Right longboard size

[solymar]

Hi all
Apologies if this type of question has been asked a hundred times ! I'm looking to get a longboard for the ankle-high days and also think longboarding is so graceful and would love to get into noseriding. I've had a 7'2 minimal and a 6'2 fish but the surf is so inconsistent where I live, I'd love to have the option of a longboard.

I'm just under 5'8 and about 70kg. Would a 9'6 board be excessively big for my height. I'm also looking at a PU 9ft 1" x 22" x 2 1/2" board but am worried that it's not wide enough or thick enough for ankle-high waves. Would the width/thickness effect my ability to noseride it ?

Thanks in advance !

[jaffa1949]

Hi Solymar, either board will be a good working longboard !
Back in the day 9'6" was pretty much a standard board, but that length is a little extra at your weight.
22" wide is not too narrow nor is the thickness. The 9'6" will handle small and glide more.
Watch the rocker though, too much rocker to make it a performance board Will loose you glide and make nose riding harder.

I'm 100 kgs ride a 9'1" 22" 3" board see if you can try each.

[waikikikichan]

A surfer that is adept at noseriding can hang-five on your 7'2" fun or even your 6'2" fish. 9'1" is plenty of float compared to you other boards. 9'6"s usually have soft 50/5 rails while the 9'0"s that are only 2 1/2 have more hard edge performance rails.

[solymar]

Thanks for that advice guys ! Just wondering what you think the downside to going with a bigger longboard would be ? Say a 9'6 X 23 X 3 ?

[jaffa1949]

There are a couple of point mentioned in our earlier posts, softer rails, and the challenge of dragging it around.
At your height and weight you can surf either, down to choice and price.
Major thought, often there is an airline extra cost for any board close to 3 metres .
9ft gets under the wire easily

[waikikikichan]

you are just looking at the LxWxH. You should be more concerned with rocker and rails for a noserider. I would go with a 50/50 railed single fin with flat rocker in the nose and kick in the tail ( opposite of most boards ). A board 2 1/2 thick is usually a progressive longboard with hard rails. You can noseride it, but softer rails will have a more classic feel.
Some people say to get Concave scoop in the nose for lift. Personally I hate nose concave. Another thing to consider is your "gait ". The distance you travel for each step you make. On my 9'0" it take me 2 1/2 steps to the cross stepping to nose.
If you can't cross step, forget everything above and first get a regular longboard first. Practice walking on that, then get a Noserider after.

[solymar]

Thanks for all that amazing help guys ! I feel I understand the elements of a longboard way better now