Beginner in need of a few tips.

[Langs_Sydney]

Hello everyone, great forum

I'm a Brit but I happen to have lucked out and am living in Sydney Australia for four years working. (yeah I know hard life)

I've been bodyboarding now for months at Manly and Bondi and absolutely love it. Can catch waves easily and then turn in them as well...........

SO I want to move on to surfing, will the bodyboarding have done me a big favour for starting to surf ? OH I have also had one lesson and learnt how to stand up and rode my first wave in at Bondi last Summer. But only once.

SO I want to buy my first board, do I go for a long board ? A mini mal ? How much are they, what should I look for ? How long ?

I am 5ft 11 and weigh 10.5 stone (don't know pounds!)

Waves in Australia can be gentle, Manly last weekend was calm as anything, or they can be the most brutal thing you have ever seen...Bondi a few months back. They are all fantastic though, best move I ever made coming out here.

Any tips welcomed, and if you fancy popping over to teach me, well that would be marvellous. Just hop on a 747 at Heathrow and I'll meet you in 24 hours time.

Best
Steve

[Langs_Sydney]

I've just found a brand new Mini Mal 7'4 for 419 bucks, seems to be well shaped and recommended ?

Any good ?

Cheers
Steve

[sinistapenguin]

Sounds pretty good.

Don't know about the price (doesn't mean anything to a Brit who hasn't managed to live in Oz yet!!)

It does sound like a good board to get started on.

I'm 5'11 and 11.5 stone - my board is a 7'5 mini-mal. I've been surfing for 16 years and I just switched to this board - best move I've ever made.

A 7'4 board will give you the stability you need, but should still turn quickly and allow you to get real good.

I'd go for it (if the price is good!)

Cheers

Sinista

[Merrickflyer]

Hey, I'm from the USA, and all I know is pounds. What exactly does "stone" mean? How many kg is one stone? how many pounds? If anybody could help me with these questions I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

[sinistapenguin]

The Stone is how we measure a person's weight in the UK - 1 stone = 14 lbs.

Cheers

Sinsita

[Merrickflyer]

oh cool! thanks!

[Guest]

I've been skateboarding for a while now and looking to get into surfing. The guy posted online at www.surferseye.com recommended that I get a used surfboard to start on. That makes a lot of sense since I'm new and don't know what board is best. This saves me some money for a board that I really want.

Hope this help!