need some advice on a board please!

[surf patrol]

Hi Guys,
I'm primarily a Booger (yes I've heard all the "speed bumps" and "shark biscuit" jokes), but I also like to stand up every now and then. My local break often serves up wind blown mushy small crap, but I really want a board to ride it on. I'm a big believer in "surfing the conditions not the craft" if you catch my drift.
So, I was thinking of a long board or a mini-mal? I'm around 5ft 10 tall and about 11stone so I was thinking a 7'8 min-mal? I spend an inordinate amount of time on my indoboard, so balance isn't much of an issue (need to work on my pop up though!), what would you recommend?

[dtc]

The mini mal wont be the worst board; but if you are talking proper mush then there is probably a good argument to get a proper longboard (9ft or so). Have you 'stood up' surfed before? If not, then go the longer board for sure. Bodyboarding does help, because you understand waves and so forth, but its suprising how hard the transition can be.

[kree8or]

Hey dtc,
Thanks for the reply, Yeah I was thinking a longboard as well, my local break is the witterings and bracklesham (sometimes Brighton if the winds are right) so we don't get good stuff often!
I've never Surfed before, but I'm in Bude this week (as I type this I'm looking at Crooklets!) so I'm having a lesson to get the basics down.

[dtc]

I dont know those breaks but some of our UK people might have thoughts. In any event, enjoy your lessons - they are amazingly enjoyable given how frustrating learning to surf is.

[Lebowski]

Since south coast UK is generally wind swell with little power, I'd go for a 9ft+ longboard.

[drowningbitbybit]

my local break is the witterings and bracklesham

Oh dear!
I know those breaks - I used to go there when I lived in London before I made the sensible decision to live somewhere with proper surf

Yup, the weak windswell on the southcoast suits a longboard, although a mini-mal will work fine too and I don't imagine it would take you that long to figure it out if you bodyboard regularly.