Big Guy Tri and a Noob! help!

[pistachio]

Hello everyone,

I've been window shoppin' for a new board to start on. Looking into buying a 6'8" big guy tri shortboard from isle surfboards. Not much review on google, but wanting to know if its the right quiver for a 29 year old noobie. I'm 5'7" weighin at 180lbs(Winter weight) I'm an avid snowboarder as well(I know surfing is a whole diff world) and 175lbs during summer time. I live in jersey now so my weight tends to flux during drunken months.

I'll be heading out to jaco,costa rica for 2 weeks and what better place to pick up the sport in one of the meccas of surfing. I bailed on the surf camp. Instead booked a few hostels and cheap beach resorts. Cost effective and will leave me some cash money for some cervesas. Ill just hook up with a surf intructors to learn the basics.

Your response will be greatly appreciated. If you live in jersey and an avid surfer. Hit me up. I have access to mantoloking to surf. Most of my friends are affraid to hit the surf and it would be great if I can learn from a novice.

I'm babbling. Thank you in advance.

Pistachio

[IB_Surfer]

Size wise it's spot on, I'm 200lbs and use a 6'8" as my small wave or lazy day board, my shortboards are 6'3" and 6'5" but only when it's shoulder high or bigger.

I know Isle has great prices but they are chinese imports, so will ding easily.

If you want a custom board my shaper ships, $225 down, $200 in a month or so, +$75 shipping.

Also, there are plenty of local shapers, found this website online in your area:

http://www.nynjsurf.com/NY-and-NJ-Surfb ... hapers.htm

[pistachio]

thanks for the input. I did some research on the imports and was surprised to see so many brands coming from china. although their website states its hand made in national city, CA. hmmmm. but i'll take your word for it man.

I want a board that will last me awhile and definitely avoid unwanted damges. Also something I can keep for the rest of my life as a symbol.

I did run into a shaper in the net named Todd Proctor. Saw the big chief shortboard he's been making and fell in love with the specs. All his other arsenals are out of this world also, future upgrades as i progress in the sport. I saw one w/ dimensions of 6'10"/21/3 thicker at the chest area for better bouyance. Sounds like a great shortboard to start on. I'll also keep your shaper in mind if he can replicate something similar. I think proctors starting price is $550 and up. yes, i know i should be buying a used or cheap board as a new fish, but i usually take good care of my belongings. im still rocking my todd richards baseless sb circa 1993 =). my first board. looking to treat surfboards the same way.

Im so glad I found this site. So many usefull information that will help me with my progression. ill keep yah posted. thank you

I cant wait to get wet. ha!

[IB_Surfer]

Dude, Proctor is a serious brand, good for you to go for a caddie instead of a yugo. $550 sounds steep, but for a custom Proctor and not a production board that is a good deal. However, I think proctor is a west coast shaper, so add $80 - $100 to shipping, so you'll be plunking down some serious dough.

Check out your local shapers, many found in the phone book. I know we all love the internet, but the local pro's don't have web site, just a smile and years of knowlege, and a shortboard 6'10" will only be about $425. They can copy anything you show them, so just find one that gives you a good vibe. You'd be suprised how cool it is to talk shop with the shaper and have him help you get exactly what you need.

You might want to start a seperate thread for guys in your area to recommend their shaper.

Ok, enough preaching, good luck on your board find, sounds like you're headed in the right direction.

[pistachio]

Thanks for all you replies teach.

I'm defintely willing to drop some bread for a good board. I have 3 months to save up until the waters hit 27-30c @ the jersey shore to be tolerable for myself. And another 4 months for my big trip.

Todd Proctor is defintely a serious dude and having the big chief will be a great one for my first quiver. The testemonials and reviews says it all.

I'm sure one day ill find a shaper here in my area, but I don't think it'll be happening soon. Visited three shops today looking for deals and none of them had what I wanted and ask them about local shapers. All they had to say was "we have several boards here that will fit your needs" huh? It was just a bunch of kids making a sale.

I also walk into to ron jon surf shop. Everything was so nicely displayed that I didn't even bother. Place was incredible though. I was at awe..... Also felt very pretentious being in there. Although, all the hot woman running around was a plus. Felt like I was back in college.

