Hey, umm, Im new... Can anyone help me?

[Awesomeguy512]

Hey guys, well I dont know exactly how to introduce myself or anything, and this is pretty much my first time posting or even being on this site, and I need some help and I hope you guys can offer me anything.

To tell the truth, I've lived near the beach all my life and Ive always seen surfers and Im friends with surfers. Ive never, though, learned how to surf.

Well now Im 14, turning 15 in two weeks, 5' 11" and 170 lbs. So for my birthday, Ive been thinking about getting a surfboard or something and learning how to surf.

Ive been body boarding (or boogie boarding, whichever you call it) since I was about seven, and I love it. My current board is kinda crappy and a bit too small for me, but its only bodyboarding so it doesnt matter and I still love it. Also last year, for my birthday I got a beginner skimboard and taught myself how to skimboard. It was really fun for me, and after alot of practice, I got pretty good on the soft top board. I havnt gone either so far this summer, however, but I sure plan on it, probably within the next week. I also longboard skateboard, and Im pretty good with that.

So anyway back to surfing. I went surfing once in a camp about two years ago, and that was my only time, for one day. I thought it was really fun. So now, I don't know what to do.

My birthday is coming up, and Im thinking about surfing. Lessons are not really too possible for me, because they are just so darn expensive... I dont want to pay for that, or even think of having my parents pay for that. I may have a friend who rode shortboards try to come out with me and help me though, if i need him. So if I do end up surfing, it looks like Ill be tryign to teach myself.

Which leaves me in a kinda bad position... I'd have to probably buy a board, or attempt learning on my friends 6' 5" short board (which is obviously a bad idea). So I think Id have to buy a board, unless anyone here has any other ideas?

Ive been doing a little of my noobish research, and I understand the differences between longboards, shortboards, and fun boards. So as I understand, the real question for me is between a longboard and a shortboard, and what size. To me at least, it seems like I should be getting a board between 8 and 9 feet, anything smaller seems like it would be too hard and anything larger seems like it would be too hard to maneuver or too expensive. (Even if it is a present, I like to be considerate and not ask for something way too expensive. I like to keep things def under $400, around $300, and much more preferably, less than that). Also I see that I could get foam boards or epoxy boards, and I see the epoxy are much more expensive (as many of you probably have). So, I just don’t know. What are your guys thoughts about this? The size between 8 and 9 feet? Price? Material? Remember, I’m just a total beginner and I hope this wont be a huge disaster for me…

That all said, I was just browsing and I saw a few boards… For one, there is this 8 ft Greco soft top foam surfboard on amazon for only $239.

http://www.amazon.com/foot-foam-softtop ... 75&sr=1-54

And heres one, that I really don’t know anything at all about:

http://www.amazon.com/Body-Glove-Square ... 76&sr=1-41


Do you guys have any other suggestions? I myself am kinda leaning towards the first one. What do you guys think?

Well, thank you for your time and actually reading this… I just really need some help with everything. I hope I came to the right place.

Thank you,
Pat

[jaffa1949]

Hi Pat great letter about your aspirations well written and easy to answer.

Really surfing ends up with you teaching yourself, and as you gather friends who surf a sort of peer group coaching and learning competition encourages you along.

With your weight and age you can probably go around the 8ft mark but I would not go the cheap soft top way as I believe they will not last and you will grow, Ideally soft tops are for surf school ( people who are afraid of being banged by them).
Soft tops make it easy to catch a whitewater wave and ride it to shore a good encouragement and a immediate result for the paying beginner but the el cheapo brands I am very suspicious about
So hard top epoxy or standard foam, I would look at good second hand boards at surf shops lots of fun and learning in shopping around.

Look for a board that will last for several years in good if secondhand or if you can consider it have a look at the global surf industries range either the Surf Series or the NSP models in the 8' 2" or 8'6" range, they are around the $400 range.
I think they are good learning boards that will take you into the intermediate range over a few years and then you should be flush enough to buy and know what you want in a custom board and whether you want to go long short, fish, retro or any other way.

BICs are another board that might have something in your price range but I have personal dislike about what I have seen of them.

I can't see this being a disaster for you but I would bear in mind that Amazon is more a book shop than a surf shop when you think about any surf related object that is not a book.

Last bit of information, what's your locality. Other forum guys might be able to steer you to some shops that will help.

Hope this helps for your birthday

[Awesomeguy512]

Wow, thank you for the great reply!

The only real reason I was looking at soft tops was because they seemed to be cheap... Im definitely not afraid of the water or getting hit on the board haha. Ill keep searching for some boards. Thanks for the board suggestions too, Ill look into those, but another thing I have to keep in mind is also shipping if I order online, which could end up being pretty bad with the price... I actually have not checked out my local shops, but I cant really believe that they would be too much cheaper. Ill have to see what I can do.

I live on the Jersey Shore, so the waves here are ok I guess. Nothing special.

And again, thank you for everything and the birthday wishes!

[Awesomeguy512]

Hello, it is me again.

I've been looking at the surf series, and it looks pretty good. Ive also talked to some of their CS reps over their chat system, and they were surprisingly helpful. They, like you, recommended the surf series boards. One guy said the 7' 6", which I thought was a little too short, and another said 7 10", both knowing the situation that I described to you. So I was looking at the 7 10" board, and I was wondering what you guys thought. So thoughts?

[jaffa1949]

Keep up the good work, before you buy have a cruise through the 3 surf shops in Jersey shore. Baroo Ron Jon and Eastern Lines, BTW you don't have to buy but some ideas should come your way by looking. The 7' 10" will work, 2'' is neither here nor there. I f you can buy in Jersey shore at least the freight isn't an issue. The CS guys will also know which shops stock their stuff.
Go enjoy

[Awesomeguy512]

I def plan on looking there through the shops, I just wanna get an idea of stuff beforehand.

