can i surf on this?

[scuba steve]

If you are pretty much a beginner, or a progressing beginner and you want to buy your first board, you should probably opt for a minimal.
But.. if you want something that you can progress more succesfully on I would go for a fairly large shortboard like a 6'8 fatboy shortboard or possibly 6'10. I had one for my first board. I found it easy to stand up on and within about 3-4 months i was confidently riding down the line and throwing a few turns in. I think a 6'8 shortboard with good buoyancy would be quite a good choice.

Good Luck!!

[FishKid Wales]

Basically a surfboard has 3 main functions:
Duckdiving(getting under waves)
Paddeling
Riding
For your 1st board I wouldnt worry to much about duckdiving as you will proberbly be in the foam till youve got your popup and riding/balance dialed.+ you dont need to really DD until your tackeling bigger days as you can just paddel over/through smaller waves.

A thicker board will make paddeling alot easier as most of your body weight is above water so you have less drag as you paddel, A good starter thickness would be around 2 1/2 to 3 inches thick.

The width of a board will help with stability with both paddeling and more importantly poping up(getting to your feet) and riding so a board over 20inches would be ideal for a learner as it gives you a little room for error on foot placement when 1st popping up.
THe longer a board the easier popping up will be as its again less critical where you put your feet, stopping alot of pearling.
The other advantage of having along wide(mega floaty) board is that getting into/onto waves will be alot easier so you can be catching anything and everything that moves allowing you to progress a lot quicker!

Most(not all) surfers opt for a minimal as their starter board as it ticks all the above boxes and for your size weight a 7'6 would be an ideal 1st board, but something like a fatboflyer or a huge 7'+ thruster style board would ok but not as easy as a minimal.
Yeah you will need to downsize at some point but as so many people are getting into surfing its real easy to sell your minimal for not much less than you paid for it (i managed to sell my 1st board for £20 less than i paid after about 5 months use )

The other thing is if you can turn a minmal when it comes time to downsize you will find it soooooooo much easier with turning a smaller board.

[speedracer721]

dont really understand the difference between a fish a short and something called a quiver builder i saw on the rusty site. i saw the rusty quad and the rusty bob. i liked them both. whatha thinkof those?
rusty bob Size: 6'8" Width: 20.50 Thickness: 2.65
rusty quad Size: 6'4" Width: 19.25 Thickness: 2.35

[speedracer721]

like check this one out. i mean its only 100 bucks. what do i got to lose?

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/spo/244303989.html

[essex sucks]

not my sort of thing and i would go with what you have been told. whats the point in starting this thread if u are not going to list-on to what the guys say when replying to your Q

[speedracer721]

cuz at the moment i cant surf and i like talking about it. and gathering all the info i can about anything and everything is the only thing that can help me. and talking to experienced surfers only makes me want it more

[essex sucks]

i went for a short board first of and it was a bad idear it takes along time too go anywhere go for the mini mal

[Sar]

cuz at the moment i cant surf and i like talking about it. and gathering all the info i can about anything and everything is the only thing that can help me. and talking to experienced surfers only makes me want it more

In fairness I know what you mean there, but you've been given some sound advice so follow it.

If you want to buy the board then buy it but you wouldnt want to end up getting a board thats not suited to you and then getting frustrated as hell and giving up- then its not a bargain!
It also depends on if you have done any board sports before, your fitness/flexibilty levels, how often you'll get to surf and all sorts of other variables so it really is individual choice.

If you can - borrow a minimal and see how you get on, if you do good then maybe get a shorter one. If you struggle then dont get anything smaller than a minimal. Like Fishkid said - popout minimals have great resale value because people always want them and they're difficult to do any serious damage to.

[Old Guys Rule]

dont really understand the difference between a fish a short and something called a quiver builder i saw on the rusty site. i saw the rusty quad and the rusty bob. i liked them both. whatha thinkof those?
rusty bob Size: 6'8" Width: 20.50 Thickness: 2.65
rusty quad Size: 6'4" Width: 19.25 Thickness: 2.35

Speedracer,

This is my last post for you. Your statement in itself indicates that a short board is going to be a difficult learn for you.

