What board for a fast learner??!

[peazz]

Hey guys!

My first rental board was a really heavy long board, was not a foamie around 7"8 i reacon, I managed to get up and surf on my second attempt / pop-up and was surprised how stable and easy it felt, it was nice to feel the pick up on the board but did not feel very agile at all..

My second rental board was alooooot shorter, maybe only 8 - 10" taller then myself, felt unstable to lay on in the water, First few waves threw me off the board, but i soon figured it out and by mid session i was consistently catching waves and even trying to turn ( abliet failing ).

Im now on the hunt for my own personal board, although my experience is low i want something that is challenging, I learn very fast ( i taught myself to design websites on a professional level in 10 months! i just got a job offer in hk ) and am pretty good at analyzing both my own technique and others aswel.. I can only find one surf shop here in hong kong and they recommended a 6" or 6"3 NSP fish.... ( im 5"5 / 145lbs ). After some reading it seems they are quite heavy? I don't have transport so need something light and easy to carry around.

Couple of questions:

1. Is a fish the best board for 1 - 8ft waves? i wont just be using this board in hk, im here for a year and its central to the whole of asia, I can get a 7 day return last minute to AUS for £120PP return with cathay pacific.. I would like to see the Philippines, bali and maybe hainan as i progress. As well as this i will be returning home to the uk and will defo be using the board on the west coast aswell.

I know a lot of people will say go for a long board, but when i rode one, although it picked up waves easier it felt like things were to easy for me, not only that it didn't feel very agile. I have adhd, if I get bored and there's no challenge i'll just get bored and give up ( happens with so many things )

2. Whats the best mid priced board to go for that is not overbearingly heavy? i have a 30/40min commute to my local surf spot on lantau ( in summer ) or big wave bay ( winter / autum ). i have tried to pick a board myself but every time im swamped with different brands and terminology, its hard as a newbie to follow everything!

Ive searched google for international shippers but board prices seem to be pretty extortionate.. any help on getting a board into hk and choosing one would be immensely appreciated

Sorry for the epic long post

Andy

[peazz]

I forgot to add that i have been looking at a 7s Superfish, but unsure of its weight and unable to find a supplier in hk

[peazz]

I `m so sorry for posting this is the wrong forum! I have familiarized myself with the categories now! If an admin could merge my posts and move this to the relevant forum that would be great!

height: 5"5
Weight: 145lbs - Will increase as i surf more to around 150 - 155
Fitness: Been lazy for some months, but alot more active / getting into shape.
Experiance: 2 x 3 hours sessions, 7ft+ long board first time, 6"2 board second time managed to line up, paddle and catch the wave both times

[jaffa1949]

It's cool peazz,
your posts are in a suitable forum, I'm familiar with the 7S fish and a 6'3' in the epoxy models would suit your weight and be light. you will be more challenged by riding shorter but it is not an insurmountable issue.
Your biggest problem will be lack of quality water time to master whatever board you choose.

I'll be blunt, you on the very beginning of the learning scale, and you assume you will be a fast learner, it was not the board that lacked agility, but you as a beginner, that was the lack!
You say you have ADHD so surfing is great and will challenge your concentration and your desire to stick to it, there are many things to master in surfing and you are at the beginning of a great journey.

Your post gives me some concern you won't be using the board in Hong Kong, so how will you progress enough to surf Bali the Philippines or even Hainan?
You will find 8ft waves a very different proposition to anything you have tried so far. White water surfing is very different to actually riding a wave, and then size adds more.
My suggestion so you not all at sea is to not buy a board in HK but when you can take a trip to Bali, try the sort of board you think you want at a beginners' break, and buy a board there!
You will know more having tried and gained an understanding of what you want and need.

As for weight of boards they are all similar unless they are old and waterlogged.

[peazz]

Hey Jaffa,

Thanks for your reply. I will be using the board in hong kong thats for sure waves are just starting to pick up over here so i will be getting practice in on my board as much as i can, past couple weeks been hard because i been working with a client on a website

When i say fast learner, just the people around me getting lessons and failed for 2 hours to catch a wave, i jumped in the water and caught a wave a second attempt and nearly everyone after that with no lessons at all, im 100% aware im in this for life and ill never stop learning.

My first time on the water, i was paddling in the green water, the waves were small but hollow.
Second time Green water again, onshore winds so the wave all broke at the same time, again hollow but they were well over my head ( thats me standing on the sand ) and i caught them aswel

Heres where im surfing atm with the SW wind during summer: http://magicseaweed.com/Cheung-Sha-Surf-Report/1164/

The problem over here is during summer months the swell is really inconsistent, and sometimes theres not even white water.

If i buy myself a board theres a high chance i could end up in hawaii for month ( i found some real good deals on accommodation, like $2000USD for a month rent and u practically get your own house and it sleeps 4!, if you want the website inbox me ill sort you out ), indo is only a few hows away i could decide i wanna go and get up and go, I know i wont be able to surf the huge breaks in these location, but ill have consistent swell to learn on.....Although im not one to not give something a try and really push myself (ill avoid the dangerous ones!)

Is the 7s Fish pretty resilient? If i can get some decent wave time here and learn faster / more, will the fish serve me well in indo etc? my adhd is in overdrive atm i just want to get to some consistent swell and surf all day everyday..

Thanks for your help Jaffa

[jaffa1949]

Hi again peazz, sounds like your ADHD may well provide you with the revved up state that will get you up and surfing more quickly, the 7S epoxy are quite durable for a learner and will take you further in your abilities.

I know the shaper of the original 7S and he made many boards for me , they work!

Good luck keep posting there is a lot of help here in the forum!

[peazz]

The problem im finding at current is finding a dealer that will ship to hong kong? unless of course i book a sneaky trip out to indo and buy a one out there? cathay pacific have last minute flgihts to aus aswel for £120pp for 7 days flying out from hk..

I'm itching to finish up with my current client and jump on a plane somewhere, i know ill most prob get smashed about a bit down there, but hell aint getting rattled what its all about? pushing ur limits, making mistakes and learning from them?

I will be around alot Jaffa dont you worry if i did end up in indo on a get away trip, where would be the best place for a variety of waves small to challenging