A Newbies Guide for Newbies

[phillwilson]

Hi all,

I thought it may be of some good if I where to write here of my experiances as a new comer to surfing, i figure that sometimes getting info from someone just one step further on can be helpful...please note these are only my oppinions and findings. I am in no way brand concious so what i write is based on "feel".

first up my details...

Im Phill, 27, surfing in Scarborough UK Im 6'0, 11.4 stone and am healthy but not "fit" a skinny Yorkshire lad!!
time in water so far;
2x3hr instucted lessons
1x2.5 hour sesh
1x2 hr sesh


BEGINNING
I learnt my fisrt steps on holiday in Lanzarote and had TWO lessons four days apart...my advice to anyone fitting into my fittness catagory "not very" is
a. get some lessons,they are so very worth the investment,I progressed fast enough to not feel like it was to hard and this kept my passion alive.Also I think I am now amore safe/considerate surfer because of what I was told...very important on a crowded beach like Cayton
b. get them a few days apart. I woke up feeling like i had been run over after my first seshand would have been very hard pushed to go back in the water straight after..my muscles needed to come out of shock!!

BOARDS
I came back wanting to get my own board, I very nearly bought a foam one on holiday...STUPID....glad I didnt, would have been a very weak investment already!!and baggage prices have rocketed.
I got back and nearly made another mistake goggling surfboards and coming up with a cheap Bic package..its very tempting...thats why there are so many of them..but again I would say wait, resist....
I decided to RENT for a while until i find something that works underfoot for me.
So far my honest oppinions from time in the water have found the following....

NSP 7.6 - I was initially pleased by its build etc its lighter then the foam board i was learning on but still felt solid..to me this seemed to make it feel very stable once it began to plane but tbh found i kept getting messed up by the tailpad. sometimes it tripped me up..sometimes i got up got moving but having my foot on the tailpad led me to be too far back and stall out of the wave, made me wonder why it was there..for use or as a sales gimmick? either way..it was workable, better then many would have had me believe, but still slightly frustrating.

BIC 7.6 - I took this out yesterday and first off have to agree with much of the advice given to me on this board..these are HEAVY not so heavy it spoils your day, but they definatly dont float as well at the other boards I have tried. seem lower in the water. mind you the one i was on had just one middle fin and i did like how manouverable this made it. am definatly going to o back to other boards and try them single finned as even at this early stage i can feel the differance but for the Bic itself I would say that unless your buget is absoloutly minimal invest more and move on.

Cortez 8'0 - I took this out on the same sesh as the NSP and really enjoyed it. Yes its a factoy board, but its light..compared to the others its lighter then either despite being longer then both. initially the few extra inches meant i was sat too far back but once i adusted where i laid i found it would pick up very easily .. so far this has been my fav board and I am thinking of buying one . I am just wanting to try two more combinations...

1. a Cortez 7.6 ...if I can get away with a bit less legnth on the same light quality board i might be onto a winner.

2. a differant 8'0 board...this should let me see how much the "magic" of the cortez was in the legnth.

will report back after next friday as thats when i wil be trying one if not both of the other combinations.

Phill

[Surfing-Innovation]

At last - someone speaking a bit of sense about board selection - you could teach a few 'old hands' a thing or two!!

Enjoy

[Chris*B]

Hi Phil, I've got a Cortex 7'6 for my first board and have been pleased with it so far...it is what it is.. a cheapish board that is easy to catch waves and stand. I would recommend one if your going for your own board

[Jonah_Fro]

Hi Phil,

I've got an NSP 7'10" and find it good, but do agree with you about the tail pad, total waste of space.

Cheers

[garbarrage]

get the cheapest one... reckon people place far too much importance on their first board... to which the ever growing multitude of "which first board" threads on here will attest.

you want a board that you can learn to stand on and start doing a few turns.... when you are consistently getting onto the face of a wave a few months to a year away depending on your fitness how often you surf etc. you are going to want a better board.

spend as little as possible... get something as durable as possible beginners are rough on boards.... i have a 7'2" that i loaned a friend to learn on that is a testament to the fact.. more ding than board at this stage.

you've definitely got the right idea tho... trying a few different boards is defo the way to go. also if at all possible get one second hand.

