Beginer boards, look here if you wonder what to get

[Mweems10]

Hey everyone,
I'm just getting back into surfing after a 7-year break and am looking for some board advice. I was never too good, but could stand up and ride out in Santa Cruz. Now, I'm in Houston and will be surfing around Surfside Beach, where the waves usually top out at 6' and can be pretty mushy. I'm 6'1", 170 lbs., 23 yo male, and in-shape.

The shop nearby me has a used 7'2" Firewire Addvance in perfect condition with fins for ~$550 that I am debating picking up. Any thoughts on that board and price? If it's not a good fit, what should I be looking for?

Thanks!

[dtc]

Given your history and age, an Addvance might be an ok board. It wont be as stable as a mini mal/funboard shape (rounded nose) but it will have plenty of volume while you get back into things. What were you surfing before you stopped?

I don't know the waves in your area however - do most people surf longboards?

[Mweems10]

Thanks for the response, dtc.

I used to ride a fish. In Texas, most people ride longboards because flotation is crucial. However, i didn't ride longboards and the addvance's volume is similar to a malibu. The addvance is available with fins for $550.

[dtc]

I have two hesitations with the Addvance, but neither rule it out as a choice, just for you to consider.

firstly, the big volume (62L) is packed into a smallish board, which means that you may end up more on top of the water than part of the water - especially trying to bury the rail (do sharp turns) on slow mushy waves. Longboards and funboards are more cruisey long turn kind of boards where you turn off the tail, while boards with more rounded outline (ie the edges are rounded rather than straight like a LB) tend to require a style that is more rail to rail. The Addvance is sort of part way in between.

Now this wont be an issue much at the start, its more an issue once you get into doing your harder turns and so forth. It may not even really be an issue or, by the time you start noticing it, you will want a new board anyway (it happens every year or so to most surfers).

Secondly, while the Addvance looks like a fish in that it has a swallow tail (two points on the tail), it does have a lot more rocker (nose curve) than a fish does. This makes it a bit harder to catch weak waves (the rocker pushes against the water slowing the board down a fraction); while the narrower tail doesn't help (fat tails are generally better in weak waves). However, whether or not it makes a real difference in light of the first point I don't know.

So - in summary - I think its probably a pretty good choice but it might be a bit floaty for you. You wont know until you try! A safer choice is probably a nice 7ft6 or 8ft funboard or maybe going back to a larger fish, but I couldn't say (in my opinion) that you would be making a mistake in getting the Addvance. Each type of board has pluses and minuses, you cant really tell until you are actually surfing them. If the Addvance doesn't work out, sell it and buy something different

No idea whether its a good price, you will have to make that call yourself.

[enjoy]

I am your weight (165/170) ,5'11" and 26 and would actually caution away from going so large on the ADDvance. I have the 6'6 and at 48 L of volume, it's already sits very high out of the water. I like you had reservations about the length but I am happy with what I got. I would say if you're worried about catching waves and paddling go for the 6'10 (There is also a 6'8 but not sure if you would notice 2 inches of difference). If the 7'2 is your only option, it should be fine but it will definitely sit very high and depending on how fast you progress you may want something else sooner. I have only been surfing about a little over 1.5 years and I spent my first year on an 8' mini mal before switching over. What size was your fish? At that point I was able to pop up and ride down the line, so not sure where your ability currently sits.

When I got on my 6'6 for the first time, I noticed a decrease in glide which made paddling harder, but once you get used to the sweetspot and place your chest over the optimal thick zone the board is quite easy to paddle, but again you will definitely feel less glide (I got on a friend's 9' longboard recently and it is much easier to paddle, but now that I am used my board I don't mind). In terms of stability, popping up was not a very hard transition at all, the board is very stable. Yes, you can't get in waves as early as an 8' + board, but I found it forgiving in the sense that if you screwed up timing and actually popped up a little late you could make a steep drop much easier due to the slight nose rocker, length and large amount of stability provided by the width and thickness of the board. I have found myself recovering from small positioning/timing errors and making the pop up. FYI I don't surf anything much higher than overhead.

That being said, I have not been able to push the limits on the beveled rails (that are supposed to compensate for the boards thickness/corkiness), but from what I've read at the Firewire forums, they work for longer arcing turns. The waves that are in my comfort zone in terms of size in my area are not generally wave with much face so I haven't had too much practice with turns. I will say though the board feels much more maneuverable / less cumbersome and just feels much more agile in general when angling down the line or paddling towards and turning around for a wave.

Still, I wonder at times if I had dropped in length too quickly and maybe should have gone with a longer board (7'0 - 7'2) that wasn't quite as thick for a more balanced feel. I figure right now though I am comfortable enough on my board that I will stick with it until my next step down.

