Surfing Waves

Help please.
I'm a beginner but know this is no fad, so i'm lookin to buy my 1st board.
Pals who been surfin a year or so say I need a mini mal around 8 ft but please advise me, as they're beginners too. I've ridden (?) boards around this length and am just about finding my feet - though not for long - Yet !
I'm 5' 7 and around 170lbs, reasonably fit and a strong swimmer.
Will be surfing Llyn peninsula in North Wales mostly though travel to Devon/Cornwall 2 or 3 times a year.
Any advice will be useful as I'm looking to spend £300+ on a board and don't wanna buy something I'll grow out of quickly.
Thanks all in anticipation.
Chollie

minimal is a good choice

dont spend £300 on a first board which you will outgrow. get 2nd hand.
I was surfing 15 years before i spent that much on a board and never had a problem finding cheap 2nd hand boards.

Buying a 2nd hand board is a very good idea which a lot of people do when starting out. You could always just buy a new one off the shelf though if you'd prefer that but you would be paying a lot more.
As for the type of board you need, you will want something around 7ft+. If you want a minimal then go for something around 7'3 - 7'10.
Get a board that will make you a good surfer, something that you will find easy to surf on. Remeber that when you are a beginner you want the biggest, thickest , widest board possible.
Anything in the 7ft range though should be alright and it will be a board that you can progress loads on and not really grow out of.

Please check the stickies, and there is even a whole page on begginers board on the main wesbite

Thanks for your comments.
Yeah I've been looking for 2nd hand boards but unless I buy a 'foamy' or 'pop out', everything seems to be going for £200+ anyway. Looked at several websites selling used boards and the mini mals seem to fetch the highest prices - I guess the rise in popularity of the sport means they hold their value!
I'm not gonna give up yet & buy new, but am itching to get into the water.
Any reccomendations of where to look? Found secondhandboards.com & secretsurfer - any more?
Looked at Roger Cooper boards - what do you think as I can get a good nick one for around £200.
Thanks y'all
Chollie

Do it like me...I've just bought(a month ago) my first surfboard and I'm pretty much a beginner. But I bought a 6.6 and i love it. it was really hard at the beginning, but now i can already catch some waves. With longer board is really easier, but i can keep mine for a longer time... don't have to buy a new one in few months.

Wish as much fun as I have...going surfing now;) (Bondi, australia)

I've been scouting around on E-Bay for a decent wetsuit this past week. What is E-bay's reputation for finding used boards? Just a suggestion...I don't know if that would be a good place to scout for a 2nd hand board.

I havent bought a board off of there yet , but it gives you a good idea of whats out there. Just stay away from new, comes with free,blah blah.

Not trying too be funny, but everyone sees themselves in a better light than they really are. If you've been down the local surf store and they said get a 7'3'' Mal, by all means check Ebay and hunt down that stick. Don't go for the Ad that says "the ideal learner board" without a little research. If someone was to come in my store and show me what they had found elswhere, if it was a better, a more suitable board than i had, i'd tell them to go for it.

Surfing is enjoyable as long as you are able to enjoy yourself.

I can't believe it can be much fun sitting out back, if you can get there, on a shortboard you bought just cos you think your a surfer. Just buy something that you can gain confidence on and work your way down as you progress.

I'm a learner to I got a Bic 7'9 brand new with bag and leash for £230 looked on ebay b4 and there going for around £180 - £200

I think every one slags them but I'v found it quite easy to get up on and its hard to damage, 3 x 2 hour seshion and i was just about standing up. bit heavy though

What does every one else think of the Bics?????

Just curious (no offense of course)....5'7" and 170 is reasonably fit? If so, you must be jacked...

Considering I'm a hair under 6 and was an addicted weight lifter for 3 years, and got a nice layer of "insulation" over top of that and I'm 180.

regarding bics etc. Im not slating them. Im in the middle of trying to find a board, and ive read enough horror stories to put me off them, especially as i just want one board to last me . Im not saying that bics a bad make, and i know that things are really about to change, what with the enviroment issues, and the decline of CLARK. As said, if your enjoying your self, with friends, who really cares. Just research the make abit. Its all about the juice.

Johno wrote:I'm a learner to I got a Bic 7'9 brand new with bag and leash for £230 looked on ebay b4 and there going for around £180 - £200

I think every one slags them but I'v found it quite easy to get up on and its hard to damage, 3 x 2 hour seshion and i was just about standing up. bit heavy though

What does every one else think of the Bics?????

I also have the Bic 7'9" - got mine new with bag, leash, wax and free delivery for £218, which I was dead happy with!!!

For me, it's a great board! I don't get to surf as often as I like, so don't improve terribly quickly (tho hopefully 2 weeks in Morocoo in March will help! ) Having this board means that even if it has been 6-8 weeks since I was last out, I can still stand up without too many probs (well, sometimes!) and most importantly have FUN! Also, I like the fact that they are pretty robust - I'm a bit less likely to damage it!!!

mostyn wrote:i just want one board to last me .

Surfboards are disposable!!!!

I surfed a BIC rental this past summer. It was my first time surfing but I was able to stand up on it very quickly. I have surfed 3 separate boards (all around 8 footers give or take a few inches and have to say that the BIC was the heaviest. That is about the only qualified comments I can give on the subject.

disposable they may be , if youve got the dollar