Another annoying newb question

[forfarhill]

Hi all
My name is Vanessa and I live in the land of deadly creatures....uh I mean Australia....anyway in about a month I'll be moving to a place about 10mins away from the beach! I'll be on the south coast in the Illawarra region, the surf is good in winter and less great in summer although fine to learn on. I'm pretty excited. I'm super keen to learn to surf, I've taken a lesson before and sucked horribly-I have the balance and grace of a drunken toad what can I say?-but loved it nonetheless. I've read up about boards and beginners (soft top the bigger the better) and I have an 8ft foamie someone gave me to start. But I am confused as I've read up and it seems that if you're surfing a couple times a week that you will likely progress sooner and could start/progress with a minimal/fun board around 7ft.This suits me as I hate the 8ft board (heavy, cumbersome and just feels way, way too big), I'd like to start with it and then pretty rapidly buy another board for myself to start progressing onto as I improve.....I mean, hopefully I'll get better than I am now But I don't want to buy a board I might not use for a couple of years. So in theory would it be okay for 5'6 142lb (64kg) me to start out on the foamie get the gist and then start using the other 7ft board here and there before progressing onto it entirely? Or am I being way way too ambitious? Or alternatively would a 7' foamie be okay? Or perhaps a 7'6 minimal? Here are some boards I'm looking at for an idea of what I'm thinking:

https://au.catchsurf.com/collections/od ... cts/log-70

https://shop.surfindustries.com/au/surf ... hortboard/

Or I could get a board (the horn) from these guys, but it'd be an investment so I'd have to be able to actually use it and in reality since I have no idea it could be a not very good investment:
https://www.wavecreations.com.au

Any tips or advice?

Vanessa

[waikikikichan]

Hi all
I'm super keen to learn to surf, I've taken a lesson before and sucked horribly-
I've read up about boards and beginners (soft top the bigger the better) and I have an 8ft foamie someone gave me to start. But I am confused as I've read up and it seems that if you're surfing a couple times a week that you will likely progress sooner and could start/progress with a minimal/fun board around 7ft.
I'd like to start with it and then pretty rapidly buy another board for myself to start progressing onto as I improve.....I mean, hopefully I'll get better than I am now
But I don't want to buy a board I might not use for a couple of years. So in theory would it be okay for 5'6 142lb (64kg) me to start out on the foamie get the gist and then start using the other 7ft board here and there before progressing onto it entirely?

Currently you suck horribly.
If you do surf a couple times a week and maximize your abilities on the 8' foamy THEN it will be time to think about your next board. THAT time might be a month from now or maybe a year from now. It's not that time... YET.
Your theory of moving from your 8 foot foamy, then 7'6" fun, to 7'0" and on is fine. But don't get ahead of your present situation. Once you can start catching green waves on your own and bottom turning both front and back side on your foamy, then you can start to research other boards.

BUT if you are rich and have the extra cash to spend rapidly, go ahead and buy that 7'0". If it doesn't work out and you get frustrated on it, you can put it to the side and it will be something that can inspire you to get to. ( plus the surf industry needs you to buy more stuff ).

[forfarhill]

Yep, I think the guy who gave lessons was sad for me Mind you it wasn't until halfway through we realised I was goofy footed and hence they'd been telling me to pop up totally wrong! I'm currently a broke student and was thinking of conning the family into a Chrissy present, but I reckon now I'll just keep my eye out for something 7'6 second hand and save the begging for when I'm ready for something nicer that I can actually handle

Vanessa

[waikikikichan]

I don't know where you surf or exactly how you surf, but i can almost guarantee that a 7'6" fun board will not help you.

[dtc]

Have you surfed the foam board much? 8ft boards can feel huge out of the water, but once you are catching waves then you really appreciate the size. Sure it feels hard to control in the white water or breaking waves, but controlling the board in the water is a skill you have to learn, it wont be any easier with a 7ft6 board (other than it will hurt more if it hits you in the head)

Foam boards are heavy and its possible you have an old one that is a bit waterlogged? But if its new, then that is just what it is.

Rather than look for a 7ft something board, you should look for an 8 or 9ft board. Surf that for a while - as waikikichan says, it might be a month (unlikely) or it might be a year - before trying to go shorter. Yes shorter boards have benefits, they are a bit lighter, they are a bit easier to carry. But they arent as good when you are trying to surf; which is the whole point of having a surfboard.

Certainly you may like a 7'6 board more than the foam board; that might be because the foam board isnt very good. But I think you will - in time - appreciate an 8ft or 9ft board more than either the 7ft6 or foam board.

Where are you going to be in the Illawarra - up in wollongong or a bit further south?