Last thing, $550 while a decent price is not cannot pass up excellent. I got my board for about $800 new, but the actual board was $725 with $75 shipping due to me not being able to pick up.

Hope this helps

I have two hesitations with the Addvance, but neither rule it out as a choice, just for you to consider.

firstly, the big volume (62L) is packed into a smallish board, which means that you may end up more on top of the water than part of the water - especially trying to bury the rail (do sharp turns) on slow mushy waves. Longboards and funboards are more cruisey long turn kind of boards where you turn off the tail, while boards with more rounded outline (ie the edges are rounded rather than straight like a LB) tend to require a style that is more rail to rail. The Addvance is sort of part way in between.

Now this wont be an issue much at the start, its more an issue once you get into doing your harder turns and so forth. It may not even really be an issue or, by the time you start noticing it, you will want a new board anyway (it happens every year or so to most surfers).

Secondly, while the Addvance looks like a fish in that it has a swallow tail (two points on the tail), it does have a lot more rocker (nose curve) than a fish does. This makes it a bit harder to catch weak waves (the rocker pushes against the water slowing the board down a fraction); while the narrower tail doesn't help (fat tails are generally better in weak waves). However, whether or not it makes a real difference in light of the first point I don't know.

So - in summary - I think its probably a pretty good choice but it might be a bit floaty for you. You wont know until you try! A safer choice is probably a nice 7ft6 or 8ft funboard or maybe going back to a larger fish, but I couldn't say (in my opinion) that you would be making a mistake in getting the Addvance. Each type of board has pluses and minuses, you cant really tell until you are actually surfing them. If the Addvance doesn't work out, sell it and buy something different

No idea whether its a good price, you will have to make that call yourself.

[dtc]

Good personal insight there. I realised the thing I forgot to mention was 'the glide' - longer boards, especially on weaker waves, are just less effort and much smoother.

[Mweems10]

Wow! Thank you dtc and enjoy for the thorough insight and advice... I'll steer away from the volume of the larger Addvance.

Based on additional guidance from local shops, I am now considering a Lost Quiver Killer and Firewire Greedy Beaver in the 6'6"-6'8" range, as well. It seems that both of those offer the rocker and glides similar to a mini-mal, but with more maneuverability.

[enjoy]

Wow! Thank you dtc and enjoy for the thorough insight and advice... I'll steer away from the volume of the larger Addvance.

Based on additional guidance from local shops, I am now considering a Lost Quiver Killer and Firewire Greedy Beaver in the 6'6"-6'8" range, as well. It seems that both of those offer the rocker and glides similar to a mini-mal, but with more maneuverability.

Not 100% sure about the Greedy Beaver but the Quiver Killer is more of a normal shortboard (albeit wide) whereas the Addvance is meant to be a mid-size board. From what I've read and heard from more experienced surfers, I think at this stage it's generally better to shoot for a board that is meant to be mid-sized vs. getting an oversized shortboard as it won't ride as intended since at 6'6+ it's for much larger people than us.

[dtc]

Based on additional guidance from local shops, I am now considering a Lost Quiver Killer and Firewire Greedy Beaver in the 6'6"-6'8" range, as well. It seems that both of those offer the rocker and glides similar to a mini-mal, but with more maneuverability.

Don't trust anyone who says a 6'6 board will offer glide similar to a mini mal...pretty much length of the board determines glide. A 6ft6 board - any 6ft6 board regardless of its other dimensions - will require you to develop speed to keep it going; the board itself wont provide it. I can notice the difference between my 7ft4 and my 6ft10 boards, and both are massively weak in gliding in comparison to my 9ft1.

Also keep in mind that manoeuvrability is another way of saying instability. So it sounds good when I say 'more manoeuvrability' but not so good when I say 'more instability'....learn (re-learn) to stand and balance and all the rest before trying to jump to the next level.

I still think a mid 7ft funboard/mini mal is the way to go. Its the board that most likely will get you back into surfing the easiest and will suit your waves. If you have a small day, like 1-2ft face waves, I cant imagine any 6ft6 board will be much use. You mentioned that most people in your area surf longboards, and there is probably a reason for that.

If you get at 7ft+ board and decide in 6 months that you want to try something shorter, then buy another board. Most surfers will have (at the very least) a longer board for smaller waves and a shorter board for better waves, no reason for you to be different.

