Yet another Which Board thread...

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Yet another Which Board thread...

Postby jacobsen1 » Mon Apr 03, 2006 1:43 pm

Sorry to do this yet again to everyone here. I've been lurking for a few days, reading up on others suggestions, but I'd like specific recomendations from anyone willing to help.

I'm 6'4" 225lbs. I actually just broke my pelvis in January, and after starting rehab, I've started to loose a bunch of weight (I was 242 entering rehab). Sitting on the couch (doctor's orders) for 2 months, didn't help and I had a good beer muscle going anyway. By summer I should weight easily under 220lbs.

Last year the wife wanted to get into surfing. I didn't know anything about it, and she went to a shop here in RI and ended up getting herself a NSP surfing betty 6'8" funboard. She obviously wanted to go surfing as much as possible last summer. I hate the beach, but would go anyway with my camera gear. That would only entertain me so long, so I'd end up renting whatever they had at the beach, and joined her in the water.

I have pretty good balance and ski, waterski, snowboard, and wakeboard. They usually would have everything rented except for a 10' spongy softopper or something way too short. With the 10' spongy thing I could get up no problem, but after an hour of 2 on that it got booring because it felt like a damn log. I've also tried the wife's 6'8" but that's a bit too small for me. I can paddle it, although it barely floats me, and I can catch waves on it. I just can't stand up on the thing longer than .5 secs :lol: ... I normally jump to my feet and then fall right off...

So after a summer with about 4 sessions on 10' sponges and about 3 sessions on the wifes 6'8" funboard, I'm looking for something for me. I have a budget of $500 for the board. I've searched high and low for used longboard and that market is very small and fast moving here in RI. The shops hardly ever have any used inventory, and it usually flies out the door in a day or two. I've narrowed my search down to the Chinese boards that are poly from Aussy blanks, but finished in China, or a NSP/Southpoint epoxy longboard. I know the bad wrap that the NSP/Southpoint boards get as pop outs here for their weight, and bad shapes... I'm wondering if it would be a good first board for me. I like the added durability they have, and the price for sure. I'm looking at a 8'6" southpoint as my first board. I want something that will be slightly challenging, but not impossible at first, but also short enough that I'll be able to have fun with it down the road.

Is an 8'6" Soutpoint a decent first board for me? Should I go with a poly chinese board instead? Should I go longer? I've already put $200 down on the 8'6" Southpoint, but they said that $ can go towards any board in the shop if I decide against it. The guys in the shop said they would usually recomend a 9' to a n00b like me, but since I can get up on a 10' super easy they said a 8'6" would be a good challenge, but workable. It comes to $491 with tax and everything. The have a few chinese boards that are $25~$50 more that would be similar...

Here in RI the waves seem to be knee to waist most days with a few head to overhead days durring huricane season. I'd want something that can surf in knee high and up if possible.

Thanks for any help!

Ben
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Postby farside » Tue Apr 04, 2006 2:09 pm

Either will probably be fine but the fibreglass 9ft'er would be my pick.

At 200 odd pounds you are a solid guy (no offence meant) and while I dont know your local beach it sounds like most days the waves are going to be pretty gutless and every little bit helps and you can pretty much always repair a ding in a glass board.

Also, there seems to be a pretty common misconception going through these forums that you cant have fun, or do any other than walk up and down the plank on a longer board.......this is a total load of crap.

I have both a 6'6" short board and a 9'6" mal and my local gets waves from 2 to 6 ft, I havent taken the shorty out in 12 months and I often see guys (young and old) on 10ft longboards who absolutely rip and would put many guys on shorter boards to shame.

As they say , "its not the length of your stick it's how you use it.
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Postby Driftingalong » Tue Apr 04, 2006 2:41 pm

farside wrote:Also, there seems to be a pretty common misconception going through these forums that you cant have fun, or do any other than walk up and down the plank on a longer board.......this is a total load of crap.

I have both a 6'6" short board and a 9'6" mal and my local gets waves from 2 to 6 ft, I havent taken the shorty out in 12 months and I often see guys (young and old) on 10ft longboards who absolutely rip and would put many guys on shorter boards to shame.

As they say , "its not the length of your stick it's how you use it.


So true, good post. 8)

I've got a 6'6", and just recently got a 9'8" (and it is loads of fun)...
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Postby allrounder » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:01 am

Hi mate
I am from the Uk and am around the same height as you and about 5 pounds lighter.

bascially I cant ride those matchsticks you see the 150lbs guys rideing! But that doesnt mean you cant rip the place a apart.

10ft is a log as you said. I have been surfing 20 years I have the following in my quiver

10ft Longboard (for those really small days knee high and below)
9ft6 Longboard (for noseriding anything from knee high up)
9ft 1 Longboard (performance longboard for riding off the tail)
7ft 2 Mini Longboard (performance allrounder see pics)
7ft Shortboard (performance shortboard good in anything from shoulder high up to double overhead)
6ft 8 Retro Rocket (good for medium waves)
6ft 6 Twin Keel Fish (Yep its a scaled up fish rides very well)

I think my 7ft 2 mini longboard is the type of board for you.
Its 7ft 2" x 22 1/4" x 2 7/8" rounded pin tail. Becasue of my size I ride it like a shortboard, you can race down the line really crank it off the top and its very stable I could probably drop this board down to 6ft 8 to 6ft 10 I find it a little long in some conditions. But I think its the sort of design you should consider. I won a local comp on it against 10 stone shortboard rippers.

Being bigger than the average guy like me it takes a slightly bigger board to get going on a wave but with the right board you can eventually rip with the others you have more power and more strength than the little guys look at Laird Hamilton and Pancho Sullivan they are all big guys absolutley ripping.

