First board. Heading to Baja this winter. Show me the light.

[TheSweatyButcher]

I'm 5'''9 170 pounds dude thats in good shape. I have not surfed in 5 years and when I did it was a couple month long surf trips. Looking to buy a board that I can have fun with in hopefully the southern area of Baja. Please recommend a board for me from my list or from somewhere else. The bold text are the sizes I'm considering. Also durability matters. As of know its the 6'10'' Walden Mini Mega Magic or the Blackfish in 6'4'' or 6'8''.

So far I have my eye on 3 boards and could use some help.
Walden Mini Mega Magic SLX Longboard $845
6'10'' 67ltr 85kg / 187lb or less
7'6'' 74 ltr 85kg / 187lb +


Modern Blackfish X2 Surfboard $420
6'0''20 3/4''2 5/8''36 ltrFCS M570kg / 154lb or less
6'4''21 1/4''2 3/4''40 ltrFCS M575kg / 165lb
6'8''21 1/2''2 7/8''44 ltrFCS M580kg / 176lb
7'0''21 3/4''3''48 ltrFCS M585kg / 187lb
7'4''22''3''52 ltrFCS M595kg / 209lb + -


Modern Blackbird X2 Longboard $460-$600
7'0'' 21 1/2'' 2 3/4'' 47 ltr FCS M5 80kg / 176lb or less
7'6'' 21 5/8'' 2 7/8'' 53 ltr FCS M5 85kg / 187lb
8'0'' 22'' 3'' 61 ltr FCS GX/6" 90kg / 198lb +
9'1'' 22 3/4'' 3 3/8'' 78 ltr FCS GX/7" ideal for all weights



THANKS

[dtc]

If you went on several month long surf trips, I presume you can surf ok? ie not a total beginner but able to catch waves, pop up, ride down the line?

The Walden is the 'better' board in terms of quality and probably design (although whether its the 'best' board for you isn't answered by those points). It will be the easiest one to surf/relearn your surfing and, at 67L, has more than enough volume for any paddling deficiencies (as you get paddle fit) and so forth. However, it is a wide nosed board, will be harder (impossible?) to duck dive. Its a great board for point breaks and for slightly fatter waves, probably not as good for steep waves (not terrible but not the best of the ones listed). This is the one to get if you want to maximise your surfing/speed your learning, but its not without some drawbacks.

The blackboard longboard doesn't seem to have a fin box, which does limit what you can do with the centre fin ie you cant move it around to adjust. But I guess that's ok, its just not perfect. This is probably the one I would get. 7ft6 if you want to play 'safe'

The fish may be a bit advanced at this stage. Definitely 6ft4 is too short and even the 7ft version might be a bit short.

It really depends on your skill level. The lower level of skills you realistically think you are, then the greater the benefit of a longer/higher volume board ie the Walden or longer longboard. The better you are, then the reverse.

Also, when you say 'fit' - fit at what? Can you swim 20 laps of the pool without stopping or do you mean you can run 5 miles or play a full game of soccer? Throw a marathoner onto a surfboard and see how far they can paddle...

[TheSweatyButcher]

Yes, I feel I can surf ok. I need to relearn but I feel I'll have a fast learning curve. I would not be against renting a board to brush the comb webs off but still don't want to buy a board that won't be fun. I remember I rented a 7s fish that was 5'9''( weighed 160lbs then) it was fun but I had to kick my feet to catch waves with it at Tamarindo so it was too advanced for me then but fun. As far as being fit I do yoga on a SUP and hot yoga, can do 20 nice pull ups in a row and run for a few miles. I have great core strength and a strong upper back. Sometimes I do pool work outs. 10 push ups 15 body squats swim to the other side and repeat for 10 laps. I swim well exhausted

I really appreciate your advise about the boards I posted.

[dtc]

ok, I would still go for the 'longboard' (fun board or mini mal), whether 7ft or 7ft6 is up to you. 7ft is pretty short, I suggest the 7ft6. But the 7ft may be ok.

Recognise that this may be a board you surf for a year and then you buy a new board, say 6ft10 or something. This is (a) completely normal and (b) will start your 'quiver'. Most surfers have 3 or 4 or 10 boards and develop an understanding that board A is great for certain waves but board B is better for a different wave (eg small vs large or beach vs point or low tide vs high tide). Or you sell your board and use that money to buy a new one.

Your first board should be the one that gets you as fast and efficiently as possible to a level where you can - if you wish - chose to buy a second board. Going too short too early just means you develop slowly - you will probably get there with any of the boards you suggest, but it may take longer, maybe a lot longer.

[Big H]

Any particular reason for the board choices/brands?

IMO nothing wrong with kicking your feet to catch a wave....most do around here if the board is short enough. The 6'10" is a little awkward....huge amount of volume but not much length...you won't be able to duck dive it (at 67L and 170lbs no chance at all) and you won't get the glide benefit/paddle speed of a board a little longer or the stability particularly in steeper drops where if your balance isn't right you bog the nose.....that wide nose is going to preclude much whipping around for any length, so out of the Waldens I would go for the 7'6".

[TheSweatyButcher]

DTC- What you said makes sense to me, Thanks

Big H- I picked the Modern boards for their epoxy construction and the price range. The Walden was my wild card pick.

[Big H]

Walden is twice the price....you could get a firewire that the blackfish is a take off of for that price....I don't know your level, but if you think you have some basics and good fitness and are game, the 7'4" blackfish or even the 7'0" might be the one.....you should have a vauge idea as well as be acquainted with the idea that big boards paddle easier and are more stable....so it's a trade off and largely dependent on how well you can surf as the pluses are going to be directly related to performance and the minuses are that it's harder to paddle and ride. If you err, err bigger not smaller would be my bit of advice; you aren't a raw newbie and you should have an idea about what you're getting into....sell on value of the walden is going to be greater but at double the price it better well be.....a 7' 0 or 7'4" board with mini mal volume has a place in everyone's quiver, so don't worry about outgrowing it. I like the blackfish because some volume is taken out of the nose which will let you get at the wave a little more and be able to grow longer with the board....of course that in turn raises the minimums on the board and will make it tougher if you are still concerned about popping up, pearling or catching the wave which you probably will be.

Pros and cons....the more that I learn the more I think the advice of the local shaper that I talked to here when I first started was sound....he told me to ride a longboard for the first year and then a mini mal for the next 18 months and I'd be ready then to enjoy the benefits of a fun board. I sped up the development process by surfing a lot, but not by that much.....hard to enjoy the benefits of a smaller board unless you are paddle fit and in tune with the hundred small things that together add up to being able to surf, paddle technique, positioning and timing being a heck of a lot more important than the board you ride.