Board help!

[darve]

Ok, firstly I'm sorry if you've heard this question too many times before.

I'm thinking of buying a longboard for someone for their birthday. She's 5"4' average build. Money isnt too much of a problem- I've got time to save.

While she doesnt actually yet own a longboard, and hasn't surfed one before, I'd like a board than could carry her from beginner to intermediate/advanced- one that is going to last! We will be taking surfing lessons, too.

At the moment we don't go that often, but by the time I've bought the board we'll be going surfing a lot more.

I've read that longboards should be bought roughly according to your size, and I was wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction here.

Like I said, I don't want one that's only going to be useful to a novice, rather one that's going to suit for a while.

Thanks in advance

x

[RJD]

Well the good thing about 'learner' boards is there better to learn with.

Given that this isn't a sport you learn in 3 days I think you need every advantage learning you can get.

Then you have to understand what an 'advanced' board would be like. Shaped for faster turns, less stable, rocker for bigger tighter waves, concaves for noseriding etc. All adds up to something you dont want to learn on.

Yet even a simple 'beginner' board can be thrown round etc by someone who knows what there doing.

but having said all that...

Physicaly , top end, she's going to be limited by how big she can carry & how much that weighs, how big she can paddle.

Carrying under the arm - 20-21" is probably the widest you could go (mebe less).

Length I wouldnt say she'd need much over 8ft something unless she's 60+kg's or realy wants the whole walking the plank noseriding thing.

Find something with a sqaure tail, single fin possible (or remove sides), 50/50 rails, easy going rocker (too little = catching the nose all the time, too much = hard to paddle) - basicaly nothing extreem.

Also depends how physical she is, how carefull she'll be and where you surf. safe beach breaks a glass job may be ok, anything else a BIC (or better surftec etc)would take the knocks better.

So , important, where in the world are you, whats the budget and where will you be surfing?

[darve]

We'll be in Cornwall, UK, and a budget of about £400-£500 ($900-1000). Thanks for your help so far!

[uglystick]

generally speaking learner boards have a good second hand retail turn around, meaning when its time to change boards re-selling it shouldnt be too hard.

Most short boards have a crap re-sale value due to the sheer number of them, their everywhere.

Besides could be the start of a quiver, many people never sell their first board. They simply buy another!

[crepuscular]

for longboard, usually around 1~2ft taller than the surfer's height, and for beginners it's better getting one that's wider...

but if you want to carry it around, i say a fish, light, good bouyancy, easy to paddle out and around, can catch waves from almost nothing to 3-4ft; with a height of 5'4, you are looking around a board that's probably 5'6 or 5'8...

something like this maybe? since nsp are more durable and cheaper...
http://www.surfindustries.com/surfboards/nsp_fish.php

or she can go for a foam board, which doesnt hurt as much when getting hit, no need to worry about dings, but it's a bit heavier though

[Broosta]

Hi, I don't know anything about longboards I'm afraid but please don't get her a fish to learn on!
Maybe a mini mal as the shortest board would be ok at about 7-8ft ish.

I'd recommend that you keep asking loads of questions and get answers from loads of shops and forums and people until you start to know what the answers will be, and then you can make an informed judgement yourself as to which board to get.
Newquay is a great place to trawl round the shops talking to people about boards, just don't get bullied into buying something too soon. And I agree with the post above that its far easier to sell on a 'learner' board than any other type.

[darve]

Yeah I'm starting to email around shops, thanks for all your help on this forum!

[RJD]

Sorry dont go near a fish.

Floaty aye, but short and unstable and little rocker.

8ft minimal would be about spot on.