Looking for that first board? [take my advice]

by **Blackvans1234** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 2:07 am

Hello, just thought I would share some insight to you fellow viewers of the forum.
Some months ago, (Oct 2011) I was living in South Fl, and wanted to start surfing. I read around and everyone was always saying longboards are the way to go.
I ended up buying a 6'8 fish. I figured I could do it because I was pretty good with balance and all that jazz.
It was pretty tough to learn on.
In about late November, my roomate and I went out in Deerfield beach. We traded boards (he's got a 7'2 board)
I can not emphasize how much more fun I had on that board than my own. The only thing that was ''worse'' was that this board felt a tad slower than my fish. However, on my fish, I would actually stand up 1 out of every 5 trys, so was the speed worth it? The 7'2 board was so incredibly stable and nice, I could catch waves with ease!

I had done the reading online, and heard over and over, "get a longboard you'll have more fun." Now, two months later, I'm godforsaken landlocked in New York, unable to surf. I plan to move back to South Florida someday -maybe 4 years

When I go back, I WILL get a longboard.

I would also like to note- you look like a bigger tool when you keep falling off your shortboard than when you lug around a longboard.
It was really fun!

by **billie_morini** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 5:52 am

... and this, ladies and gentlemen, is why billie nearly always suggests long boards for beginners.

by **surf patrol** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 10:41 am

Many people just want to get a shortboard, simple as that. They ask advice, but don't really want to hear it.
:roll:

by **Blackvans1234** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 4:21 am

I need to rephrase-
It was the most difficult thing I had ever tried to learn.
I've done skateboarding, bike riding, snowboarding, rip-sticking, rollerblading, rollerskating etc

My hours of attempts were nearly in vein. Don't make my mistake.
Now i'm really paying for it because I'm landlocked with nothing but regret!

**I was actually going to get a 5'8 board because It was used and the cheapest, but the guy convinced me to spend $80 more and get the 6'8. I should've bought bigger but I couldn't afford it.
Don't waste your money on anything under 7'2.

PPS- my friend's 7'2 board fit into my 98 grand prix coupe, and the trunk is separate from the passenger compartment!

by **surf patrol** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:39 am

I've been looking for that.

by **Toj** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:09 am

blackvans1234, i cannot agree with you more. i cant help but laugh when i see people that try to learn on a shortboard/fish. i think the biggest downer like you say is regret. some people want to look like a surfer with all the cool kit, and some people jsut want to surf. catch as many waves as possible, there is a lot to learn from your experience. and thank you for sharing. hopefully some people will learn from that.

and im soooooo tempted to get a 6ft Venon retro fish.

by **Wilson1971** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:55 pm

I learnt on a 9" mal through pro surf in Bali (at age 37) and bought an 8" quad fin bat tail from bourton in oz. was so easy to catch waves on, still had good buoyancy so easy to paddle. Only bought a short board because flying inside australia you can only take max 6"8' boards so I went with a channel island biscuit. Short but wide and thick.

by **eireann** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 2:42 pm

I know this is an old topic and has also prob been asked here numerous times but what is the best board for a small lady beginner, I'm 5 foot 2 and very light. Done a couple of lessons on an 8 ft foamie? What length should I get it? And am I better off getting foamie or just an epoxy longboard? Thanks a mill.