What board to get for a (very) mismatched couple

[ScruffyNerdHerder]

Hey all,

I looked around the forums a lot and couldn't quite find the info I was looking for. Perhaps my google-fu is not up to snuff.

Basically, my girlfriend and I have decided to learn to surf together. She has been out once and I have been out a handful of times when I was younger. I currently have a board from my younger (lighter) days, but I am unsure if I should be the one to use it, or if it is more suited to her.

The Board:

9'6" Stewarts California Noserider

9'6" x 23 7/8" x 3 1/4"

Me:
240lbs Male
Ok but not great fitness level (part of the reason I want to start surfing again)
6'2"

Her
145lbs Female
Good Fitness Level
5'10"

We will be surfing in Pacifica CA, which, as I understand, has waves ranging from relatively mellow waist to shoulder high waves on the south end to some over head, steeper waves on the north.

From my understanding the board I have is not particularly ideal for either of us. Which person do you think would benefit most from a different board, and what would you suggest for them?

Thanks for your help.

Scruffy

[waikikikichan]

The Board: 9'6" Stewarts California Noserider

She's a newbie. Anything big an floaty is good, which the board is. But it's a NOSErider, made for riding the NOSE. It probably wide and stable, but not easy to turn. So after she gets used to catching the wave and standing up, she'll need to get a board closer to 9'0" x 22" x 2 3/4" or even less, so she can start to turn and bottom turn to start trimming across the face. Noseriders need to do a pivot turn, which is not easy for beginners.

So for starting out right now, good board for her. As you come down in weight, later it'll be a good board for you ...... again.

[dtc]

So for starting out right now, good board for her. As you come down in weight, later it'll be a good board for you ...... again.

I would have thought it would be ok for the guy as well, for the same purposes ie learning to catch a wave and standing up? Not perfect but no need for him to buy a new board at the moment. Do you think its not suitable for him at 240lb?

I'm actually more minded to say that 9'6" x 23 7/8" x 3 1/4 is potentially unwieldy for a 145lb female in any kind of rough or sizeable surf ie where you need to turtle roll to get out. Great for white water, great for small days or where there is an easy way out the back; but getting through the waves could be hard.

So my thought is more that the guy uses the current board and the gal buys a new one, as you say closer to 9'0" x 22" x 2 3/4" or even less. However, she can also use the existing board - indeed, I suggest she uses the existing board for all of her 'white water' sessions and not look for a new board until she is ready to go out and try to catch unbroken waves.

Then after a while maybe the guy moves down to the 9ft board and the gal gets a mid 7ft (or so). Once everyone is up and standing and going down the line.

[saltydog]

Some nose riders are on a heavier side. How's yours? It might be too much of a board for your gf to handle in and out the water in a long run. 9 x 22" x 2 3/4" all-around longboard sounds pretty good for her. I'd imagine that nose rider would be ok for you size-wise. Down the road when both are ready, you can take over the newer longboard and look for a minimal for her.

Having said that, there are some girls (or guys I suppose) who don't want to learn how to treat a surfboard. I wouldn't buy a brand new, or even used but good condition board for her only to watch it dragged across the sand or tossed onto the ground (or sat on at the beach, or leaned against a car and slid on to the pavement... you get the idea.) Good luck

[ScruffyNerdHerder]

Thanks for the advice. So it seems like maybe rent a big floaty platform for her to learn on/learn how to treat a board, and then once we are out looking for unbroken waves start looking at a slightly shorter board for her?

Again, thanks for all of the advice.

Scruffy

[dtc]

Where are you based? If in the US, you could do worse than buying a Wavestorm from Costco for your girlfriend to start out on. Probably cheaper than renting and she (like most beginners) might appreciate the softer board during the initial 'fall over all the time' stage. This will be her first/interim board - might be for 10 sessions or might be for 50 sessions; then she can pick up a more long term board.