My advice to you is go to a shaper and order something similiar to the board below (The curved fins give a little lift in the tail and give it a more skatey feeling, NICE!!) Stay with that shaper, if the board you get doesnt work, figure out why discuss it with the shaper and then on your next board make the changes see how that works.

I thin kyou will find 8ft plus too much too soon! Maybe go 7ft 6 that was my first mini longboard I later found that too big so dropped 4 inches and came up with this baby. Anyway hope that helps here is the pic of the board and me on it in action.

When I ordered it it was winter I thought Yellow would make a nice change. When the summer came I got my summer suit out and then realised what I had done "DOH, yellow board, yellow wettie = NOB" nevermind aye




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Postby grub » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:02 pm

jacobsen1 wrote:...I'm 6'4" 225lbs...

Ben, as you already understand, weight is not a limitation… I am 6’ and can weigh anywhere between 85 (187) to 100kg (220lb) throughout the course of the year. Although I have ridden boards as small as 6’1”, I generally enjoy and feel more comfortable on boards greater then 9’… Board lengths in the mid range generally don’t tickle my fancy and find that I particularly enjoy a performance longboard around the 9’ mark when it starts to get head high and beyond.

jacobsen1 wrote:I've searched high and low for used longboard and that market is very small and fast moving here in RI. The shops hardly ever have any used inventory, and it usually flies out the door in a day or two.

A performance mal is a great board that enables you to still surf primarily off the tail as you would a shortboard… I also feel that performance mal’s enable us more “solid” people a chance to use the extra weight to our advantage. If you were to get your hands on a good one I guarantee you would keep it in your kitty for many years to come. You have the right idea, keep your eyes open and note that its not just there, they are sort after all over the world... why do you think that is? A couple of reasons are that they hold their value, have an extreemly longlife if treated with a bit of respect and generally anybody who has a serious go on one likes it…

allrounder wrote:...My advice to you is go to a shaper and order something similiar to the board below (The curved fins give a little lift in the tail and give it a more skatey feeling, NICE!!) Stay with that shaper, if the board you get doesnt work, figure out why discuss it with the shaper and then on your next board make the changes see how that works...

Great advice minus the fins… at this stage you need a little more control but it is a thing to think about for the future. Variation in fin design dramatically effect the way your board behaves; once you have control do have a play with fin size and shape but for now keep it simple! As for a new board… if you have the money it is the best solution, but there is nothing wrong with a good second-hand board.

allrounder wrote:...I think my 7ft 2 mini longboard is the type of board for you...

As you are a beginner and likewise in the upper weight division… I feel that Allrounder’s suggestion would suffice and conversely agree that a minimal around the 7+ mark would suit you well as you progress… This size division would provide ample flotation but the downside when compared to say the 8’6” being reduced stability that maybe amplified on account of the combination of your weight and height. As long as you understand that a true longboard does perform considerably better then any foam type board and you are satisfied in trading off the finer benefits of both the shortboard and longboard for extra stability (comparing to a shorter board) and reduced ride-ability (when compared to a true longboard); I would say go for the 8’6”, don’t look back at your current choice but learn, have fun and plan where and what you would like to get out of your next progression in board design.

Good luck and above all have fun…
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Postby jacobsen1 » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:31 pm

Thanks for the help guys. As I said I already have $200 down on the board, another $100 "burning a whole in my pocket" and every friday ;) I get a bit more I can put down... The water is still too cold here, only because I can't afford both a wetsuit and a board, so I won't be able to get out until late May... I have a thick farmer john that will work by then... I'll keep my eyes peeled for used glass boards, and if not I think the 8'6" is it. I plan on keeping this board for a long time.

I have the wife's 6'8" funboard if I need something shorter in a while, but I'm thinking it's too big of a step down, maybe not... I can catch waves on it, I just can't stand up on it yet... Hopefully after getting used to balancing on something bigger hers might work when I want to try something different. I'm also slightly worried that she might try mine and like it a bunch because hers is aggressively short for her and she'll want to try a "longboard" her size (5'4" 118lbs).

I'm going down to the shop Saturday, so I'll be sure to check out all the mini mals, mals, and longboards they have in my pricerange, and hound them about used boards... I know the 8'6" will be enough to get me hooked, and I know worst case I'll lose $50 tops selling it used. I just wish I could try a few boards before I buy, but the shops here don't do that as far as I know... I will ask that question Saturday though.

Thanks for all the help guys!
Ben
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Postby surfmonkieno1 » Wed May 03, 2006 4:01 pm

i am also in the process of buying a 8'6" Town and Country 2+1 mini longboard. i am still learning and have been told by several sources that this type of board is great because it gives you the comfort and stability of a longboard, but also allows for more versatility and control, as well as changing directions and streering. basically it's like getting two boards in one. i usually ride a 9' board or bigger, but i've been wanting to downsize so that i can start to tear it up rather than just riding it in like you have been doing on the 10' soft top. i usually go up to NH but now that i have my own board, i want to get down to other places like RI and MA and even up to ME.

good luck with the board buying, and tell your wife she's brave for starting out with a 6'8"!! :D
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Postby grub » Wed May 03, 2006 4:46 pm

surfmonkieno1 wrote:i am also in the process of buying a 8'6" Town and Country 2+1 mini longboard...

One of my favourite boards was an Nat Young 2+1 9'1" (now in two pieces). Around the 9ft range with a thinner nose makes for fun in larger waves or when you feel like spending a bit of extra energy throwing it into sharp turns; not really a board for that traditional feel more performance.

:idea: As for a 8"6', If you can surf in terms of controled turnning etc. I would add the extra 6" with 60/40 rails to define it as a true longboard or take the plunge and go for a true shortboard some where around the 6'8" mark :wink: .
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