beginner board

[papa-t]

Greetin's.I'm a kook from Tenneessee and I finally decided to pull the trigger and fulfill a lifelong dream and learn to surf.The particulars, I'm 53 years old, 5'6" , and weigh in at 163 lbs.I'm in good shape,I swap between circuits of Insanity & Asylum, doing each 6 days a week.Headin' to Okaloosa Island in the Gulf in a few weeks and would like to take my own board.From everything I've read, a soft top board seems to be the best choice? Have zeroed in on the 8'2 soft top from Greco Surf.Will have to order soon to arrive in time for trip.Any advice on this board or an alternate would be greatly appreciated.If I'm successful, will probably only be able to surf 2 to 3 weeks out of the year. Thanks!

[Jimi]

Welcome! So, there's a few things you need to consider before just going out and getting a soft-top. Sure, they are the easiest to learn on, and 8'2 should be ok... but may be a little on the short side (around 9ft would be better), but you will pretty quickly outgrow a softie. They are not going to be much of a long term investment unfortunately, and don't seem to have much resale value (at least where I am in Australia anyway).

If you're serious about it, spend a bit more and look out for a 2nd hand, good condition 9ft fibreglass longboard. Anything that size will be a good board to learn on, and should last years. Also if you decide you don't want to keep surfing, you will be able to resell it without too much trouble.

Only disadvantages are that fibreglass is more fragile, the fins are sharper, and it's more pricey.
Advantages are better performance for nose riding and turns, better resale prospects, and longer usable life.

Cheers

[AJR]

Why not rent while you're there for a few times?

[dtc]

I think Jimi is right in that getting a 'proper' board will last you a long time whereas a foam board may get frustrating after a while. Foam boards are slower and harder to turn and harder to handle in breaking surf (eg paddling out) because they are so bouyant. However, they make it easier to catch waves and are less likely to cause injury (to you or someone else).

That said, given that you are only starting to surf and given that you are going to surf only a few weeks each year, a foam board is actually probably a good choice for your circumstances. The first few trips it will be fine, you will be learning and no where near reaching the frustrating part of the board's performance. So your first trip you will be in white water and starting to catch some smaller waves. But 12 months later you will have lost some of that skill, so back to square 1.5 and then need a bit of time to dust off the rust. And this will continue.

So a foam board should be perfectly fine for 3 or 4 years (of surfing once per year) or perhaps even longer. They arent performance boards but they are good for a bit of fun, perfect for the once per year surfer. If you end up advancing quickly or being able to surf more, then you can go for a proper board as a second board.

The 8' board looks fine for your weight, although as Jimi says you could go for the 9ft one (however, in my view, while the 9ft one will get you catching waves very quickly, as its quite big, you will reach the limitations of that board earlier as well - so faster start, faster to 'move on'; the 8ft might be preferable).

However, there is no real downside to starting on a proper longboard, other than needing to learn how to fall safely (so the board doesnt hit you) and how to control the board (so you dont hit other people). These skills aren't too hard to learn. There is no need to start on a softboard to learn; they have their place (mainly when you are surfing in crowded areas, such as in surf class) but are not essential. Its hard for you to know now whether you are going to continue surfing having not done it before (although very few people stop once they start!); if you are going to continue and you are happy to buy a softboard and then another board in a few years, no problem at all. If you would prefer not to buy two boards, then go for a longboard (however - there is always a however! - its probably a bit of a harder job figuring out which longboard to get, whereas with the softboard you just get it and its a good price).

I think at the end of that I'm saying that a softboard is probably worth it for you, so long as you understand that in a few years you may well want to buy a proper longboard. But even if you dont sell the softboard, its great for visitors and other learners you come across.

I do suggest getting a few classes as well, at the start of your career. The first set of skills seem pretty basic but can take a while to learn.

Good luck - should be a lot of fun.

[Jimi]

ah, yep I overlooked the surfing only a few weeks per year!!! In which case, as dtc says, a softie will probably last you years too.

Your call on how serious you are about it really.

[papa-t]

Thanks for takin' the time to holler back! Time and cash short till trip time, so I think I'll check out the local surf shops and maybe rent this time, save my cash, and be able to get a better board later for our trip in the spring. Thanks again!