'm about 5'6", 150 lbs.

I'm looking to buy my first board and am looking for recommendations. I have been putting off buying a board because I didn't want to be stuck with something that would be too long once I got better, but now the main reason I want to get one is so I can surf in the morning before work (the shop where I normally rent doesn't open early enough).

My current thinking (please correct anything you think isn't right!):
I'm thinking that a longboard between 7' and 7'6" makes the most sense (is this called a funboard?). I'll probably surf 10-20 times per year, so I'm guessing it will be at least a couple years before I'm comfortable on a shortboard. And even once I am on a shortboard, I'll probably want something longer for small days (do experienced surfers use 7'+ boards when the waves are small?). Especially in NYC, where waves seem to be below 2 feet more often than not.

Does this make sense? Or should I get something smaller and try to learn on that? I'll be honest, it's hard to imagine myself being able to stand up on a 6 foot board.

Any specific recommendations are welcome as well - I'm pretty flexible on price, but for whatever reason had $300 or so (maybe $400) in my head. The main reason being that's not higher is that I don't want to spend a ton of money on something that I (hopefully!) won't be my primary board in a couple years. What materials should I be looking at? Weight is important - the lighter the better, because I'll be carrying this pretty far on the subway to get to the beach.

Thanks!

[oldmansurfer]

I surf an 8 foot fun gun (made for me) in waves between 1 foot to 15 feet (measured on the face). I weight 200 pounds and am 6'2". The smaller the wave the less I can do on a wave but that's ok because I am 60 years old and have no delusions of learning to do airs. I currently surf close to 100 times a year but only 30 minute sessions. I guess it all depends on what you want to do and how fit you are. If you outgrow your board you can always sell it but at 10 times a year I would get a second hand board and see how it goes. At head high I can do lots of things, waist high some less dramatic turns and smaller than that not much but see how far I can ride it. My current board I have had for close to two years and I have no intention of getting another board ......so far. When I first restarted surfing I got a used board ( 9.5 foot big wave gun) and then another used board (9.5 foot longboard) which I surfed. I gave the gun away and still have the longboard. If you are getting a used board I wouldn't worry too much about materials but epoxy tends to be lighter.

[jacfitness]

I'am an advanced beginner also, and last year I bought an epoxy 8" Torq. It's real light and while not as "stable" as the heavy fiberglass longboards I demo-ed I love it! I have to lug it in and out of my apt and transport it on the top of my car so I needed something light. But then again, I'am a 5'1, 110 woman so there you have it. All last Spring and into July, I constantly called all the local surf shops from NYC out to Montauk, Craig's list, e-bay, board hunt, etc. looking for a used fiberglass long board in the NYC/LI area in the $300 range, and finally decided to go with a new Torq. I purchased it in Rockaway at Breakwaters. Also FYI, Sundown Surf shop in Long Island is having a swap/tent sale this weekend, so you might be able to pick up a used board there. FYI, I am not affiliated with either, it's just that I did my homework and got to know the local surfshops. I'am on all their lists-- I have all my gear otherwise I'd be over there myself.

Good luck!

[jaffa1949]

Stereotype here, but this woman really knows how to shop
Welcome to SW and to absolutely local on the money great advice.
Cheers and welcome Uncle Jaffa

[dtc]

For JV- in that length range you will find mini mals (rounded nose) and hybrid/fish (more pointy nose) boards. Given your experience and the waves, I would definitely go for the mini mal shape over the pointy nose shape. This will tend to also mean a flatter rocker and slightly wider board, all of which are good for you.

As Old man says, in small waves nothing will beat a longboard. You might not want to surf a longboard, but if those are the waves you surf then that is the board you need. I have a 9ft longboard and a 7ft4 mini mal, and below about waist high the longboard is definitely the better board. The shorter board is ok and you can surf it, but you tend to have some waves pass you by and you dont get the glide down the waves - often you are hung at the top of the wave trying to build up more speed. That said, at 150lb perhaps something around 7ft6 or so is not too bad. I definitely wouldnt go under 7ft.

Also, if you get into surfing, you wont 'have' to get a shorter board. You will 'want' to get more boards. You wont care about the extra cash! You will end up with 5 boards anyway. If not 10.

(and, finally - if you are surfing 10-20 times per year, to be honest you may never get to surf a 6ft shortboard. To get to that level, you really need a sustained continual burst of surfing - maybe 3 months almost every day at least. If you surf 20 times per year in, say, 5 periods (ie you visit 5 times and surf 4 times each visit), the first 1 or 2 sessions you will be rusty and just trying to get your timing and everything back, then you have a session or two to improve. Basically you end up with about 10 actual surfing sessions and 10 'catching up' sessions. Trust me - I have been there (and am still there!)

