Want to surf but don't know where to begin!

[BeginnerSurferG]

Hi. I had my first taste of surfing last week in Croyde on the big yellow surf school boards. Despite the terrible conditions I loved it and am now thinking about buying my own kit. I hear that second hand boards are a good bet for beginners but don't really know what to look for. I'm 23, 5ft 6 and weigh 10st. Balance was a bit of an issue when I got to my feet but did improve over the week. Can anyone offer any advice? Thanks.

[namino tsume]

do you know wheight in pounds?
and are you planning on being a longboarder or shortboarder?

[Supreme Presence]

10 stone's 140 Pounds. I thought that the Minimal was a good bet whether you were going to be a long boarder or a short boarder. Is this not right?

I'm looking to go short board myself, and pretty much fit the description of the guy above. Any advice?

[namino tsume]

umm ok.... you can start out on pretty much any longboard i think (not sure)... id suggest renting to learn first though.

But if your looking to go short, get a 6'6" fish, thats what i have, plenty of float, catches waves easy, easy to learn on. um..... thats all i think...

[BeginnerSurferG]

Will probably be a longboarder to start mainly due to the rounded end, am concerned I may cause myself some damage with a short board with their pointed noses if my lessons were anything to go by! Have been told that a minimal is a good bet at 7ft 4- 7ft11 but im pretty clueless in all this and don't know whether this is good advice?

[mhammond2]

I've just had the same dilema looking for second hand minimal all summer but nothings really turned up so invested in a new 7 foot 3 bic minimal from my local shop as I can probably sell it on for 3/4 of that in a years time. Its harder to balance on than the learner boards because it turnes easier but really easy to catch waves. - although the surfs been quite messy choppy here recently so prob not a great first run for it, no complaints though. ps 12st 5' 11" so sure itll be fine for u too.