[isaluteyou]

reckon people place far too much importance on their first board

Fortunatly you followed that statement up with an explanation

If anything newbs dont put enough thought inot their first board. Keeping in mind ost people have to balance their finances. That is why its really really good to try out as many boards as possible. Ideally when you come to buy one buy it second hand. Id say an off the shelf/custom boards are best left to the rich and more experienced surfers who know exactly what they are after

[phillwilson]

Hi all ,

just a little update...
thaks to all who have replied.

I started this thread cos I remember what it was like at the start of my Photography career, I talked to the local pros who all said nothing less then a 17mp camera with ultra high grade lenses and 4 professional flash blocks would do...then I got advice from some people who where only a year or so into the business..they scled stuff down in a way that made it real and attainable for me ...no doubt the others where technically right in their idea of "the best" but two years on and Im still making a living at my work where as I would still be saving if I hadnt had the opinion of those just a few rungs up the ladder.

anyways...sorry to ramble...

I have noticed a board on Ebay its a Konzo - 7'6 and it will cost 1.85 delivered then i need a board bag and leash on top. but it still sounds very good. any one got any input? I have emailed as many buyers as I could find on the ebay sellers page so should get some good user feedback soon.

Im trying to work out the pro's and cons between investing less...getting a board that wil work but with no frills and just getting on with it OR buying the Cortez...spending a bit more, but having the benifits of it being lighter easier etc.


tara for now

Phill Wilson

[garbarrage]

to be completely honest... you won't really notice a huge difference. at least not one that will impair you're learning. unless the second hand one has been damaged to the point that it's full of water and wont float.

i've never bought a board online and would be happier to buy a 2nd hander if i'd seen it. maybe check out the shops for 2nd handers or possibly even damaged stock. got a great deal last week on a board. was a bit of damage on the nose which happened in the shop... board's never even seen water. easy fix. €580 new.. got it for €320 inc bag leash and wax.

[Surfing-Innovation]

Mate - just stick with the one you've tried and know works.

I can almost guarantee you that if you buy a different board and have ANY problems surfing it you'll have it in your head that the other board would have been better and that will just make things even worse.

It may well only be in your head, but a lot of what surfing is about is in your head.....

I've had LOADS of wasted days when I've made adjustments to fins and stuff and then out-psyched myself when things have gone wrong, blaming it on the changes I've made and wishing I hadn't.

For what it's worth, I'd either try to save for the board you KNOW you get on with, or maybe try a few other pop-outs and then only buy one which is identical when it comes up secondhand.....

[phillwilson]

The Konzo was indeed a first hander and I am still tempted ...but Surfin Innovation is so right its scary....thats EXACTLY how I am ...if I change brands of string and then have a bad gig I imagine the strings are inferior to the ones i usually use..creature of habit I guess!!
gonna try 2 boards tomorrow.. the Cortez 7.6 and an 8' Pinoa which looked really cool and felt very light in the shop. should be a fun day!!
Phill

[Surfing-Innovation]

See you know I'm right!!

I had the same thing with sticks, or tweaking the position of my kit - or when I had to kit share, or even forgetting things like a stool and having to borrow one (drums, for those not getting my drift) - completely illogical stuff that just plays on your mind and makes you play badly.......

[phillwilson]

sounds like we could form a surf band...all bring kit for each other...cmon..it would be..well awful !!

[parrysurf]

Phil,
IMO u should pick the one that seems best to you and then, no regrets surf it till it is tattered. I have spent vacations on boards that were not what I would have picked or had made for me. The times on these boards I adjusted my style to flow with the shape I was riding. Some of the sessions on odd boards have been my favorites. It has improved my surfing and board knowledge.
I guess what I'm rambling is that you will grow to surf the board no matter what board it is.
As you refine your skills then experiment some more, this will let you feel the nuances of each shape.