Thanks for the replys again. Ill keep you posted sir with the progress. Mucho gracias!

[surphkid11]

i got an al merrick CI Flyer tuflite 6'8'' x 20" 1/2 x 2" 7/8. i also live in jersey, south jersey. im looking to get rid of it soon and its perfect for a bigger guy that wants to start on a shortboard. let me know if your interested. its almost in new condition just a small nose ding which is an easy fix.

[pistachio]

Hey man. Thanks for the offer. How much?

[surphkid11]

300

[pistachio]

with the money i'll be spending on your board. i can save up another 3-400 for a proctor. thanks anyways. i also realized that no used proctor are ever re-sold; meaning people holds on to these treasured quivers. must be a real/great buy. thanks a bunch... im planning to drop some dough on something that will last me for awhile.. i might get it in flex epoxy coating as well.. many thanks...

[IB_Surfer]

Ok, to get back on track here, if you are looking for a travel board you won't want to pack a $600 proctor board into a bag and send it down costa rica, you'd want a tough durable board.

I personally don't like tuflites, but they are ok boards. However, they are super durable, I have one that a bud gave me when he moved and I swear my kids must have dropped it a dozen times and the worse it has is paint chipping (they are painted on top of the epoxy). You might want to reconsider the Merrick as a travel board, sell it after the trip, they go for about $300 in good shape, $250 if they are scratched and such.

[surphkid11]

its in good shape besides the small ding on the nose. i can do 280 for it. totally up to you.

[pistachio]

Teach... Thanks again for the advice. Your right. Traveling with that kind of a board will be disastrous. But I'm looking to to a lot of destination surf in the future. So I'm doing a lot of research on packing boards. I'll probably buy a shorter proctor in the future anyways. Sometimes itll take a few more words to make me a believer. I have trouble on impulse buying/ or not thinking twice. Thanks.

Hey surphkid: cool, you brought the price down to 280. Is there anyway you can drop it to 200 if I give you a ride timeless 156. Its a great freeride board. Still in good condition. Bought it for 499 back in 06. Willing to part with it because I'm addicted to rome anthems now. Read that you're a snowboarder as well. Awesome. Its that a good deal for you. I"ll use the saved money to purchase a durable surfbag. Give me till the end of may and ill drive down there. If not a good deal. Would you go for 250. Money is a little tight. Thanks

[surphkid11]

i like the offer a lot but i got a snowboard and i actually might sell it since i might be movin to so cal near the beach but 250 works for me as long as noone else wants it for more before u can get it and there is a kid by me that might want it so ill let u know. Romes r nice boards, i ride a GNU Danny kass i love it, great park board.

[pistachio]

Cool. Let me know. Can you post a photo of the nose ding on the board. If its defintely repairable. Ill drop 280 on it.
Don't sell your snowboard when moving to so cal. You'll def regret it. Lived there for 2 years for school in long beach. I was boogie boarding one day then snowboarding the next. Big bear and mount high isn't to far and the mountain is as good or even better than hunter mt. Definitely better than the poconos and pinball mt. Creek. Thanks surph. Get back to me.

[surphkid11]

yep no problem let me get ur email adress if its not in ur profile and ill send u the pictures through there.

[pistachio]

prprotacio@aol.com

i found some expoxy ding repair and they don't really cost much.. between 10-15 dollars in the internet.. anyone recommend a certain brand to buy/ to fill in an Al Merrick Tuflite ding?????

[IB_Surfer]

LOL, was going to suggest you trade emails and stop this thread LOL. Hey, post up when you return from Costa Rica

[pistachio]

i'll definitely post up teach. just waiting for surphkid's response. i want to pick up the board already..

[IB_Surfer]

i found some expoxy ding repair and they don't really cost much.. between 10-15 dollars in the internet.. anyone recommend a certain brand to buy/ to fill in an Al Merrick Tuflite ding?????

Not sure if good advice or not, but I use the home depot epoxy putty, you just knead it and apply. For color matching I just use a drop of acrylic paint from my teenagers' painting kit LOL.

[surphkid11]

yo my bad ive been busy with finals and xxxxx but ill try to send u those pics either later today or tomorrow.