Surfing Waves

Hi everyone,

I'm a noob here and wondering if I can ask some advice for a first board. I've spend the spring and summer really enjoying getting out of the city to some beaches in the south of the UK and would now like to buy something of my own. All lessons and trips I've taken so far have had to be to places with a shop I can hire from.

I'm at the stage where I am getting out past the white waves, and starting to catch greens, riding across the face of the wave. I'm not catching everything I want to, but getting up on my feet consistently (probably not too graceful when up!).

I'm 6ft 5in and the boards I've been hiring have all been either 7.5ft or 8ft foam boards.

It would be great to get some advice on what would be best to go for at my current level, as I look to improve and surf a few days each month, more if I can. Would like to keep costs below £200 and I'm not fussy about new or second hand, as long as it's good quality.

So any guidance on size, longboard/mini mal/ etc would be brilliant!

Thanks in advance

Hi Scot, welcome, I’ve moved your post to surfboard advice you are among people around your level,asking the same question, so have a read up, that will,encourage you as we offer advice.
At 6’ 5” I would suggest looking around 9ft but one factor we don’t know is your weight, big consideration is needed there.

Hard or soft board, foamies are designed to catch waves easily ( a great thing while you are learning) being very buoyant..
A few of our forumites at your stage can give good recommendations!
Enjoy your journey into the world of surfing.

Thanks for your reply and for moving me in to the right section of the forum.

I weigh 91kg alongside my 6ft 5 height!

Where abouts are you surfing?

If you want to stay on a foamie people seem to be banging on about hot surf 69 boards. Not tried one myself but a lad I see regularly has just got one and he loves it.

If you want a hard board then get on Facebook second hand surfboards UK, second hand longboards, pre loved surf. This time of year most of the beginner boards sell really quick.

I was around your weight but not as tall and I had a 9'2 nsp and it was brilliant. Could use it all through the rubbish we have during the summer and also got out all through the winter on it and it handled as big as I wanted to go.

If you are surfing off the South coast most of the time you would be better off on a longboard.

Hey Millsy82, thanks for your reply. Yes, mostly surfing around the south coast. Dorset, Cornwall and South Wales most regularly.

I'll check out that facebook page as I think maybe a longboard is the way to go. I'd like something a bit more challenging and robust than a foamie but still able to catch a decent amount of waves at this stage. NSP seems to be a decent shout if I can find one.

The only thing I'm slightly wary of is buying online or even picking up in person from an online seller as I'm not hugely confident I'd know exactly what to watch out for with a second-hand board. Maybe a shop a better bet?

For £200 you won't get much as most longboards hold their price well £250 and less you will get an old battered board that will probably need work to get it surfable.

£250-400 will get you an old repaired board £400 upwards you can usually get a half decent board. When new boards usually start £700+ if you get a good board for £500 you've got a bargain.

Look for the likes of Alder, torq, nsp, bic as these will generally go cheap as they are cheap to buy. Keep going surf shops as most have a second hand rail where you may grab a bargain (most of the boards will be tiny short boards)

I can't really help you as in what to look for but all I do is don't buy if it's covered in wax (hides all sins) look for creases, dings repairs on the board. If it's been painted after it has been finished it may look cool but probably hiding something.

90% of people selling are honest but you do get some that will rip you off so go and look at them.

I'm 6'3 and 85kg so sort of similar. I suggest (as the others have) a longboard, I would look for something like 9'2 x 22 1/2 x 2 3/4. You can go slightly longer or shorter (eg a few inches) and maybe width (the middle number) could be 21 3/4 or so (but try to stay over 22 inches - wider is fine, narrower is not so fin) and you can go thicker (the last number) but try
not to go too much thinner (in other words, a 9'4 x 23 1/2 x 3 1/4 is fine, but try not to go below 8'6 length)

This is a fairly standard longboard dimension, so you will be able to find plenty of options. Well, in new boards; whether or not you can find a good second hand one i dont know.