[surf patrol]

Hello all.
I am getting into surfing in Lake Michigan and need some board advice. I have surfed before in California and want to have a board I could use both here and there. This boarded on Craigslist but I'm just wondering if it is really the right one for me. is it a gun? I can't find much info on the board of the shaped. What type of board is this considered? And is it good? Would it work well for me for where I want to use it? Thanks!
I am 5'11 and weigh 155 lbs
The board is 7'6"

<edit>

[Big H]

Links don't work.

What kind of boards do other people surf in Lake Michigan? I'm thinking probably longboards right? That's what I saw in a movie one time.

[Chardawg]

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/spo/5510882494.html
Sorry :p. Its the second board.

[Big H]

How good can you surf? I looked at the waves on youtube and I'd say those would be the most fun on a longboard unless you know what you are doing and can generate your own speed.....and then you wouldn't be asking in this thread.

[Chardawg]

I would say I can surf somewhat well. I am very coordinated and have good balance. What type of board would it be considered?

[Big H]

It is really about the conditions and your ability....things are slightly less buoyant in freshwater as well....I would err on the bigger side of things and go long anticipating standard conditions to be relatively small and you're still building fitness; big board will allow you to paddle for awhile longer....smaller will most likely tire you out fairly quickly and the summers are short around Lake Michigan; wetsuit isn't going to do much for 5 months out of the year.....but I don't know; I lived in Chicago for a year and never noticed any waves at the beach off Michigan Avenue, but there was no sandbar I guess.....

[surferbee]

Bottom line: Don't start out on a short board. When I was 20 and living 2 blocks from a surf break, I thought, "Hey, I'm going to start surfing." So, I bought the coolest looking board I could find within my budget. It was just slightly taller than me, super thin, and cut like a dagger. It looked great under my arm. After spending a year of surfing that board for several days per week, I still sucked at catching waves, reading waves, and - you guessed it - riding waves. My thinking was that I was young, strong, athletic with great balance and a TON of skateboarding and skiing experience.

My thinking was wrong. After a year of failing, I went to visit a friend who lived near another beach and we went out on longboards. I caught more waves in that session than I ever had before. It was amazing, and I suddenly realized why everyone had suggested starting out on a longboard or a mini mal. That's where you learn your fundamentals - reading waves, catching waves, carving, trimming, but most importantly, having fun.

After not surfing for 15 years, I decided to pick it up again and I bought a fish. I thought, "It'll all come back quickly." Well, after 2 or 3 months I realized that it didn't come back as quickly as I had hoped. Simply put, I just wasn't catching as many waves as I wanted to. I sold the fish and bought a mini mal to get comfortable again, and within a handful of sessions I had my groove back.

If you want to graduate to a short board, cool. Buy a decent used longboard or mini mal, get to know it, then sell it later when you want to move on. I bought my first longboard board for $250, surfed it for a year and sold it for $250, then bought something else. You don't have to get married to your first board. You don't have to drop a ton of money on a new board just to learn on it. I've even seen experienced surfers absolutely rip on $100 soft boards. Once you start to know what you're doing, then you can start to figure out what other boards you want to try. I'm still trying to figure that part out. But what I have learned is that you'll have more fun and learn faster if you start with a longboard or mini mal.

Just my 2 cents, but I hope it saves someone from being too proud and making the same mistakes I made.

[Zoefallsdown]

Hi, I've done lessons on an 8' foamie and found that good, but quite heavy, I'm 5'4 female and not very strong, I'll be surfing stuff that could barely be considered a wave, and was wondering if a board can be too big? I'm currently looking at an 8'4 longboard that's about 21 inches wide and pretty cheap, is this board suitable? Or is it too big and heavy?

[jaffa1949]

If you can handle the board, pick it up and imagine carrying it the width of your beach to the water. length is OK for your size and you are being smart having a longer board to learn on.

You may need to build up your strength both for carrying and surfing .
Do consider the price and the condition of the board if it has brown or yellow spots or areas in the foam then it has some water damage ( adds weight).
Post a picture and see what we can advise you. Enjoy the journey

[dtc]

You can also get surfboard carry slings eg http://tinyurl.com/hlbcee2 if you really need them

When paddling and when standing, the size of a biggish board wont matter too much. But you will need to learn to control it in white water and not let it fly around (which can be hard) and, of course, when carrying the board (if you need to carry it a long distance). Most of the time you are paddling or catching/trying to catch a wave, so you are better off getting a board that best suits those activities (ie a fairly big one like you are thinking about) rather than a board which maybe better suits the other parts

[Zoefallsdown]

Thanks heaps, it's pretty cheap, but no unusually so, and it's in the Hawkes Bay so I haven't been able to see it, but will get a friend to check it out, here's a link to the listing.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/surfing ... 851111.htm[/url]