Linden Rio 7'2 for a 5'10 -180 - beginner?

[surf patrol]

Hi Guys,

Please help a surfing beginner / loser

I have always wanted to surf, had few lessons in my life and decided to "go on my own".

My gf has found a good deal - the Linden Rio 7'2 board for $100 and we decided to buy it. I did a bit of a research and apparently hybrid fish boards can be good for beginners....

Well, I just returned from surfing and the board keeps sinking under my weight, I can move to the back but then I cant even reach the board with my bent legs (the chicken wing pop up technique).

I can't find the girth and the width but its this board:



I am 5'10 - 175-180 pounds, athletic, snowboarding experience (if it matters at all).

Do you think that I should keep trying, persevere and learn or this may be too much for me and I should sell it and buy an 8 feet fun board?

I would appreciate your help..

All the best,

Stanis

[Tudeo]

Hi Stanis, it looks you've bought an intermediate skill board. You would be much better of finding a malibu (longboard) shape, say 9'x23"x3", those are best for beginners and if you buy a good one, will always be good to have in your quiver.
Off course you can start and learn on the board you've bought, but it will be a long and hard project.

[jaffa1949]

Let's start the whole review Don't classify yourself as a loser or you have already lost!
Beginner yes clueless yes, a good deal isn't if it doesn't work. ( the board is totally unsuitable for learning) no float means poor paddling even worse pop up, not even penguin wing pop up will work.
In spite of all the B/S advertising fish boards are not suitable for beginners.
Sadly a difficult mistake here , letting a non surfing GF buy choose your board, could be relationship challenging
At your weight and experience a 9ft board is more the way to go, you will be able to catch waves , by paddling, have a stable platform to stand on
So 9ft by 22" wide by about 2 and 3/4 inches to 3 inches thick.
Read through all the surf board advice we give people in your boat and you will understand why.
Keep the board you have for several years later when you become skilled enough.
Have fun in considering your next board, but please post picture before you buy on the forum, so we can help you choose

[StanislawKomorowski]

Thank you guys, I really appreciate your comments. I felt that something was off but I didn't want to blame the board straightaway.

The guy who sold me the board was 5'9 and easily 240 pounds, totally out of shape, and didn't really look like an archetypal surfer.
He said that it was his first board and he was ~230 pounds when he surfed on it for the last time.

Doesn't make sense at all..

Anyway, thank you again so much for your help and time, it is really exhilarating that old-school forums function so well. Will post a picture of a board for your approval once I find something suitable

[Big H]

Thank you guys, I really appreciate your comments. I felt that something was off but I didn't want to blame the board straightaway.

The guy who sold me the board was 5'9 and easily 240 pounds, totally out of shape, and didn't really look like an archetypal surfer.
He said that it was his first board and he was ~230 pounds when he surfed on it for the last time.

Doesn't make sense at all..

Anyway, thank you again so much for your help and time, it is really exhilarating that old-school forums function so well. Will post a picture of a board for your approval once I find something suitable

Hahaha....no problem blaming your girlfriend though (my gf has found a good deal....)

A guy who could surf could rock that board at 240lbs in decent waves. First rule of used board/car/etc. shopping is to know what you're looking for, research and come prepared.........if you depend on the seller to tell you what you're looking at, well......I've got a bridge for sale.......

Longboard is what you're looking for, definitely.

[StanislawKomorowski]

I think that price vs value it is a good deal and wanted to give her credit for that Thank you for your comment, already on a lookout for a longboard!

[waikikikichan]

I did a bit of a research and apparently hybrid fish boards can be good for beginners....

Could you point out the exact forum, magazine article, youtube video that states "hybrid fish boards can be good for a beginner". A Hybrid is usually a cross between a Long(er)board ( beginner friendly ) and a Short(er)board ( not for beginners ). So a Hybrid is a IN-Between board. So are you skills at the point between a beginner and say a more advance surfer ? YES - NO ? I would even say a Fun Board is more better for a beginner than a Hybrid. It would be nice to know where you got that info from.

Another thing , " Beginners, STOP buying Swallow / Fish tails ! Focus on paddling, catching, riding ( and staying out of the way of others ). Later as you learn to turn, that's when tails comes in to play. ( and even then you shouldn't get a swallow tail, because the tips are soo fragile ).

But $100 for a board like that............. good deal.

[StanislawKomorowski]

Now I am hesitating between these:

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/spo/6080260167.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/spo/6068478606.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/spo/6077289664.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/spo/6067402389.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/spo/6075424788.html

What do you think?

Will go back and try to find the websites with that statement.

[StanislawKomorowski]

@waikikikichan, I have found these sources where they recommend hybrids for beginners, these are not the ones I had originally researched but the statements made are very similar.

http://360guide.info/surfing/surfboard- ... z4dxhUqkfQ

https://www.degree33surfboards.com/blog ... er-surfers

[jaffa1949]

Stanis... etc the boards from Craigslist are all water damaged to various degrees those brown and yellowing patches are where water has come into the foam through various dings. If the foams is indented and shrinking away from the stringer then lots of water damage.
Board will not be as floaty as new ( I know that rates a duh) but harder to paddle.

Look a little further from that selection. The shape and sizes are pretty close and a beater can be a good board to learn on.
As to the hybrid stuff, they want to sell a board , the guys here don't have boards to sell, just an interest in advising you on a board best suited to your situation.
BTW. What a sad selling point. Street cred. So you won't look like a kook ! In reality everything about how you enter the beach zone yells learner.
How you carry your board, how you paddle, where you position yourself. Fancy board just says even more clueless learner with fancy board.

Forget street cred. Learn to read the beach and waves and traffic behaviour on your chosen beach, knowing that will advance your level.
'" might be a beginner, but knows his way around "
Lots to learn , lots of fun

[waikikikichan]

I have found these sources where they recommend hybrids for beginners, these are not the ones I had originally researched but the statements made are very similar.

Well you know if it's on the internet it must be true. But you've done research and probably got some conflicting opinions. If 10 sites say Hybrids are good for beginners and 10 say not good for beginners, what will you do ?
Again a good rule of thumb for a newbie/beginner is 3 feet over your head. For a 2nd or 3rd board when you got the paddling, catching down and beginning to turn then go 2 feet over your head, so for you that's still around a 7'10" +/- .
But if you got the cash, no way to find out the TRUTH, until you go paddle out on the that 7'2" Hybrid. You will learn and have you own opinion.