You can't go wrong as long as you are getting wet.
Keep the stoke!!

[phillwilson]

New update....

Managed to get to Scarbro South on Sunday.

it was windy as buggery but fun.

I stared posting this thread to help anyone else about to that the steps Ive just taken next week or next month or whatever so....

1.respect your board
2. when its windy.....RESPECT YOUR BOARD!! someone who I was surfing with took a full boardshot to the face as the wind caught the edge of it and it slapped right up. I didnt get hit but certainly had a few reminders to get the damn thing down into the water as soon as possible and keep an good grip and weight on it as much as possible.

this actually had a good side as I paddled on my board more then i normally would (Im tall enough to walk out to the size of waves im catching) and felt i had really progressed in my slow paddling skills (as opposed to the fast wave catching type)

for those following my board reviews
I took out an 8' Pinoa board.

I really liked this board, it felt light and although it wasnt quite as wide as the Cortez it picked up every wave i tried for and i seemed to be able to find its sweet spot very easily (the big fooking dragonfly logo under my nose might have helped).

I also got some nice turning runs down the wave today and again to those who are reading this for advice I would echo as I have read many times here RELAX/VISUALISE...

but also add in PROCEDURE , now I know thats not a cool word and sounds very rigid, but I find litterally counting once the wave comes srokes...
1,2,3
4, Wait to staibilise
5, "tiger position"
6, pop up
7, check where my feet are
8,start to turn

etc

once i had the movements memorised I got to just the numbers (I admit, outloud...how very kooky of me)

dont know if this will work for others but I liked it.

Thanks to all who have posted to this thread, I am taking it all on board.

parrysurf...I loved your choice of words, you are exactly right ...I dont come from a sports background I have never had equipment that is likely to be damaged in its everyday use before.... I have been getting too hung up on getting something that will last in terms of look like new rather then just getting something in a good learner pricerange and that i wont cry oveer when it gets its first ding.

infact I will post pics and have a celebration when it does!!!

Phill

[garbarrage]

no use cryin over dings anyway, just fix em, and carry on...
might sound a bit weird but i think it kind of helps you build a relationship with the board as you have to take care of it and keep an eye on you repair jobs to make sure they aren't leaking etc.
if you do get a fragile board really cheap you won't regret it...
think of it like buying an old mercedes as opposed to a new punto..

[Jimi]

Sounds like you're really doing your homework and making an informed decision Phil. My only advice to add is to go for the bigger sized 8ft boards instead of the 7'6. Sure they are a bit more bulky and harder to transport, but not much, whereas they are a lot easier to ride and catch waves, plus you'll have a longer board capable of working in smaller conditions in the future.

[the.ronin]

Confusious once said about the first board ...

The uglier you think it is, the better it likely is for you.

[phillwilson]

Oh wow, oh wow!!!

I just passed my driving test 1st time...my dad has been teaching me for ages and I was supposed to be using £150 given to me at xmas by the parents to buy some lessons just before my test, however I took one and didnt like the instructors style so I just stuck with my dad!!

Got in last night to find a card containing the £100 I didn't spend on lessons along with congratulations and instructions to put the money towards my first board!!!

I'm so stoked, couldn't be happier.

[garbarrage]

congrats mate... passed mine a few weeks ago...
bit different over here... been driving 5 years on a provisional, but they changed the law recently... effective monday there's heavy fines for provisional holders caught driving unaccompanied, so though i better get one quickly.

was crazy before... think we were the only country in the world where you could fail your test then drive away without a fully licensed driver in the car with you...

[greypump]

The advice I was given was if you were sure you were to get into surfing to get the best wetsuit you can for the money and then buy a second hand decent board which would do you for a couple of years. The first purchase of the wetsuit is easier but the second one of finding a good second board is proving trickier. However, I've been advised by a few now that Cortez boards are excellent for beginners and they are light enough to last your prgression further than a NSP would.