Surfing Waves

Hi, my boys aged 10 (30 kilos) and aged 11 (45 kilos), they had lessons and love, and want boards for this coming christmas, i have to be prepared (re finances) and buy now in the sales (before tomorrow 30 June); they dont want the 'foam' they think are babyish, yet they are beginner and need a board they can ride and also grow into (so value for money). Ive no knowledge of anything to get other than in the shop and the 2nd hand ones are very cool for now and long lasting but 2nd hand at $600 each. I understand they need to be wider at the nose for better balance and also 5 fins the more someone advised. Also told its better to learn on a bigger board.

And Im confused by the measurement chart as boy
aged 10 is 120cm tall, 30 kilos, and boards showing under 35 kilos to get 26 volumne, but the boards (specifically the Cheap Thrills board (link below); starts at measurements showing 45 kilos = 32.4 volumne so that would be a board 6'2-6'4?
and the other boy aged 11 is 150cm tall, 45 kilos, and boards for him would start also the same; 45 kilos = 32.4 volumne so that would be a board 6'2-6'4 but hes bigger than his brother so the next one up is 63-72 kilos and the board be 6'4-6'8?

I want them to be able to enjoy now for their height / weight / age but also not be useless grown out of it in a year.

PLEASE ANY HELP IM GOING OUT OF MY MIND AND ALL THE RESEARCH IVE DONE IM STILL NOT THAT WISER FOR WHAT TO ORDER ON LINE, IF THE SALE IS WORTH IT.

The Cheap Thrills on the SurfBoard Warehouse;


https://www.thesurfboardwarehouse.com.a ... p-thrills/

https://www.thesurfboardwarehouse.com.a ... -eco-bean/

https://www.thesurfboardwarehouse.com.au/vessel-zephyr/

https://www.thesurfboardwarehouse.com.a ... oard-type/

I want value for money whilst sales on and need some honest good advice.
Sorry long email, a mum with no idea and 2 boys rearing to go!
Thank you.

Wish my mum had bought me a surfboard when I was 10....

Right, I happen to know all those boards because there's a Surfboard Warehouse just up the road from me and I had a good look at them one day.

Ignoring the length for a moment, the cheap thrills and the eco-bean are very wide boards, and with kids little feet and weight, they won't have much fun trying to turn them (or even carry them).
So, of those three, I'd be looking at the Zephyr.

As for size, you're in the right ballpark, maybe a bit too big. Volume is your friend while learning, but they're kids - they'll work it out. And if you get them a board that's a touch too large for them now (= extra volume while they're learning) it'll become the right size for them as they grow and get better at surfing.

I'd go something like 6' (maybe 6'2) for the 10 year old, and 6'2 or maybe 6'4 for the older one.

You know them best - if they're those annoying kids that can pick up anything real quick, go a bit smaller, but if - bless 'em - they're a bit all over the place, go up a bit in volume.

A few things to ease your mind, the boy's won't grow out of something about 6'8" for quite a while, i would suggest the RPMmodel it is a little tougher and has features that they can work with as they grow, going any shorter or thinner at the learning stage, can hinder their paddling power. The Zephyr is a good one to consider too.
If they are keen enough to not want the foam these look pretty cool.
I would also look at Torq surfboards in a similar size quite a few of our guys like to Torq.
There a quite a few shops in Australia that sell Torq boards .
A question, where are you based? I'm on the NSW south coast and there are forumites who might be nearby who can help too. They migh know a good shop or have some connections.
Just your area will do!
Good luck and just hang on for a little bit while we all get to read your post!

Oh, that's good, me and Jaffa give completely contradictory advice!

...Although I did have a look at the RPM model and think that might be a good choice too!

drowningbitbybit wrote:Oh, that's good, me and Jaffa give completely contradictory advice!

...Although I did have a look at the RPM model and think that might be a good choice too!

Not really just a little more growing room!
they can get a growth spurt and all that paddling will add muscle bulk.

You sure they will still be into surfing by Christmas?

Another option is to give them a budget and tell them to find their own board (might be a bit young but they have 6 months).

Btw, the more fins the more better is wrong. 3 fins is all you need.

Jaffa, torq boards are around $600 odd, unfortunately.

DBB, what did you think of the surf warehouse boards? The carbon jet piqued my interest slightly, although I suspect I'll just get a custom in the end anyway

dtc wrote:Jaffa, torq boards are around $600 odd, unfortunately.

Oops I didn't find the price so it doesn't fit the bill!

It looks to me that you're willing to spend about $600 total on the boards. So I would give each of your kids a $300 budget to work with and then take them to as many surf shops as you can get to and have them talk to surf shop sales people. Take cell phone pictures of the boards they like at the various shops. Write down the dimensions of the boards. Let the sales person know how your buying process works. They might try cutting you a deal to get both sales. Don't buy any boards though. Go home and have them go through the boards they took pictures of and make a decision on the board they want. Let them sleep on their decision. The next day go and make the purchase or see if they want to do more shopping. Have fun.