As millsy says, Alder, torq, nsp, bic are all reasonable quality 'cheap' boards (cortez also I guess). These seem to retail for around £400- 500. You probably can also find more 'lesser known' brands for cheaper; these can be ok but sometimes the quality isnt that good (they are usually just bulk made in Asia without a huge amount of quality control at the factory). Absolutely fine for your starter board; it just might not last 2 or 3 years. But they are valid options so long as you dont expect a lifelong commitment. But second hand is ideal, its just a waiting game

Cheers everyone, that's given me good food for thought. Looks like I will probably need to extend my budget for a decent longboard but happy to do that if it gets me something that'll last a while and hold some of it's value.

dtc, thanks for such detailed info regarding length, width etc. Interesting that it might be quite a wait to find something that fits the bill, not just simply walking in to a shop and walking out again. So I'll keep my eyes peeled in shops when I'm out on my travels!

EDIT: Would appreciate any thoughts on these....

https://www.secondhandboards.com/used-surfboard/custard%20point-Nose%20Rider-EXETER-24146

https://www.secondhandboards.com/used-surfboard/Blacker-Cruiser%20Performer%20Hybrid-Taunton-23988

Too long? https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/296785837124293/permalink/1282621301874070/?sale_post_id=1282621301874070

Custard point are meant to be well built so you could do a lot worse than that.

I've never heard of the others but they look ok.

A 9'6 isn't too long especially for your height. My long board is a 9'6 and I caught loads on it.

all of those look fine from the photos, good investigating. I like the custard board as well, if you can cope with the floral deck - but the blacker is also a nice board (the jacobs seems to be a bit more of an older 'log' design - wider at the back - but isnt a terrible choice)

Keep in mind that fins can cost £50? (although all of the ones listed have fairly cheap fins - but still perfectly fine for you) and a bag probably about the same; so if you get fins and a bag with the purchase then that is another saving (I wouldnt use a second hand leg leash - go and buy a new one)

Thanks again guys. I'll try to have a look at both of them but good to know I'm on the right lines.

If anyone out there does have a Blacker board or a view on them, do let me know please!

Hi Scot

I'm no expert but for what its worth...

My first post-foamy board was a 7'9" Bic. I liked the Hossegor logo on it!
I managed OK on it but my technique is poor and it used to feel a bit unstable.
I sold it and got an 8'2" Torq which I love. Not sure the extra 3 inches in length adds much but it feels way more bouyant and a bit more forgiving. Lots of places now seem to have them as there go-to rental brand so you might be able to try one out before committing to purchase.
Good Luck.

Thanks again for everyone's replies. I'm picking up the Custard Point board this afternoon, excited about it!

Quick question, it comes with a board bag, and I've got factory fitted roof bars on my VW Golf so I'm (fairly) confident about things staying in place up there on my roof on the motorway! But with the board in a bag, do you go fins over the front of the car, or at the boot end? And should I stick below 70mph?!

Ha, fins front or back. It’s one of the biggest dividing lines in surfing, up there with natural or goofy, single fin or not and whether you hate SUPs or instead despise SUPs

I think the aerodynamic consensus is fins at the front (and pointing up). Also the fins act as a barrier if the board starts slipping. Just make sure you tie the board on well (but not ‘too tight’ as you can dent the board with roof straps). If your roof bars are solid metal, even with a bag, think about putting a towel in the bag (between the board and the rail) as extra padding.

Well done on the purchase; go and have fun

It’s definitely more aerodynamic with the fins at the back. But it’s a total kook move lol! Like dtc said, fins up front keeps the board from slipping out if straps loosen, which they sometimes do.

Tom

Hello

I am working on a feature film and we wish to use a surf board with the brand name ATLANTEK on the board. I have been trying to source the company who makes ATLANTEK and have had no luck. I would be very grateful if someone could let me know if the company who makes ATLANTEK surfboards are still in existence or if they are trading under a different company name? Many thanks. Paula

Try looking around in Ireland, they may have been a bulk one off shipment of cheap boards made in Asia.
Some for sale in various eBay type sites around 2011.
Would probably lack beach credibility, but possibly without copyright issues.

Good luck

I always put it on fins at the back never had a problem with it moving but I was just driving down cornish lanes mostly.

Gets some pipe lagging (As thick as possible) and cable ties to cover your roof bars then it gives the board some protection and you can strap it down that little bit tighter.

Hooray for scotsurf89!