[forfarhill]

@dtc I'll be near Gerringong, so Gerroa for the beginner stuff and then onto Werri for better surf. Maybe anyway! I'll stick with the foamie for the near foreseeable future, and possibly I may upgrade to a better less old version if I can score one cheapish. I'd love to know with going at least 2x a week how quickly (highly subjective!) I'll get to being decent (in my world decent=can catch 80% of the waves I aim for and not wipeout more than 2 outta 5 times)? Once I reach that stage I'll then try and get myself a 7'6 (or not if I still suck, I may upgrade to a 9') and see how it goes.....I'll hang onto my foamie tho.

Vanessa

[Ratfinksurfer]

Less time thinking about equipment and more time in the water catching waves I say. Usually when I go surfing the surfer with the cheapest foam board is actually ripping the hardest AND catching the most waves... on a crappy WaveStorm. New surfers always want smaller boards, it's so weird It's like the 80's never died for surfing culture. I'm a victim of it myself, shortboards are sexy, we all get it. But you know what's more fun? Being a good surfer who can ride anything.

[dtc]

You can also shoot up to The Farm after a while, although its often pretty crowded. But can be nice for beginners. Werri is nice, although can get rippy if there is a bit of swell.

With limited scientific basis, working off discussions with people and people on this forum, once you get to the stage of managing to catch one unbroken wave and standing up (even if you ride straight to the beach), then its probably about 100 - 150 hours of surfing until you are catching 50% of the waves you go for. Getting to that first wave might take 10 hours or 40 hours or whatever.

The problem between the first wave and getting more success is that you will miss waves, they will go under you, they will break on top of you, you will nose dive (a lot), you will catch waves and not pop up in time or just mess it up and fall off...anyway, the problem is that much of the time you wont understand what you did differently between that failure and the wave before where is all worked. Basically most of the time during this period is figuring that out, making the small adjustments necessary, understanding more and more. The trouble is surfing is that if you get 85% of it right, you will still not succeed. Just getting a small thing wrong and you fail.

Bigger boards mean you can probably get 85- 90% of it right and manage to stand up and surf. The smaller you go the smaller that margin of error. And like most things, its the last 10% that takes 80% of the time.

In any case, 100 hours may not seem much but its at least 6 months surfing twice a week, and thats to get to a stage where you are as likely to catch a wave as you are to miss it. Going from there to 8/10 waves takes a bit longer; then you actually start on the 'real' surfing ie turns and positioning on the face and so forth.

The Natural Necessity store does loan/hire surfboards. I think it also has a try before you buy program (although I'm not sure how it works $$ wise) You might, at some stage, pop in and try a board for 1/2 day, whatever grabs your fancy, and give it a go. Even if its a day of falling off, at least you gain some understanding of various boards. Maybe try out that 7ft6 you have your eye on, see whether our advice is accurate or terrible.

Good luck and have fun

[forfarhill]

I think for me it's not about 'smaller' being better its more that I feel like the big boards are so cumbersome and for lack of a better way of explaining it they feel like they're controlling me not me controlling the board. Not to say I wouldn't love a smaller board but if I didn't feel like I was being dragger from pillar to post I would care if the board was 10', and maybe with experience comes the control and I will feel in control and it won't matter at all. I'm also curious if. I even get into bigger waves how the bigger boards work as most people seem to mention big boards not working in anything but small surf. Anyway the cart is getting before the horse at this point I guess!

@dtc are you down the coast? Maybe you'll see me around, I'll be the one flailing around chasing their board. I've heard the farm is nice, along with some other little spots further south I'd like to visit as I continue along . Thank you for taking the time to write such a long detailed reply, much appreciated. I am a fairly determined person but I am also someone who likes to be good at things......I think surfing will be a very good pursuit in that regard. I'm going to treat it like uni: 3 years of hard work for a lifetime improvement, I'm going to go 2-3 times a week rain, hail or shine just like classes or a job and hope it pays off! I must admit I'm very jealous of those that learnt as kids or teenagers, I wish I had of! But the next best time is now

Vanessa

[jaffa1949]

Poor student, $ consideration first, built a short board at your level, will seriously hinder progress, you just won’t catch waves.
Level comparison in nappies, trying to ride an elite racing bike, when you are not out of trainer wheels.
Get rid of the crappy because it’s crappy foamy, upgrade to a new foamy 8ft or an 8 or 9ft Torq board , or an NSP or a GSI , Natural Necessity has them all.
You will have them for a good while as your skill grows ! Cost effective that! They are more manouverable than anything you have ridden yet.
Capable guys and girls on long boards can match and beyond most ordinary shortboarders.

Therefore rider not the board
Werri good learning beach, Gerroa not so much , Farm can be good, the inside Bay at Broulee in front of the surf club is a good learning Spot!

[forfarhill]

@Jaffa1949 I'll checkout natural necessity and see what they have going. What do you think of the Gnaraloo (https://shop.surfindustries.com/us/surf ... surfboard/) and deadkook 88 foamies. (https://deadkooks.com/collections/soft- ... -black-red)? I'm due a Chrissy present so if everyone chips in I'd love a board that. a) is quality and b) I actually like! Would an 8' be okay if I'm getting a better foamie or should I go bigger.....although I hate to do it!
Vanessa

[waikikikichan]

I'd love a board that. a) is quality and b) I actually like!

a) Quality. What are your determining factors ? Considering most are made in China ( other than INT which is made in the USA )
b) I actually like ! What are those determining factors ? Color ? Graphics ? Shape ?

