6'10 shorty or 7'6 mini mal?

[sharkbait]

hey guys. i need to buy a surf board. i'm a beginner, had lessons etc.. and can surf to the shore. so far so good.. it'll come when i'm over taking kelly slater on the inside lane.. in my jeep..

i have 9'1 malibu. but struggling on it. too narrow and i rock all over when popping up. so i get wiped out. most times.

can anyone advise on what to buy? i'm thinking 6'10 shorty or 7'6 mini mal..

may be wrong.

i'm 5'10 and 83k's. male. so i dont want a pink booard.


thnks for any help.

charlie.

[justloafing]

If your having problems on a 9'1" I would not even think about going down in size. Shorter makes it even tougher. If it was me and your thinking it(your board now) is to narrow. I would trade in for a board that is used and wider but the same length.

Edited to say: I just did a search on that board and it is a high performance board. I would go with something a little more friendly. I would go to a surf shop (s) and find a board that will challenge you a little but one that you can ride. I don't know where you want to end up surfing ie. Short Boards or Long Boards?

[isaluteyou]

echo above

[sharkbait]

thanks guys. i'm discovering its an expensive trial & error lifestyle. i bought the 9'1 second hand. figuring it would be ok.
i have just purchased the 6'10 shortboard which to be honest, after speaking to a surfer dude at the shop, (not a fashion shop, a proper surf shop) i/he figured that the short board would be to advanced for me, which it is at the mo, but also figured that a mini mal would only last me a few months then i'd would be ready for the 6'10. capeche!! just have to work harder at the 6'10 and not get frustrated..

just got to name the 6'10 now. the 9'1 is called pamela... nice ride..so i was told..

i'll enquire about a wider mini mal. wider then my malibu at least. but i'll give the 6'10 a ride to see how she/i go.


i've just been down the west coast, to scarboro/trigg beach (perth,aus) and its heaving with surfers. too bloomin busy for the likes of a beginner cutting in. so i'm p*ssed at mo.


ther'es always tomorrow.

thanks guys, charlie.

[gdude335]

if your not doing well on the 6.10, you could rent a pop out board (bic/ nsp) and get better on that.

[sinistapenguin]

Ahhhhhh, time for me to correct some misguided preconceptions again!

Do not be fooled into believing that Mini-mals are only for beginners/ learners. I spent 11 years riding a 6'6 thruster, which I got quite good on. But about 3 years ago I switched to a 7'5 mini-mal and I am having SO much more fun now and my surfing has improved massively as a result.

I love my mini-mal.

[libby]

I dont really understand why you would move down in size when your struggling to pop up on a 9'1??!!!!!

[sharkbait]

hey libby, my 9'1 isn't that wide. you could say the lenght is there but not the width.

charlie

[thaya]

i have 9'1 malibu. but struggling on it. too narrow and i rock all over when popping up

can anyone advise on what to buy? i'm thinking 6'10 shorty or 7'6 mini mal..

where is DBBB when you need him?

I've always wanted to do this:

Seriously sharkbait, if you're rocking all over on your 9'1 (despite you saying it's narrow) the last thing you need is a shorter board, which you will wobble about on MUCH MUCH more, trust me! I say you should stick with it, and if it's really a nightmare, then get a board which is wider and thicker (but not shorter)

[soops]

Hi Sharkbait,
I'm a newbie myself but agree with what everyone is saying about sticking with the large board if you are struggling.

My advice would be to make sure you aren't surfing anywhere too big. I really started to progress in nice clean, readable 2ft surf down in Polzeath. I've spent a lot of time before that being battered at watergate and fistral which meant i wasnt actually getting any time/chance to actually get up and find my balance.

[sharkbait]

ok. i feel like a muppet now.. i'll store it. the 6'10. something to look forward to.

yee haaaa riding pamela again..

thnks guys. thats what this site is for.

charlie.

[sinistapenguin]

Sharkbait - have you got a picture of Pamela?

Just asking 'cos I know someone who bought a 9' board - but it turned out to be a big wave gun. It looked like a needle it was so narrow.

Is it a traditional round nosed longboard or a very narrow pointy nose, pointy tail thing?

[sharkbait]

i'll post a picture. thats the best thing.

cheers.

[fishboy]

Hey Sharkbait, Whats the surf looking like in Perth? coming over that way in a couple of months, I have a 6'6 fish that i surf in england all the time thats what a went down to after a mini mal,

[sharkbait]

hey fishboy. surfing is ok. not the best. somedays 3 mtr swells. yesterday (april 30) it was 4 mtr swell, stormy, but choppy. with short runs to the beach.
along the west coast are some good runs, but rocky als. so i'm doing those. me being a beginner and all that..
the best place is scarboro beach which is 35 min drive for me.

you'll love it here in the summer. as with any hot climate place.. totty!!. sorry, how shallow of me.


charlie.

you migrating or just visiting

[fishboy]

Im migrating, have been to Wa b4 but didnt bring a board, Where are you? north of south?? Im looking at going north, Is there any chance of surfing without a suit at any time in the year??

[bluesnowcone]

Ahhhhhh, time for me to correct some misguided preconceptions again!

Do not be fooled into believing that Mini-mals are only for beginners/ learners. I spent 11 years riding a 6'6 thruster, which I got quite good on. But about 3 years ago I switched to a 7'5 mini-mal and I am having SO much more fun now and my surfing has improved massively as a result.

I love my mini-mal.

to right, theres this guy from sri lanker ( not to sure on spelling) and hes got a 7'7" and hes riping it up like some of the shortboarders, some of the back hand cut backs he does and jaw dropping. Also if your in a place where good surf doesn't happen that much a mini mal or a big egg is perfect if you dont want to drag round a longboard everytime theres surf

[sharkbait]

hey fishboy. i live NOR (north of the river). WA is divided like that. NOR/SOR

near joondalup.

yep.. you can surf without a suit. most of the times.. the ocean is about 19c at mo (aus autumn at mo, winter starts in june/july). but i wouldnt fancy being in there too long. it'll drop to about 15c.

scaboro beach / trigg beach are ok to surf. you dont get long runs as most waves are dumping.

scarb webcam~

http://www.swellnet.com.au/surfcam.php? ... &cam_id=58

all the best.