Also haha again it seems Im split between softop and hard... Now Im thinking about maybe getting a softop to learn this year, and if I still wanna stay with the sport i could get (or at that point) pay for a hard top for my birthday next year.... Hmmm....

haha either way I guess Ill have to choose, idk what Im doing yet so who knows

And again, Thank you!

[Awesomeguy512]

Or maybe not.... I keep going back and forth....

[jaffa1949]

I really think the soft top would be a mistake, at 15years old your progress will be quite rapid if you get a lot of surf time and you will quickly out grow and go beyond the limitations of a softy, and I am not really convinced of the durability of those particular models.
Spend a little more time on looking around and then you won't spend time regretting.
I also know that here in Australia nobody will buy a second hand softy, you can barely get rid of them at a car boot sale.

IN the end it is really your choice with all the factors you know. Trade with your parents maybe X amounts of work around home for a subsidy on the board.

[Awesomeguy512]

Yeah I guess that really does make sense. But I do have one major concern with it: what if I end up not liking surfing? Would the hard or soft matter then, and would the price matter for it? I don't know maybe that's the only reason I'm so hesitant.

Also as a side question from a nonbiased point of view, do softies have and advantage over hard beside price and "safety"? Haha IMO it doesn't seem like the safety of soft is really too much dif unless I'm going to hit my head..


And really, thank you for putting up with me... I know I come off as annoying and I'm sorry.. I'm just at a bit of a lack of advice

[jaffa1949]

Yeah I guess that really does make sense. But I do have one major concern with it: what if I end up not liking surfing? Would the hard or soft matter then, and would the price matter for it? I don't know maybe that's the only reason I'm so hesitant.

Also as a side question from a nonbiased point of view, do softies have and advantage over hard beside price and "safety"? Haha IMO it doesn't seem like the safety of soft is really too much dif unless I'm going to hit my head..


And really, thank you for putting up with me... I know I come off as annoying and I'm sorry.. I'm just at a bit of a lack of advice

No genuine questions are not annoying, IMO softies have only one advantage they ensure that a surfer in a surf school has an even chance of catching and riding whitewater to the beach they are wide stable and floaty the slightest wave can push them ashore.
They are difficult to duck dive which is why you very rarely see them outside the line of white water.
If you find you don't like surfing, you can sell a hard board easily but probably not a soft one.
Why would you think you would not like surfing when you are already looking to upgrade from bodyboarding?


My mother is still waiting for me to grow out of the surfing phase, I'm 62 and she has passed on.
Recommended Lifestyle

[Awesomeguy512]

Good points, and thanks for the softie info. I def think I will go for the hard top, and thank you, just thank you for everything. I really think I'll like this sport. Thank you

[Z mann R2]

I'm just now getting into longboard skating? Ordered a 40" pintail with Original S8 trucks and orangatang 4Prez 70mm wheels and super reds bearings. So to be the surfer asking YOU for advice on skating awesomeguy, will it be a good choice for just cruising and getting that surfy feel?

[surf doc]

Yeah I guess that really does make sense. But I do have one major concern with it: what if I end up not liking surfing? Would the hard or soft matter then, and would the price matter for it? I don't know maybe that's the only reason I'm so hesitant.

Also as a side question from a nonbiased point of view, do softies have and advantage over hard beside price and "safety"? Haha IMO it doesn't seem like the safety of soft is really too much dif unless I'm going to hit my head..


And really, thank you for putting up with me... I know I come off as annoying and I'm sorry.. I'm just at a bit of a lack of advice

If it turns out that you don't like surfing, I bet you'd getter better resale value on craigslist from your PU or epoxy board than a used soft top.

[Awesomeguy512]

To the new longboarder:

That seems like a really good setup, if you ask me. I have a 40 in pintail too, and I like it. It's not too long you can't manuever but not too short to not give that "long" feel. Me personally, if it werent my first longboard, I woulda gotten just a few more inches of deck, but that's just me, I think you'll like it. As for the rest, man that's much better than what I have. My friend has those bearings and I love riding on it.... I don't know much about those trucks at all however.

Ps my longboard really totally sucks.... I used a gift card for sports authority to buy it....yeah.... But I still love longvoarding nonetheless

To the other replied of whom I cannot read their name whil on my iPod:

That's exactly what I plan on. I'm going to ask for the surfboard in the next few days. Thanks

[jaffa1949]

I'm going to ask for the surfboard in the next few days. Thanks

Hope you get the happy in birthday and many happy returns on the board.

[travelzomg]

just a little addition from me:
forget about buying a softie, really...
first time i took surf lessons they gave me a softie, which was cool for the first two days...
having had experiance with boards in the water i managed quite ok, so they upgraded me on the 3rd day to go try surf green waves... it never realy worked out.. the board had no stability, no speed and without a rocker, i constantly rammed the nose into the wave and nosedived one time after the other.. only on the 8th day, i gave it a shot on a NSP hard top and from that moment it all worked out... i realy realy whished, they would have given me that thing on the 3rd day allready...
so a softie is cool for the first two days, for a bit of white wash surfing, getting up on a board for the first time... but as soon as you want to give your first shots on green waves, a softie will only hinder you...!

[Z mann R2]

......If it turns out that you don't like surfing......

blasphemy!!!! Thats impossible!

[surf doc]

......If it turns out that you don't like surfing......

blasphemy!!!! Thats impossible!

Haha, I guess I deserved that.

[jaffa1949]

Hi awesome here is what another beginner has to say about soft boards.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17394&p=146310#p146310

[frreako104]

I have heard about some boards that are for beginners though from what I gather, once you get the idea of surfing down, they really don't help much. But they are there to help one get started I think