Month long learn to surf Galapagos trip. what board?

[talderson]

I'm taking a month off work to travel to the Galapagos (Tortuga bay) and learn to surf. I'm planning on surfing Tortuga twice a day, maybe venturing out to some of the more aggressive surf spots if I progress enough. I've been surfing once before (on a 7'4" board) at Tofino and managed to catch a few waves, and stand up a couple times. Can anyone give me some advice on what type of board would work well for the type of surf in the Galapagos, particularly Tortuga bay? Im 5'8" 158lb. There is a Strive The Solution hybrid board for sale near me for $650. thoughts on that particular board? thoughts on Hybrid vs Funboard vs longboard vs fish? I like how fun Fish boards sound, but it also sounds like they might be a bit much to start on.

[talderson]

I forgot to mention, the Strive board is 7'6". Id also appreciate any input on fin layout, quad sounds like it might be good for catching the smaller powerless waves that Tortuga gets.

[waikikikichan]

"I forgot to mention, the Strive board is 7'6". Id also appreciate any input on fin layout, quad sounds like it might be good for catching the smaller powerless waves that Tortuga gets."

Quads do not catch small powerless waves. YOU have to catch the wave. You have to paddle ( power ), be in the right spot ( position ) and know when ( timing ). Getting a too small board for your level makes matters even worse. Fins don't come into play until after your feet contact the board. Getting a Quad is one of the worst things to get at your stage. Like someone asking what Turbo to get but just learning to work a stick. Or someone asking which hydraulic disc brake or suspension fork to get yet they're just starting to peddle in a straight line without putting a foot down.

The Strive Solution board looks a bit narrow in the nose. The Big Deal looks a bit too wide ( trash can lid ) in the nose. Wish they made something in-between.

What are you other companions bringing to surf ?

[talderson]

There are no other surfers on the trip. I know as a beginner there are way more gains to be had in improving my technique and fitness than fin layouts or small differences in boards (provided i'm not riding a board that's all wrong). But I figure if I'm riding the same board, in the same location all day long for a month I may as well try to get the best layout for the conditions.

[jaffa1949]

Thruster configuration is more likely to be user friendly than quads.
I think you've already made up your mind on what you want to get!
Yours to try and see what works don't go shorter than 7'6" even then you are at the lower size for your level, read through all the what board should I get and see what is being suggested and the explanations as to why!

[talderson]

for anyone interested, I ended up buying a 7s superfish II PE (7 foot), run as a quad. it was super easy to learn on. I was standing on day 1, riding all the way into shore by the end of the week, and consistently catching chest high waves by the the end of the month. I also rode a 6'9" 7s cog, which felt similar, maybe a tiny bit less stable.

[Aqualife]

You didn't say when you are planning to travel to the Galapagos Islands. Waves are huge from Dec-April. Tortuga Bay is a very, very long hot walk from town with no other means of getting there than by foot, carrying your boards, with some steep stairs along the trail. The beach isn't all that great for learning, mostly closeout beach breaks without any real banks. A very pretty beach, not very safe for beginners. Lots of current and rips. The waves in the Galapagos are very powerful and especially in the winter, many Hawaiians travel there, as it gets the same swells as Hawaii, only about 3-4 days later. It's basically all reef and points, mostly shallow with urchins and volcanic lava rock (apart from Tortuga Bay) and NOT a place to learn how to surf at all.
There are only a handful local surfers, no infrastructure and the surf is concentrated mostly on San Cristobal where you hike over black lava rock to get to the surf, take pick up trucks or register with the army to surf the breaks in front of barracks. Waves end of on sharp rocks there and water entry and exit is pretty sketchy. It's a beautiful place but you need to have some serious experience under your belt to ride the waves.

The walk to Tortuga Bay gets old pretty fast, especially carrying a board in that heat for not much surf. Cool swimming lizards on the beach and in the water, careful they chew through your leash quick smart, same as baby seals, so sit with your leash over your shoulder. The locals do.

[talderson]

I've already returned from my trip. It was mid Dec-Mid Jan. Tortuga was great, the waves were roughly chest high for the entire month, a few bigger days, a few smaller days. I made the walk nearly every day, except the few days I was too hung over or on another island. The walk is only about 20 minutes from the trail head, and I was staying at the last house on the street. I had no issues with currents or rips at Tortuga. Yes they exist, but no worse than any other exposed coastal beach I've been to. On the last weekend of the trip I even managed to get some waves at Punta Carola on a small (slightly overhead) day.

I certainly wouldn't recommend learning on San Cristobal, But I would say Tortuga is roughly the same as Longbeach (Tofino) for beginner surfers.

[Aqualife]

Kudos to you for walking all that every day.
Living in Australia right next some world class breaks, I rate Tortuga Bay Beach as an extremely pretty beach with very average surf. Glad you had fun