And another thing . . . feel free to post the pics of the boards here and get feedback.

I'm new here but have been lurking since I started surfing a year ago. I had to go through the hassle and confusion of buying boards to my older kids during that time so I can relate.

dtc wrote:You sure they will still be into surfing by Christmas?

THIS. Unless they are really into surfing and/or you are very encouraging, they might move on to something else in the next 6 months. I've seen near new surfboards on local classified ads claiming that kids have lost interest and that they want to sell that board here and there. But assuming that's not the case... here's my experience.

After kids took lessons we bought them wavestorm foamies for a while like about a dozen sessions. The instructor has told us 7'6" and 6'6"fun shape boards respectively for then 16yrs.(5'8" and 160lb) and 12yrs.(4'9" and 90lb) to progress to. The older one did some homework and picked out a used 7'10" fun shape board and he has progressed well into a competent beginner over the course of a year, surfing about once a week. For the younger one, I bought a 7' fun shape which he has struggled so much in paddling, catching, and riding waves... basically everything, even though he is/was quite fit and athletic. Recently, I found him a 8' mini mal and finally he is enjoying while learning.

So, if I were in your shoe I'd be looking at Jiven in 7' and 7'6" for 10 and 11 yrs knowing that they will have fun learning and be using the same boards for a while.

https://www.thesurfboardwarehouse.com.au/waterborn-jiven-2016/

But if the kids are really really into surfing and head to the beach everyday and/or strong willed go-getter types, hybrid may be ok. My kids are more laid back. At least, if in doubt, choose longer boards. And be prepared to carry and care for the boards for your kids, pretty much no matter which board you pick out!

dtc wrote:]
DBB, what did you think of the surf warehouse boards? The carbon jet piqued my interest slightly, although I suspect I'll just get a custom in the end anyway

I go past a Surf Warehouse on the bus when I'm off out to the pub, and they've a whole bunch of VERY cheap boards outside so I popped in one day and had a look when I was looking for a new cheap groveller, but I have to admit that I didn't like the look of them, they felt cheap and clunky.
I'll admit that possibly I was just put off by the cheap showroom feel of the place – they look a bit like a Closing Down! Everything Must Go! sale. Board shops should either be bright and spangly with pictures of Fanning ripping it up or be a shed with a bloke in a mask sweeping up fibreglass detritus, not somewhere in between

For kids' first boards - brilliant. For something you don't mind getting beaten up a bit - brilliant. For a cheap mini-mal (hmm, maybe I should get a cheap mini-mal...) - brilliant.
For my go-to board? No chance.

Just a note on why I recommend the 6–6'6 range...

I'm assuming that the original poster lives somewhere near me (Surfboard Warehouse is based in my bit of the world with shops from Byron to Noosa) and the kids round here simply don't surf learner boards. Remembering way way way back to when I was their age... .... the thought of being the kid with the mini-mal in the line-up would have horrified me and would have been the best way to get me to give up surfing.

Assuming that they live 5 minutes from the beach (almost everyone does around here), I stick with the 6'6 suggestion!

Most kids in my area ride hybrid or fish unless they are totally new to surfing in which case they have foamies, so I guess my kids are a bit different from average teens/tweens. My atypical 16yrs. just switched to a single fin longboard. Different stroke for different folks.

Anyway, try to avoid poly boards. They are very fragile so every little impact against a hard surface causes dents which you have to fix before hitting the water. You'd be spending $$ getting fixed each time, or learning to repair it yourself if you are a crafty type.

Has anyone asked the question of what size board the boys used during their lesson ? A baseline size needs to be established first. Were they using 8's or 9's ? Were they paddling by themselves into waves or being pushed by the instructors ?

drowningbitbybit wrote:the thought of being the kid with the mini-mal in the line-up would have horrified me and would have been the best way to get me to give up surfing.

Times have changed. Single fin "Logs" are cool now. Just like baggy pants and bell bottoms WERE in fashion, now it's skinny jeans. You're still not listening to the Bee-Gees are you ?

waikikikichan wrote:Times have changed. Single fin "Logs" are cool now.

Not round here they're not!

The young and not-so-young surf dudes are ripping it up out there on all kinds of craft, but the kids are still firmly in favour of tiny wafer-thin shortboards, and dammit they're good!

Just a note I started surfing at 9 in 1958 there was a choice even then , Balsa malibu or plywood box type almost malibu shapes with a whiskey cork in a drain in the nose.
Surfoplanes or body surf and some plywood paipo type boards with kitchen cupboard handles to hang onto.
Being very young the boy will adapt to whatever well, just the cool factor is evident these days.

A lot of us forget what it is like to be 10 and 11 and many of the guys are later age learners and the advice is just simply different for different needs.

these guys have lots of cheap used boards and delivery anywhere

http://www.powerlinez.com