Surfing Waves

Hi, I own this surfboard:

http://shane.com.au/wp/?product=shane-stingray
(shane stingray)

It is 6’6" x 20'1/2" x 2'1/2".

I bought it when I was younger (around 17, I am now 25) and I was surfing more often. I always found it a bit difficult to catch waves on. Once I was on the wave it was fine, but I hardly ever caught any!

I haven't surfed for years and I want to get a new board which is not much (if at all) longer, but it more buoyant, wider at the nose and generally easier to catch waves on and more fun. I just want something I can muck around on and catch small waves/ whitewater. I've accepted the fact that I'm never going to be a great surfer! I don't want to go too big though (preferably not over 7 ft) because I am a pretty small (around 50kg/ 110 pounds, 5'4") female and I find the big boards really hard to handle in the surf/ carry to the beach.

I really hate going into the surf shops because the guys always try to pressure me into buying one, and I am never sure if I can trust what they are saying or if they are just trying to get rid of a crappy board. I bought this board under recommendation from a guy at a supposedly really good shop, but I've never been that happy with it. So I'm looking for some advice online. I really don't know what sort of thickness or shape board I should be looking for, or what the minimum length I could get away with would be.
Also, I'm not planning on progressing past stand up, ride the wave, fall off... so turning ability and stuff isn't important. I'm also cheap, so I'm not too fussed if it's fibreglass or foam. Though a guy in a shop told me not to bother with foam.

Also my (stupid) ex boyfriend told me this board was quite thin for it's length. Is that true??

Thanks for your help!

2.5 inches thick (thin) for a 6ft6 board is fairly unusual nowdays - most boards are thicker by a fraction (like 2 3/4 or even 2 7/8), although it was more common maybe 15 years ago. In any case, it looks more like a board for steeper powerful waves.

My suggestion is you just get a funboard/mini mal that is as long as you are willing to buy - 6'10 or 7'2 or whatever. For what you want to use it for a mini mal shape is a far better choice than something with a pointy nose or too 'high performance', it is easy to ride, good volume for paddling and stability. Might be hard to duck dive but most boards will be at your weight.

I dont know where you live, but pretty much all major surfboard makers and many smaller ones have a minimal in their line up - I'm linking this one only because its on the web, not as a recommendation - although something like this is what I am talking about (this in 7ft version)

http://www.surfindustries.com/surfboard ... ird-pu.php

or this one, which I know some people like (or the same in the 7ft2 version)

http://www.torq-surfboards.com/fun-68.html

Basically about 21.5 - 22.5 inches wide and 2 3/4 inches thick, any kind of tail so long as its not a pintail (comes to a point). I wouldnt get too caught up in fractions of inches - if you get a mini mal/funboard shape of the right length, it will almost certainly be a suitable width etc.

Foam boards are ok for stand up and go straight, and if you get the Wavestorm (CostCo) it makes for a perfectly decent cheap board - however its 8ft long. Most of the time you will find a foam board is no cheaper than a proper board and is great for your first 10 surfs; after which you start getting annoyed at it being heavy and slow and not particularly stable.

If you have any boards in mind people are more than happy to help out if you link to the board or a photo etc

good luck

Thank you so much for your detailed reply!! It is all very helpful information. I will start looking for a mini mal around 7 foot.
I am tempted by this board:
http://www.softechsoftboards.com/510-tc-signature-softboard/
because i found one online second hand which is well priced. I'm guessing it will be too short though- unless being foam makes it much more buoyant?

Cate wrote:Thank you so much for your detailed reply!! It is all very helpful information. I will start looking for a mini mal around 7 foot.
I am tempted by this board:
http://www.softechsoftboards.com/510-tc-signature-softboard/
because i found one online second hand which is well priced. I'm guessing it will be too short though- unless being foam makes it much more buoyant?

I've surfed these before, they're good for starting out but if you want it to last, don't buy that boat, it's so bulky and buoyant once you're in the impact zone after a failed wave you're in trouble, it's really tough getting back to the lineup, but if you're just going to be surfing small waves around 4ft and below it should be fine(Those boards are mostly for catching whitewater), here we have 4-9ft waves depending on weather so less buoyant longer boards are best
And do get a minimal around 7ft, maybe a few inches longer, they're good boards for starters and can last you a while, I'll be buying my own very soon.

Cate wrote:I am tempted by this board:
http://www.softechsoftboards.com/510-tc-signature-softboard/

Please don't be tempted this is a toy board suitable for when you were about 12. It really would about as useful as a boogey board for you.
Some more thoughts for you; you need to able to turn and control the board and ride the face of the wave if you really want to, after all do you drive a carwithout being able to turn or speed up and slow down.
From your first post it sounds like you were just white water riding, maybe I'm wrong but the boards DTC is suggesting will suit well.

Have fun and realise that gwomen are rocking in the surf world now in just about every line up.
They are quite the sisterhood and will encourage you!

depending where you are, you can buy a Wavestorm from Costco for only $99, just to see how you like it. It might be enough.

Cate wrote:Thank you so much for your detailed reply!! It is all very helpful information. I will start looking for a mini mal around 7 foot.
I am tempted by this board:
http://www.softechsoftboards.com/510-tc-signature-softboard/
because i found one online second hand which is well priced. I'm guessing it will be too short though- unless being foam makes it much more buoyant?

I just tried my Softech Rocket Launch for the first time in a shorebreak yesterday, it was fun. Mine is even closer to a bodyboard at only 54 inches. I was able to pop up after figuring out the positioning, didn't do much after.
I think you'd be able to catch breaking waves on the 5'10 board, but still think a Wavestorm, albeit longer at 8ft, is what you should get.

Ok thanks everyone- I will pass on the foamy and start looking for a second hand mini mal.

Cate wrote:Ok thanks everyone- I will pass on the foamy and start looking for a second hand mini mal.

Before you put down you cash post pictures of the boards advice will follow to help you!!!

jaffa1949 wrote:

Cate wrote:Ok thanks everyone- I will pass on the foamy and start looking for a second hand mini mal.

Before you put down you cash post pictures of the boards advice will follow to help you!!!

Thank you I will!

Ok so I accidentally bought a board... I find it hard to keep a cool head when browsing! Anyway I'm really pleased with it. I got it from an independent surf shop down the road that's been there for years. It's a 7'2 mini mal, fibreglass. It's pretty old and beat up but the guy assured me it was sealed and it seems to be. Anyway- it was only $125 (australian) with a new leg rope. He didn't pressure me into buying it but I wanted to snap it up because I haven't seen anything else anywhere near that price. Hopefully it goes well but if not I'll take it back to the shop and get it fixed/ exchanged.

OK time for a picture of your retail impulse and it is OK we all understand

Where abouts are you based?

$125 for a sealed board with no repairs required is a pretty good deal, even if the board is a bit beaten up, and sounds like a good buy for what you want

Yeah that's a great deal, I'm about to buy my own new minimal for $400 today, it's an epoxy 7'2, it'll also be under warranty incase I split it in half