Surfing Waves

Please don't flame me, I've attempted to use the search button for my questions already.

I'm in the market to buy my first board here soon. I've been lucky to spend a year or so surfing on my friends' boards and get a feel for what I want. I don't consider myself a COMPLETE beginner because of my limited experience. I've rode on boards ranging from 6'1-6'7 (i think) or so, some thickers than others.

I think I'm generally passed the awkward learning stages, so I don't want to get an ultra thick, wide board and I'd like to go in the shortboard range.

I come from a skateboarding background, and I'm kinda confused on brands and makers of surfboards. You can pick up a skate catalog and see the makers or brand of each board. There are also generic brands you should stay away from, that are not found in catalogs. How does this work with surfboards? It seems like there are eons and eons of modern surfboard companies. My friends all different kinds Town and Country ( I think), a Rusty, etc. I want my first investment to be a legit maker/brand. So my questions I guess are:

1: Which size/thickness do you recommend for a 6'1 130 lb guy that is JUST past a beginner? I'm not afraid to have a difficult time early on if it means the board will be the one I need for later skill levels.

2: Is there a comprehensive list anywhere of legit surfboard makers/companies?

3:What brand/maker of surfboard do you recommend for someone in my situation?

4: Any other advice?

Sorry for the long read, thanks in advanced for the advice. I promise I'll be sticking around, I won't just disappear once I get my help

Many times, you can have locally made boards in shops versus your 'brand names' like Rusty or Town and Country.

Mainly, you want to avoid pop-outs, boards that are made and glassed in China/offshore.

There are some brands that are made offshore, then glassed properly - I have a Surfboards Australia that is not a pop out, but is an import and is a pretty good board.

In the shortboard arena, there are tons of ways you can go; fish, thruster, funboard, hybrid, egg, and so on.

You're probably looking more for a thruster or thruster/hybrid. the best thing is to use what sources you can to see what style of board you want (check out the merricks at cisurfboards.com, and T&C's web site. Also you can see NSP's site).

Basically, you want to narrow down the rail, rocker, thickness, tail shape, number of fins and height questions to the best you can by reading about the different effects each of those has on the ride.

Look through the back of some Surfer and Surfing magazines - they always have boards and board makers in the back pages.

Generally, when I was still 130lbs (I'm 6-1, but now 180) I rode a 6-4 InSight thruster with 3 glassed on fins and squash tail, with 2 1/4 thickness, 19 1/2 inches wide.

Take that kind of info, then go to a couple local shops, or a shop you know you would trust and ask the owner, the local pro, or members of the team the shop sponsors to help you out on a recommendation for a board.

They should know a local make, which I like going with over any higher-priced "look at me" boards like Town and Country. Plus, take their advice with a slight grain of salt - know that they will either be thinking of themselves (and thus pick a higher performance board than you should get) or a little underestimate you (in which case, they'll point out some less-then stellar performing boards aimed towards more newbies).

Don't argue with them about those points, just say "thanks" then compare some of the boards and think about what the different styles/dimensions will do. then take a leap of faith and pick one.

rich r wrote:Many times, you can have locally made boards in shops versus your 'brand names' like Rusty or Town and Country.

Mainly, you want to avoid pop-outs, boards that are made and glassed in China/offshore.

There are some brands that are made offshore, then glassed properly - I have a Surfboards Australia that is not a pop out, but is an import and is a pretty good board.

In the shortboard arena, there are tons of ways you can go; fish, thruster, funboard, hybrid, egg, and so on.

You're probably looking more for a thruster or thruster/hybrid. the best thing is to use what sources you can to see what style of board you want (check out the merricks at cisurfboards.com, and T&C's web site. Also you can see NSP's site).

Basically, you want to narrow down the rail, rocker, thickness, tail shape, number of fins and height questions to the best you can by reading about the different effects each of those has on the ride.

Look through the back of some Surfer and Surfing magazines - they always have boards and board makers in the back pages.

Generally, when I was still 130lbs (I'm 6-1, but now 180) I rode a 6-4 InSight thruster with 3 glassed on fins and squash tail, with 2 1/4 thickness, 19 1/2 inches wide.

Take that kind of info, then go to a couple local shops, or a shop you know you would trust and ask the owner, the local pro, or members of the team the shop sponsors to help you out on a recommendation for a board.

They should know a local make, which I like going with over any higher-priced "look at me" boards like Town and Country. Plus, take their advice with a slight grain of salt - know that they will either be thinking of themselves (and thus pick a higher performance board than you should get) or a little underestimate you (in which case, they'll point out some less-then stellar performing boards aimed towards more newbies).

Don't argue with them about those points, just say "thanks" then compare some of the boards and think about what the different styles/dimensions will do. then take a leap of faith and pick one.

