First board in Santa Cruz

[flynnerbaggins]

Hey Im new to this site, but it looks pretty cool. Im from Ireland but I'm heading to Cali for the summer and really want to take up surfing. I have been surfing once in Santa cruz before and even though i was terrible i still loved it. I used a borrowed board that day. I hope to go back there again this summer.

I was just wondering what sort of board would anyone reccommend to me. I only want to buy one board and ive been reading about foamies and factory made boards but think that maybe i might advance fast and would need to change. I was thinking a second hand mini-mal might be better but am not sure. Id hope to be out in the water at least 4-5 times a week. Im 5 foot 8 inches tall.

How soon do people usually outgrow a foamie or factory made board(ive also heard they're really heavy)?
Any one know any good places to buy used boards in Santa Cruz, San Jose or San Francisco area?

[billie_morini]

hey flannerbaggins,
a lot of guys and gals on this board are located in California (CA). I suspect you will get some good answers. I'm in CA, too. I live about 2 hours' drive north of Santa Cruz and manage to surf there once a month. I've taken a vacation apartment there for longer surf safaris.

I think you'll do best with a 9-foot (2.75m) long board. Get a standard long board, not a performance one. There are always so many good used boards available in Santa Cruz. You can find them easily on Craig's list website or by going to some of the more active shops. There are more than 20 surf shops in Santa Cruz area. You will also find many used boards and wetsuits on Craigs list for San Francisco and San Jose. The are grouped together, along with Santa Cruz, under "SF Bay area." There are many surf shops in San Francisco. You can probably find good used boards at Wise. South of San Jose is Pacifica, CA, and its Lindamar beach. There are quite a few shops around there, too. One that is very close to Lindamar has a surf school and rents boards. You can probably by a used board find a used board from them. But, you'll probably find used boards in better condition from private parties. The best private party source I know is Craigs list.

My wife and I each use 9 foot long boards. I'm 5'9" and she is 5'6". My wife started out on an 8 foot fun shape, but it wasn't working for her. It required being more agressive and taking waves with more power in them. I have gotten the hang of this board, but both of us prefer our long boards.

You can get nice used longboards almost any week in Santa Cruz for $300 to $350. Don't forget, you'll need a wetsuit. Many guys use a 4/3mm suit there. That's what I have because I live in northern CA, but think I'd get by just fine with a 3/2mm in Santa Cruz, although I like the warmth from booties. You can easily find used wetsuits on Craigs list and at shops for $50 to $150.

There is nothing wrong with a factory board. They're usually made using epoxy resin. This makes them a little stronger than the traditional shop made boards made using polyester resin. Sometimes they are heavier, but not always. Here is an odd thing to know: shop made boards do not cost more than factory made boards.

If you can get into the water 4 to 5 times a week, it will be wonderful (and I wll be jealous). If you get a very nice longboard, your potential to advance quickly is improved and you won't out grow it. Many of us are as happy as can be riding long boards.

Foam boards are useful to beginners because they provide a lot of floatation. The primary thing needed for a beginner is floatation. They are, however, damn heavy. Besides, get a 3 inch thick longboard and you will have plenty of float. I just don't see the need for foamies. Thousands of people learned to surf before they were invented. it's kind of like requiring kids to wear helmets on their bicycles. How many millions of people around the world for 50 years have ridden bicycles without helmets?! So, my wife and I learned on our fiberglass longboards and I encourage you to do so, too.

You mentioned buying a second-hand mini mal. You can tell from previous comments in my post, that I'm an advocate of buying used. So, I like your thinking. If you go with a longboard like I have, you won't need a second board and know that I bought all three of our boards, two wetsuits and board covers second-hand. The stuff is easy to find at good prices.

Well, you'll have to tell me for sure whether you are going to end up in CA. Maybe we can get together. My home is in the North Bay area and my office is in the Bay Area near San Francisco.

[flynnerbaggins]

Hey billie_morini

Really appreciate the advice. I am a complete novice at surfing and have only been surfing the one time, but i had the best time ever. Your advice helps a lot because really i wouldn't know what to look for. I only was thinking mini-mal because it was in between a short and a long board.

Ive been checking out craigslist and must admit had never used it before because its not popular over here, but there seems to be some good deals to be had. Even if i dont get one on craigslist its giveing me an idea of the price range my board will be at when i do go to get one. Thanks for the info on the wetsuits aswell. I'll have to get wax and a leash as well id say. This whole thing could get expensive, but im sure it will be worth it.

Im flying over to san francisco around the 21st of May with a few friends. We are going to stay around san francisco for a couple of days i guess but then head down to santa cruz and look for a place to stay and get some part-time work. My friends arent as big on the idea of surfing the summer away as i am, mainly because they havent done it before but they'll give it a try. We should be in Santa cruz until the end of july /start of august, so i 'll be out any time i have a couple of hours to kill.

That would be class if we met up. As i said already i am a total novice, but am enthusiastic to learn as much as i can. By the sounds of your message, you seem like a seasoned surfer so you'd have to give me a few days to practice just so i wouldn't make you look too bad.

[billie_morini]

ha, ha, flynnerbaggins,
I'm far from seasoned, but I know a few things, readily share what I know, and love to be in the water. Sounds like you are stoked! That is good. If you surf even half as much as you plan to, you will develop some talent. I can't think of many places better to spend a summer than Santa Cruz. You might like it so much you never leave. It's been known to happen.
Bllie

[flynnerbaggins]

Does anyone else know of any other places or surf shops that i might be able to get a good deal on a second hand board as well as other equipment (leash, wetsuit, wax etc)? Or any advice in general for a novice surfer coming to Santa Cruz in the summer. All comments are appreciated.

[regforte]

Sounds like a fun trip ahead.

Here's a list of local surf shops. Most sell used boards.

http://www.surfingcal.com/local-surf-shops.html

Of those I'd look to Wise in SF (decent deals in the consignment rack from time to time) and The Log Shop in Pacifica. Pacifica is down hwy 1 on the way to Santa Cruz.

[temptations_wings]

It sounds like you're going to be arriving right around the time some of the shops have some pretty big sales. The O'neil store on 41st ave. always has a summer sale where things like wetsuits are 30% off. If you are around for it, that would be one of your best bets. Theres also 4 other shops on that same street, all within a few blocks from each other. Each of those would be good options too because they all tend to do something similar.

As for boards, most of the shops have used boards that can be worth checking out, but i would really recommend using craigslist. I stumbled across a very nice 5'11 and only paid 140 for it, whereas I would have easily paid 300 in a shop. If you check often and act fast, craigslist could definatly yield some good results.

If shops are your thing, here are some leads... on 41st ave. alone there are Freeline, Santa Cruz, Paradise surfshop, Billabong, and 41st Surf. On the west side there are a lot of places as well: Arrow Surf and Sport, Hotline, Haut surfshop, Santa Cruz Surf Outlet (they can have some good deals. my friend just got a nice pair of booties for $20 yesterday), as well as a bunch of smaller shops that have a whole bunch of used gear.

So long story short, you should have no problem finding something.

[flynnerbaggins]

thanks temptations_wings and regforte,

that info really helps.Sounds like ye know your stuff lads. I'll keep all those places in mind when looking. Hopefully i'll get some good deals. Cant wait to get out there now, id say i'm going to be surfing morning noon and night.
Keep the posts coming everyone, all info is welcome.

[capitolabeachco]

If you are just starting out it is good to try and rent a wetsuit and a board. Check out our comapny Capitola Beach Company for more

[Big H]

Almost a full 8 years on that resurrection....gotta be a record....