[GazinOz]

I like the term advanced beginner.

I have been surfing for 34 years and would only call myself that-lol!

Really to advance you gotta surf more (surfed 25 times if you only go 20 times a year is not really gonna help you progress), dont worry about being like Kelly Slater, just stay on a big ol' longboard so you can enjoy every surf.

[BaNZ]

This weekend I decided to man it up and stop using my longboard. Waves was good and clean around waist height. I rented a 7"6 so my missus can use my 9.0". Dumbest idea ever.... She dragged my brand new board around on a pebble beach. There is now scratch marks and its chipped. Then leaves the board so close to the water that the wave came and took it for a spin. Everything I told her not to do, she does it. Enough ranting.

Hey I call myself advanced beginner too. I do surf a lot, 2-3 times a week. Between 2-4 hours each session. Then a few months of surfing every day. This weekend I surf a 7"6, caught the first wave and got hooked straight away. It felt like it was my first time surfing again. I love how fast and agile it is. Even while my missues was throwing my board around on the pebbles, I couldn't care less. I was having so much fun.

A kid came up and asked if he could give it a go. I thought to myself, 7"6 is so easy and I'm sure I can handle his 6"0 foam board. It would be a walk in the park. Oh I was so wrong, I had no chance of catching any waves. I paddled further inside to the point where the waves is breaking right on top of me. There was still no chance, I couldn't even keep my body out the water. Maybe it was the volume or maybe the board is shorter than 6"0.... now i'm looking at my 6"3 fish. Still haven't give it a go yet. But I think I will really struggle with it....

But 7"6 would be good a good choice, I'm same height as you and a few pounds lighter!

[benjl]

I know your pain BANZ!!!! I let my gf borrow my 6'10 a month ago which was only 2 weeks old and I open up the case the next day to find that the middle fin plug had snapped through the board!! She must've ridden it hard in to the sand or jammed the boot closed when the board wasn't fully in or something..

Back on topic with this forum, the board is 6'10 x 21 3/4 x 2 3/4 with a pointed nose and lots of volume for its size. If I was only going to be surfing 2-3 ft waves and about 20times a year this would be the board for me (I am a similar size to JV1975sw).
Paddles easy, catches waves easy and can also turn a lot better than my old 7'6.
Can also fit in the car too

[dtc]

Guess there is one benefit in having a wife who hates surfing (well, she doenst 'hate' surfing, she hates that I spend to much time surfing): no damaged boards.

(although she has been known to give them a kick when I leave them around on the floor in the wrong place)

On the other hand...she hates the time I spend surfing.

[drowningbitbybit]

On the other hand...she hates the time I spend surfing.

Really? My other half hates the water, but is very pleased to get rid of me on a sunday morning

[BaNZ]

On the other hand...she hates the time I spend surfing.

Really? My other half hates the water, but is very pleased to get rid of me on a sunday morning

Mine said and I quote "self-centered" when it comes to surfing. She just doesn't understand that the surfboard is very precious to me.

[dtc]

On the other hand...she hates the time I spend surfing.

Really? My other half hates the water, but is very pleased to get rid of me on a sunday morning

Well, to be fair, I have young kids (now 11 and 8 so just getting a bit self sufficient), so if I'm off surfing its not like she is lazing about at the cafe sipping lattes.

I read someone the other day saying his wife was complaining to the other school mums about her husband being a surfer (wanting sympathy for him never being there) and they all responded by saying 'oh, you are so lucky, all my husband does is sit around on the couch watching the footy and drinking beer'.

I guess the grass is always greener...still, I used to play cricket every weekend (pre kids) so I was away pretty much 10am to 8pm at least one weekend. Surfing is at least better than that

She doesnt damage the boards but she is still trying to get over my buying a new board (2 years ago), because "I already had one".

[benjl]

haha these stories and tales are great!

Mine went from being all supportive and happy when she got me a surfing lesson for my birthday present 6 months ago and I got my first wave / enjoyed it to now hating everything about it and the weekends I spend in the water.
I even got her a 7'6 minimal and a 4/3 wetsuit so that she could surf with me (her expressed desire) and since then has only used it once and then complained when I swapped the 7'6 for a much better 6'10 that it doesn't catch waves anymore! The 6'10 is wide, fat, easy rails and will catch anything you can throw at it but the extra two paddles that it takes over the 7'6 is too much effort apparently.

Oww the joys.. bloody females

[drowningbitbybit]

My other half gets annoyed if I don't go surfing

Because I work freelance, if I'm working at home on my own and don't get the chance to get out and get wet during the day, she'll come home and say I've gone "all a bit Nicholson" (as in Jack Nicholson in The Shining), and I'm under orders to get out of the house as soon as the sun comes up for a surf


(spectacular bit of off-topic conversation in this thread)