First Board. 1.77m tall guy, Board Size?

[Yanez]

Hello everyone,


I'm a 1.77m guy and am planning on purchasing my first surfboard. I've been researching a lot and have found sometimes conflicting information. I thought I'd consider Aussie input.

Latest info has me at purchasing a twin fin 7'4¨x 21.50¨x 3.062" board. Is 7.4 a good size for me? or is it too small to begin? Also, no foam (to progress faster apparently)

I will be a weekend surfer. What do you guys think?

[BaNZ]

Too small if you only just started. I would go with at least 8'6 or more. Torq, bic and NSP are all good beginner boards.

[jaffa1949]

It really is a case of John Snow you know nothing! ( sorry games of thromnes tragic)
No foam , do you mean it's not a soft board? All boards have foam, EPS ,expanded polystyrene, polyurethane..
The only boards that have no foam are alaias. They are entirely wood!
At your height I would consider nothing less than 9ft by about 22".
Why everything else is going to be hard to paddle meaningfully, you are goingnto be a weekend surfer, you will lack , muscle memory surf fitness, ability to catch many waves. You will be priority buoy watching everyone out position and out paddle you.
I'm an Aussie, let me tell you a twin fin is a specialist board, worse still is a wide twin fin, ( maybe fish) that can only be ridden well if you can push your surfing rail to rail?
There is nothing wrong in the first instances riding a soft board ( you might call it foam) as you find your feet.
Please don't buy the board you are thinking about, loss of your money dialled in failure,in first experience .
But a seriously good move on your part, asking questions before you buy! So many don't and are often turned off surfing.
Hang on a bit more advice coming from the rest on the forum!

[oldmansurfer]

It is difficult to tell how an individual will do learning to surf. I guess you can make generalizations about it and generally beginners will have a hard time learning on a twin fin fish. But as for you? Maybe you will do better than the average beginner? I would suggest a longer board with more fins (2.77m and 3 fins)

[waikikikichan]

Sorry if you already know how to surf and I'm jumping to conclusion of your surfing level, but I'd recommend:
1) learning on something at least 3 feet over your head, and maybe renting or owning a used one until you can catch waves proficiently and begin to turn and trim.
2) For your first new board purchase ( after learning the basics on the 3 feet over your head board ), go to a board 2 feet over your head.

Also, no foam (to progress faster apparently)

So you've been told not to get a Sponge / Soft board because it will hamper your progression to learning advance surfing techniques ? Don't know and don't agree with that, but I can say softboards are definitely SAFER for you learning and for US surfing around you. Also it's safer on you wallet, as you won't be spending money ( and losing time ) repairing dings and cracks and knee pressures on a hard fiberglass board.

[waikikikichan]

I'm an Aussie, let me tell you a twin fin is a specialist board, worse still is a wide twin fin, ( maybe fish) that can only be ridden well if you can push your surfing rail to rail?

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[dtc]

We dont have many good cheap foam boards in Australia- Costco for some reason rarely stocks the wavestorm- so buying a hard board is usually no more expensive than a foam board. However you can get them second hand and surf for 6-12 months and then sell on for minimal to no loss

That said, there is no reason to learn on a soft board; so a 9ft longboard will do you well.

Second hand is always a good choice - hit up gumtree - but google up what to be on the lookout for when buying second hand. But there are some places that sell fairly cheap new boards (eg surfboard warehouse https://www.thesurfboardwarehouse.com.a ... longboard/ or the soulstice) that will do fine for a beginner.

Where are you based?

[Yanez]

Thanks for all the answers. I will def. not buy the one I was "recommended". You guys are already too helpful. By the way, I know the very basics and have managed to stand up a few times for a short time.

I realize people recommending first to rent, then to buy, just in case I don't like surfing. However, I know myself well enough to know I will keep at it regardless. It may sound dumb, but I want to sort of feel connected to my first board.

Thank you, almost spent a lot of money on something that might have potentially made me hate surfing.


So, in conclusion, 7'4 is way too small for me, think that was the consensus. Is 8' still too small for me? Some said 2 feet over my size, this would be slightly over.

Also, no twin-fin as it a specialist type fin and like someone correctly said, I'm a newbie.

So far an 8-foot surfboard, with one fin?
As per soft or fibreglass, if I'm looking for it to last, would it be a good idea to get a fibreglass? *Where I´ll be surfing, there won't be too many people so the other surfer safety is mostly ruled out.


Also, am I allowed to put links? In case i see one?

Thank you all once again, extremely helpful

[jaffa1949]

Now you starting to get the idea .
By all means put up pictures or links to the boards you are considering!
So many people in your stage buy first find out later!
9ft is your best length, gives paddling power, say 23" wide, 3" thick , a basic longboard/Malibu
If it is a new board it may well have removable fins which either plug and have grub screws to hold them in.
Older board would secondhand and may have glassed on fins. Not so suited.
A hard board would not really be a problem just a little less durable for the bumps of learning both for you and it!
Up side on that , you learning repairs and the board will be suitable for a long period.
You can also consider epoxy construction, and many guy here ride Torq surfboards around the dimensions I suggest, .
Reasonable,price , pretty good durability and a good board.
There is also NSP as another brand to consider!
Keep talking we enjoy successful surf stories!

[Yanez]

This information I got from a Chilean site (attached the link). Obviously, I trust you guys more.

This is a guide, what they recommend. It's in Spanish

PESO= Weight
CONDICIÓN FISICA= PHYSICAL CONDITION
MODELO SUGERIDO= Model (surfboard) recommended. You can see the size at the end.

For beginners, for people between 61-80kg in regular physical condition, it recommends a "Double Agent 7.0".

Sites like this generated original confusion.

[waikikikichan]

By the way, I know the very basics and have managed to stand up a few times for a short time.

If you would've been more forthright and stated that in your opening post, it would have saved us a lot of time and thought.

As per soft or fibreglass, if I'm looking for it to last, would it be a good idea to get a fibreglass?

That'll depend on you.
1) If you drop you board on the concrete parking lot, which will last longer, fiberglass or sponge ?
2) If you inadvertantly drop in / get in another riders way and you bump rails / collide board which will last longer, fiberglass or sponge ?
3) if you ride your board to far in and hit the beach, sand , reef what fin(s) on the bottom will last longer ? the fiberglass fin or the plastic/rubber fin ?
4) if you elbow smash or knee drop on to the deck of the board, which will last longer, fiberglass or sponge ?

[Yanez]

Yeah I apologise for that, despite what I mentioned I still don't know anything about surfing so it's hard to judge what is important to mention. I'm thinking that what I consider basic is not what you guys consider basic, not in my favour.

As per the soft vs fibreglass. Those are all good questions, but keep in mind I'm asking here precisely because I have heard conflicting opinions and like I said, im ignorant on the subject.

It's full of bad info out there. Found this
"A good rule of thumb is to opt for a 7'0" beginner's board if you weigh under 70 kilograms, a 7'6" if you weigh 70-90kg, and an 8'0" if you weigh over 90kg, says Harry Mann.".

But like I said, thank you for your feedback and I will be considering what is said here, in this site, not what is out there.

[Yanez]

Where are you based?

Im in Chile. There a lot of shapers around and a fair amount of secondhand board.

Thanks for taking time to answer btw