Board for a born again newbie

[CPH007]

Hello All,

Well I haven't surfed for around 16-17 years (39 today) and have been working in Cornwall and have the bug again

I surfed for around 5 years before and although I thought I was the business at time I was far from it. I could ride my 6 foot board though and could ride a wave out a good amount of time.

I was 10.5 stone at time and now 17 stone following a lot of weight lifting and if I'm honest a lot of cakes also.

So I am assuming that foaming I will outgrow quite quick and pop out long enough to float me will weigh a tonne!

I was considering a decent mini mal around 7' 8" but would love to know your thoughts on this?

I'm assuming I would want something with fairly soft rails to begin and with good flotation for my weight.

Any tips for an old, fat, start again weekend warrior would be much appreciated

Cheers

Colin

[drowningbitbybit]

Any tips for an old, fat, start again weekend warrior would be much appreciated

Welcome back!

A pop-out needn't weight a ton these days, particularly if you go epoxy, so no need to worry about that. The "entry level" pop-outs are still heavy clunky things, but there are a world of options out there these days.

If you really are starting from scratch again, then I'd go bigger than 7'8, but I guess you won't know if the muscle memory is still there 'til you try!
Either way, volume is the way to go!

[dtc]

I agree with DBB, at 17 stone you will almost certainly need something bigger than 7'8 when starting off, unless:

- you get one of the 'super big' boards such as the Walden mega magic (<-- this is probably a good choice starting board, either the 8ft mega or the 7ft6 'mini mega'; otherwise probably something 8ft6+) ; or
- you have been doing a lot of swimming.

As a fellow gym bunny, while being 'strong' is always useful, its actually not always that helpful when paddling!

I'm sure the muscle memory will come back, eventually, but I suspect you will need a starting board. It might only be a board for 6 or 12 months, but its going to make the transition back much easier and pleasurable.

[surf patrol]

Happy Birthday Colin, welcome to Surfing Waves!

[CPH007]

Thanks for all the awesome help people

OK so I took your advice and got an 8' 4" BIC pop out on hire so i could see how it went.

Bought a new wetsuit and hit a very messy 2-3' tonight and am buzzing!!!]

Stood up 4 times just riding white water to dial it all in and the paddling/catching waves is great at this size.

I am so hooked that the alarm is set 2 hours early for a morning session before work. Also wetsuits have a come a LONG way in the 15 years. The water was a mere trickle and didn't feel too cold at compared the inrush of arctic water many years ago. It may be my own insulating layer playing a part but I choose to reject that reality and substitute my own.

All I can say is I need much more fitness (blowing out my ass) and much less weight but thats just a side affect of having all this fun so bring it on

[dtc]

Get with the lingo, its not 'buzzing' its now 'bro, I'm totally fully stoked'

The Bic boards are large and tough and great hire boards; once you get a 'better' board it will be even more fun! Just remember not to tire yourself out too much, probably will have a few days of sore shoulders etc as things adjust once again. But its a 'nice' pain, you probably know about DOMS being a weights person.

Then onward to the jobs of choosing a board...then outwards to the open ocean

[oldmansurfer]

I was 210 pounds when I restarted surfing and I started with a 9'6 long board (used to be 160). After getting into shape I got an 8 foot fungun and now that I lost 10 pounds and am really in much better shape, I am not looking for a smaller board. At 8 feet it is big enough to catch small waves and big waves, but maybe a little big for the in between sized ones but I am just a weekend warrior so no need for anything else yet. I think a longer board would do you better like a 10 foot or a 9'6. But I guess it really depends on the waves you are going to be riding so trying out the board and seeing how it works in the waves you will be riding is a good way to go.

[CPH007]

Ah yes my shoulders, legs and back are really hurting this morning. I was going to get an early morning session in before work but figured not to push it too much or will be injured before I know it my shoulders are prone to injury.

Yeah I think with how quick I was up in the board I may not buy a Bic but will definitely be Mal or long board. We have more small days than big in uk so makes sense.

As for the lingo I thought buzzing was down with the kids