Very cool for the help. I think I'm gonna go with removable fins, that's what I've messed with the most and seem to be most comfortable with. As far as the type of short board, could you break down fish, thruster, funboard, hybrid and egg types. I think I understand the shape and tail of each...but I am unsure.

thanks el timmo!!!

I'm just kinda echo'ing the local shaper idea. Kinda tough idea to grasp coming from a skating background, due to virtually no custom skateboard makers, considering they are all pretty much the same except the graphics. They're all maple, they all are glued up in essentially the same press, they all are pretty much the same. Therefore, there is really no money in a local skateboard maker. However, there is still some money in a surfboard for a local shaper, but that's slowly getting worse.

Get a board built for you, for your waves, and you won't regret it. I say you should go with a funboard, unless you think you are completely past that level. You can do a ton with a funboard.

What are your waves like? Describe your surfing level.

tomcat360 wrote:What are your waves like? Describe your surfing level.

Yeah, were are you surfing, and what are the average conditions like?

Well, I'll generally be surfing south east coasts. Virginia Beach maybe here sooner than later. My girlfriend is a flight attendant so I fly for free So coming up this next year I kinda can go wherever in the country...

But mostly, Florida, Carolinas, Georgia...maybe even the gulf. Mostly small waves I guess.

My surfing level is just past beginner. All I've really rode on were my friends' shortboards, so I'm not afraid of riding a board I might have a harder time with at first. I think I picked it up quickly because of some skateboarding balance I've learned over the years.

Riding those kinds of waves and with your skateboarding background, you shopuld at least have a go on a retro fish before you make your decision.
They're awesome little boards that really make the most out of not such powerful surf and once you get used to them they are so much fun. Fast funky and small, not really an out right beginers board but hey i'm not that good either and i love mine.

KS

kitesurfer wrote:Riding those kinds of waves and with your skateboarding background, you shopuld at least have a go on a retro fish before you make your decision.
They're awesome little boards that really make the most out of not such powerful surf and once you get used to them they are so much fun. Fast funky and small, not really an out right beginers board but hey i'm not that good either and i love mine.

KS

Cool, I'll keep that in mind.

I surf VaB as well.

You definately need a good small wave board. Retro fishes do that, but try before you buy.

Are you riding unbroken waves?

Are you making bottom turns?

Are you staying in the curl?

Are you beginning to do top turns?

Just some more guaging of skill level.

Oh yeah, did you surf last Saturday? I was kicking my self because I didn't go.....

Are you riding unbroken waves? Yes.

Are you making bottom turns? No.

Are you staying in the curl? no, waves are so small though...

Are you beginning to do top turns? no.

Oh yeah, did you surf last Saturday? I was kicking my self because I didn't go..... NO! I went the frigin weekend before.

I'd say funboard then.

tomcat360 wrote:I'd say funboard then.

Right on, I'll keep that in mind during the search.

Do you guys recognize the name MILLENNIAL?:

http://cgi.ebay.com/65-NEW-Shortboard-S ... 0048068072

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... Track=true

Any thoughts..?

I dunno. Sounds like a pop out to me. Of course, I'm also anti-ebay. Alright so maybe I have a bit of ebay-phobia.

Also seem kinda small for a first board. I started on a shortboard, but looking back on it I would have progressed MUCH faster on a funboard. Actually, I don't think I progressed that much until I got a funboard.

Go to a local shaper man. It's just money, they make more every day, but a good surfboard you'll never forget.

I'd love to support a local shaper...I don't know that we have one round here though lol. I'll look for one next time near the coast.

Pick a beach, I could probably tell you some good ones.

I shape a bit myself, so I know quite a few shapers.

rich r wrote: Mainly, you want to avoid pop-outs, boards that are made and glassed in China/offshore.
There are some brands that are made offshore, then glassed properly - I have a
Surfboards Australia that is not a pop out, but is an import and is a pretty good board.

OK. I was doing a search for "Millenial" surfboards, and found this post.

I hate to break it to you, "rich", but that Surfboards Australia you own
is just another Chinese made "popout", as you call them.
A company based on Long Island decided to resurrect a few
extinct labels from the Sixties and early 70s, and produce boards
in China. If you own a Surfboards Australia, Challenger, or Spoiler,
it was made in the same Chinese factory. These are cheap boards
made with Australian foam and glassed with inferior materials. They
are built by people who DO NOT SURF.
The original Surfboards Australia was a label made by Gordon
and Smith, in San Diego. It was discontinued around 1971.

I started on a shortboard and my friends started on bigger boards and before me but I progressed really fast and now I'm 20x better than them so I guess it is different for other people. I came from a skateboarding backround, ever since I started surfing I've hated skateboarding.