A quiver is a common term used to describe your board collection.

A Fish is a short board that is much thicker then a short board. It has more volume so it is easier to paddel and catch waves but harder to duck dive and do ripping turns.

Obviously you are going to do what you want to do, but please do not blame any one on this site because we have all really tried hard to give sound advise.

I hope you find what you are looking for.

[speedracer721]

its ok man. i understand. just my irish comin out. im really stubborn. im gonna go short. im gonna learn it. well. see you guys in the lineups

[drowningbitbybit]

well. see you guys in the lineups

Doubt it.





Its such a shame when someone like fishkid takes the time to explain stuff (nice explanation, Lex, like it) and some kook thinks they know better.

[northswell]

Yup looks like another shmuck. Good luck in the white water on your short board. Sure you'll have plenty of fun learning.

[Jimi]

Its such a shame when someone like fishkid takes the time to explain stuff (nice explanation, Lex, like it) and some kook thinks they know better.

Yeh, well said!

I took the time to read all you guys have posted here for beginners. I went out, bought a cheap mini-mal, stood up within 30 min of getting wet, had great fun and thank everyone here for giving good advice!!!!

cheers guys for a great beginner friendly site, and it disappoints me when people are too proud to admit they need a big fat wide board to learn on. Sure they might succeed on a shortboard, but i bet they give up on surfing after the 4th time out.

at least that's less people to fight for waves with.

[Deftoner]

I'm 6' and 176lbs. I ride a 6'6". I had no problems and was standing and riding waves by the 4th surf.....


.....then again I have been bodyboarding most of my life....


If your confident in the surf (ie strong swimmer), don't bother with riding the whitewash. I went straight to the sets and found the learning curve a lot less steeper....and on a shorter board.

Maybe that's just me, I'm still learning so maybe my advice is horribly wrong...

[Dec]

there is a huuuuge difference between being a strong swimmer in a pool and even just wading out into surf.

The ocean is a very powerful thing and you could easily die (maybe not in your small english waves ) but it is still really dangerous. That's no reason not to surf..but maybe take some advice from people that have been there and done it.

You might end up floating out the back of a rip on a 6'0 shortboard which you won't be able to paddle...screaming for help

[northswell]

I agree with Dec. I am a really strong swimmer, i used to swim to national level as a junior, but if i'd hopped on a shortboard and paddled out into big surf. Yep even our dross head high stuff, i'd have been creamed.
Take your time start on something that you can learn easily on, steadily improve work your way to the outside and you'll soon be carving your way down the line without endangering yourself and those around you.

[speedracer721]

i know. you guys are all right. been doin this a lot longer than me. im gonna go with a used mini mal. and then trade it in when im ready. just hope i pick it up quick. can you go fast on a mini mal? and im sure it will last me even as i progress right?

[Sar]

At last!!!!

yes it will last you. dont even worry about that until you've got standing up nailed.

The best advice have been given (by isaluteyou) was to not loose patience - we all learn at different rates so just take it one step at a time and make sure you enjoy it.
I am very impatient and get frustrated at times but you just have to go with it.

I understand your 'want to do it all now' attitude now but you may need to keep that in check otherwise you're going to get p1$$ed with the amount of time it may take

[GowerCharger]

im 5'10" and weigh 200 pounds. been losing weight though. probably gonna end up around 180.

At that height and weight im guessing you either a steroidhead bodybuilder. or a little bit tubby (no offence). Its gonna be a while before you get onto a 6'4, but getting a minimal is a good option. You can progress faster on it, and with that extra weight you will be able to manouver it a lot better than a skinny guy so it should see you right for a good while. In a years time when youre surfing well on it youll be glad you choose it as you cruise past learners floundering on shortboards they bought because they wanted to look cool.
When you got the hang of surfing that to the limits of what it can do, and you start to find it restirctive, then think about moving down to a shortboard. youll already be a good way up the learning curve and ready to take on the challenges of a shorter board (tricks, flashy turns etc.) with the basics already nailed.

[speedracer721]

ok minimal good idea. now, how big? and whats a fish?