Surfing Waves

Hey everyone,
I'm a newbie looking to start surfing and would like advice regarding buying a surfboard. I'm a 5'5, 110lb (50kg), 20 year old female for reference. I live between Gold Coast/Byron Bay. I want to get into short boarding, I love carving it up on the skateboard and would love to be able to carve it up in the surf but I do understand it'll take time, patience and hard work to get to that stage.

On the stickie'd thread on the top of this sub forum it says: "If your height is between 5' and 5'6", get something like a 6'8" funboard, thats about 20" wide and 2 3/8 thick." Would this be the way to go?? Because I've seen lots of threads that say to start on a longboard, however I feel like longboards are too big and I struggle carrying them lol. I also don't really want to spend money on a foamie and then outgrow it, I'd rather put in some extra $$ and get something that I can use for a long time. I've been doing some research about types of surfboards like minimal, fish, hybrid fish etc. but it's all so overwhelming!! I appreciate any advice from you guys about a good surfboard for me.

I was thinking of buying a second hand board. Also, buying off gumtree… should I be cautious? I don't know what to look for in a surfboard damage wise and I'm scared I'll get ripped off so am I better off buying a board from a surf shop? Anyone recommend any good surf shops in the GC/Byron area? And if anyone has any links to good boards/places to buy I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you!!

You're in a good bit of the world to learn to surf

First off... don't get a foamie! They're only any good for your first couple of surf lessons.

At your height/weight, I'd go a touch longer than the 6'8, and for something like 7' x 21 x 2 3/4, with a mini-mal outline. That should have plenty of volume but not be too big for your size.

You could go gumtree, but unless you've got someone who knows what they're doing, I wouldn't risk it. Gumtree adverts almost always say "Great for beginners!!!!!!" whether they are or not.

My recommendation at this point would be to buy a not-too-expensive pop-out. Fortunately, you're in a bit of the world where surfboards are really cheap (almost half the price of a board in Sydney). You could try "Sideways Surf Outlet" at Tweed Heads. It's a huge warehouse-type shop that sells mass-produced boards at a really good price and they'll have something suitable.
Something like this maybe at around 7'...
http://www.sideways.com.au/sideways-bul ... navy-blue/

That'll keep you going for a while. You'll want to upgrade eventually but everybody does

"I love carving it up on the skateboard" - you don't have to catch the hill on a skateboard, but you do need to catch the wave on a surfboard. Point your skateboard downhill or push off with your legs and you're moving. Surfing is all about paddling. 90% Paddling only 10% riding. If you buy a too short board, you wont be able to paddle. you won't catch waves, you won't have fun. If you get a too small board, you won't carve because you won't be able to get out onto the clean shoulder TO carve.

"I've seen lots of threads that say to start on a longboard, however I feel like longboards are too big and I struggle carrying them". - that's fine. But it's give and take. I rather struggle on land but have a easier time in the ocean.

"I also don't really want to spend money on a foamie and then outgrow it, I'd rather put in some extra $$ and get something that I can use for a long time." - a Foamie lets you make beginner mistakes when it comes to damages to the board and to your head / body ( which will happen ).

Your first bicycle you learned on isn't the same as the type of bike you ride now. Even if I aspire my child to enter a Ironman triathlon or the Tour de France one day, should I buy him a wizz-bang Carbon Fiber aero-bike and throw some training wheels on it ? No, as his technique and power grows, we upgrade his equipment. Your first few boards are just for learning, they won't be your last. But if you buy a board that is too advanced, you'll be overwhelmed and give up.