Dead Kooks soft board for $550 usd ?!!

[ConcreteVitamin]

I can add a data point to dtc's statistics.

I have about 30 sessions now, ~2hrs each, and I can surf about 30% of waves I paddled for. This 30% is a number I got from a recent session. So I'd say 100-150hrs for 50% sounds reasonable.

[forfarhill]

Yeah, the deadkook is hella expensive! I assume they make good stuff, I've heard very good reports. For me quality is as light and manoeuvrable as possible, and lasts forever. For me the main thing about what I like is going to be colour, which is shallow but I want a board I like looking at-especially if I'll be looking at it for a very long time! Another option here could be the oydsea https://au.catchsurf.com/collections/od ... 0839238749
Honestly if I was buying it I'd probably be the cheapest I could get but as I can ask everyone to chip in a little and get the one awesome present than I'd like something I really love.

Vanessa

[waikikikichan]

For me quality is as light and manoeuvrable as possible, and lasts forever.

Light, Strong, Cheap. Choose two out of the three.
Light and strong but it won't be Cheap.
Strong and Cheap but it won't be Light.
Cheap and Light but it won't be Strong.
Got that ? Good.

Last forever ? Wait till some kook drops in on you and puts two skegs deep into the deck of your board. Nothing lasts forever ( including this newbie learning time where you have a lot of unanswered questions ).

[forfarhill]

Lucky as the family will be buying, light, strong and expensive is a-okay :p. Last forever.....I expect, hopefully, at least 5 years anything more would be a bonus

I'm glad the questions phase wears out, its exhausting, I often feel stupid and I'm never sure what kind of reception I'll get......I'm very much looking forward to outgrowing this phase!

[dtc]

Catch Surf and Gnarlaroo (and softtech) are the ones most commonly used in surf schools, so on that basis are good choices. But dont think they are light; softboards are usually heavier than hardboards. And because they are extra floaty, they can be harder to handle in the surf/white water/breaking waves. They dont hurt as much when they hit you on the head, but they arent lighter or less bulky (heaps thicker, for example)

The 88 (I dont know much about them but I would advise against a black board if you ever want to use it in sunny weather) seems to have replaceable fins as does the Catch Surf/Odysea. Its not clear what fin system is used, but one issue with foam boards is a proprietary fins system that only has soft fins (which is not good). Not sure whether the Gnarlaroo has replaceable fins - it might as well

That said, if you are going to spend $500 you may as well just get a Torq 8ft longboard for a small amount more, or maybe a https://www.thesurfboardwarehouse.com.a ... longboard/ (Torq is better but the second one is fine as a learner board)

Or hit up gumtree. This would be good but it is, admittedly, quite ugly https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/north-n ... 1198919048

cheap softboard https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/cronull ... 1200625051

or try some of the surf shops - Carabine in Wollongong has a few second hand ones, Natural Necessity probably does as well

[forfarhill]

@ dtc
Thanks for all the info! I wondered about the black board, thought it'd get super hot! I'll check out the Torq (is this the correct one? https://tradewindsurf.com.au/new-surfbo ... ini-long-8’0”?gclid=CjwKCAiAz7TfBRAKEiwAz8fKOBeF-4zi-6LsD3S0CXqvCbUki5h8Bb-Dyq8d1Ew-MPqfrckd2KWdMxoCafsQAvD_BwE If so I really like it!) and next time I'm near the surf shop I'll take a look in there as well

[dtc]

your link didnt work but this one is the one I meant

https://tradewindsurf.com.au/new-surfbo ... 0%E2%80%9D

the NSP is also an option - probably not 'quite' as refined as the torq (and a touch heavier) but is also a really good beginner board that has stood the test of time. And a bit cheaper (8'2 version)

https://tradewindsurf.com.au/new-surfbo ... gboard-e-2

Either of them will be totally fine.

Just dont let the surf shop talk you into a 7ft board! Surf shop people can have a tendency to surf 5'8 boards and think 6'6 boards are massive, so anything above that is suitable for a beginner. its like how you learn to drive and forget how stressful it was to go at 80km/h when you were learning.

anyway - once you get the board, let us know how things are going. And enjoy your study - what are you studying?

[forfarhill]

@ dtc sorry about the link! But yes that’s the one I was looking at! Love it And the surf shop has them so I can have a look in person too before requesting it for Christmas. I won’t let them talk me into the smaller boards, I need all the help I can get!!
And I will update when I start getting out there and giving it a go
I just finished my degree last week, handed in my last assignment, results are released on the 26th and then I guess I’ll be job hunting My degree was in public health with a major in biology.