Surfing Waves

Al merrick is one of the top quality surfboard, I really suggest buying that off the shack. Talk with one of the representative and he'll try to rip you off real bad.

if you're a beginner then a tough minimal for the first few months depending on weight and height etc

Stay away from Bic/NSP if you can afford not to...
Cortez seem sound for the money as does my lasses Takeoff...

however, the alternate vein of advice is to stay away from "brands" until you get some quotes from shapers, google surf+your area see what comes up..most surf shops could recommend a shaper... get the quote..if it fits in your budget....do that, if not

look second hand on ebay by searching the size you want (8ft plus unless your a midget)+how many miles form home you are prepared to drive to get it (I searched n a 50 mile radius and get a few a week)

and if you live somewhere wihtout any surf comunity , no surfshops and no second hand sellers... THEN consider brands.

phillwilson wrote:Stay away from Bic/NSP if you can afford not to...

Er, why?
BICS and NSP mini-mals are terrible boards to ride... but so are all mini-mal popouts for learners.
On the other hand, they're perfect to learn on - near as dammit indestructible, loads of float, and easy to sell on once you're done with it.
You really dont need to worry about going custom for the first year. And the logic of a lighter, 'proper' board thats much more fragile when you're wobbling about in the shallows isnt too clever either.

Wouldnt catch me dead on one though

I dont think it really matters what brand of board you get as a beginner. Just make sure it wasn't broken in half and repaired, and it's long/wide enough, and you should it all good.

Your question is too general, if you want people to recommend a board then please provide you height, weight, surfing ability and what you currently use.

Also, if you want to hook up with some local shapers include what city you are in so that some of us that have our favorite shapers can chime in

dude, what about skill level, perhaps you should tell us where you are with your abilities, and the folks here can help you out more.

drowningbitbybit wrote:

phillwilson wrote:Stay away from Bic/NSP if you can afford not to...

Er, why?
BICS and NSP mini-mals are terrible boards to ride... but so are all mini-mal popouts for learners.
On the other hand, they're perfect to learn on - near as dammit indestructible, loads of float, and easy to sell on once you're done with it.
You really dont need to worry about going custom for the first year. And the logic of a lighter, 'proper' board thats much more fragile when you're wobbling about in the shallows isnt too clever either.

Wouldnt catch me dead on one though

x2...bics/softtops/nsps are fine for starters. because at that point you really don't know the difference. and as drowningbitbybit said, they're indestructable, floaty, and are easily bought/sold.

and i do ride a bic from time to time. it's a 9' board made from a different plastic than the normal bics, so it's much stiffer and smoother. i use it when it's really small out and i just feel like getting out and surfing. it is much better than the 9' softtops we have. this is of course until i get a longboard of my own this spring

I think my comment was a retrospective thing for me...

cos I had my heart and budget set on a bic when i join this forum but i decided to try a few boards for the first few months of my UK surfing.

as soon as I was getting up 5/10 times a sesh I would say that I DID feel a preferance. it was largly to do with how well I found the board picked up waves and how stable a platform it was to pop my wobbly self up on.

I nearly went for the cortez cos it felt the nicest of the epoxy boards i tried,and recommended it because of that it had a level of lex i jus didnt feel on the bic nsps...also i hated the tailpad on the nsps i tripped over it every time and it was one more thing to think of.

I made the "mistake" of thinking and 8ft epoxy was as long as i should go and in the budget i wanted..but as soon as I tried a 9+ wider board I knew I had made an error of judgement.

I also came to this sport wanting something that always looked nice and indistructable..however after riding and dinging my currant glass longboard i would say dings are part of the sport, learn to sort it, enjoy the challenge of it and be more careful in the carpark.

first board....craigslist or the used rack, garage sale. save some dough, learn a little. after you thrash a used board then go to a shaper.

parrysurf wrote:first board....craigslist or the used rack, garage sale. save some dough, learn a little. after you thrash a used board then go to a shaper.

Amen

I've got a Southpoint longboard (epoxy and made by NSP) and for my level of skill it is fine and has already taken a few knocks and not even a scratch. I bought it second hand knowing I'll be able to sell it on easy too. Can't say I particulalry like it but hey - it surfs and will do the job at the moment. I wouldn't know too much of a difference in a good or bad board just now.

Not sure which board is ":better" but Ive been riding my cortez regularly for a year and its been perfect for smallish uk south coast waves and holds its own for Devon trips. It is light enough to pick up and put on the roof of the car by myself and for the long old walk down to the harbour at my local break!! Its just I think i'm starting to lose that special affection for "My First Board" could it be time to move on to a newer, shorter and slimmer model???

I'm kind of against the NSPs etc although they are good for beginners (my first board was a thrashed used NSP mini-mal). I say screw thinking about brand, find a used board, epoxy or tuflite if possible (they're a lot harder to do all the kinds of kook damage to that you will inflict as a learner). Spend less money, get a board that you don't have to worry about as much, and save some of that money to put into a much sweeter board once you have a better idea of what to use.

buy a local board if u can

Thromback wrote:buy a local board if u can

Indeed! Good point, if you want to buy a new board; get a locally shaped one. Reasons:

Support local business

Support your national economy

Get it from someone who knows exactly what kind of conditions you will surf it in most of the time.

Have someone you can go to if you need repairs done who may give you a good deal 'cause you bought it from them.

Local is better.

pkbum wrote:Al merrick is one of the top quality surfboard, I really suggest buying that off the shack. Talk with one of the representative and he'll try to rip you off real bad.

Al Merrick is good, but WAY overpriced man... you'll rather find a local shaper to shape one to Al Merrick specs...

if you want off the rack good boards, buy Webber or DHD

first board....craigslist or the used rack