Board for a complete beginner.

[ILee]

I'm after getting myself a board to learn to surf on from Ebay and would like some advice on what I should be looking for. I'm good with fibreglass so have been looking at damaged ones I could repair but what length etc etc?

Thanks in advance.

Ian

[RJD]

Hiya have a look round the surfing lessons for all section & the main website.

What board is right for you depends on a whole load of things, lets start with your age, height & weight, fitness & where your goning to be surfing.

Also your preference of 'short' or 'long', considering both have advantages for learners.

[Stone Fox]

https://surfing-waves.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2305

[ILee]

That's brilliant thanks for that link.

[rckobster]

Iv got a nice rusty for cheap. Its kind of a beginner board.

https://surfing-waves.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8212

[supertuber]

Get a board with plenty of float and get your pop-up mastered then you can decide on getting a short or longboard. Something like a bic magnum 8'4 would suit most beginners. If you've surfed a bit then could look at something like nsp 7'6. Good thing about these boards is that they are really tough so can take a battering plus easy to surf. If you get on a board thats to short and fast then you'll find learning takes longer and you'll get p**^^d off.

Plenty of water time is the way. Get a lesson or two aswell.

Good waves

[ILee]

So the 6' 9" Shine I just bought might be a nightmare then??

[supertuber]

It don't actually know what the board you brought is like. If its got some volume it may be ok. If its a gunny (long and thin) kinda board you may struggle wit it. Depends on your size, weight and fitness.

Good luck, hope it all goes well.

[ILee]

Well the board is 6' 9" x 18" x 2".

I'm 6' 170lbs and fairly fit

[supertuber]

Thats a gun. its designed for big waves. The length makes it good to catch the wave and it is thin so you can get inside the barrel and turn it. If you are a beginner this board won't do you any favours. For your size i would look at a mal somewhere between 7'6 - 8'4.

I have a 8ft mal for sale. Really good board. If ya want more details let me know.

Good luck

[Sar]

bigger is always better when it come to a learner board of course, dont know what you were thinking

[ILee]

I obviously didn't read this properly did I ...I read the bit by namino tsume and thought it was close to what was discribed.

https://surfing-waves.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2305

So basically I have got no hope of learning on that then or is it possible to learn on anything but it will just be bloody hard work?

I do like a challenge, I knew nothing about cars and ended up building this www.terrileeracing.co.uk because someone said I couldn't but I'm older now and Don't want to be wasting my time on something I will never be able to learn on.

[drowningbitbybit]

Well the board is 6' 9" x 18" x 2".

I'm 6' 170lbs and fairly fit

Thats a VERY small volume for a 170lb guy

You'd have to be pretty good to get along with that. Its not so much the 6'9 bit, but 18" is very narrow for a tall guy, and 2" is very skinny too.

Someone will come on in a second and say 'hey, I learnt on a shortboard..." bla bla bla, but you're pretty tall/heavy and thats a very small volume, so I think you'll struggle.

Also that board is for good quality, powerful waves - which you wont be anywhere near yet. Try and surf it on whitewater and it'll buck around like a car crash, and then sink

[drowningbitbybit]

Have a look at this rather useful link - types of surfboards

[ILee]

Think this line from your link says it all really.

"Generally speaking, if you're good enough to ride some sort of gun, then you'll know what to get." DOH!

Think it will appear back on Ebay later.

Thanks for the advice peeps.

[drowningbitbybit]

Think it will appear back on Ebay later.

Fix it up, clean it up, give it a good polish and you'll make a profit

[ILee]

I had thought about dropping some art work on it first and then sell it.

I cleaned the main wax of it this morning but I tried to clean the residue off with a mild paint degreaser but it didn't really touch it. What do you use to clean and polish them?

[drowningbitbybit]

I had thought about dropping some art work on it first and then sell it.

I wouldnt bother if you're just gonna sell it. Artwork wont particularly add much to the value.

I cleaned the main wax of it this morning but I tried to clean the residue off with a mild paint degreaser but it didn't really touch it. What do you use to clean and polish them?

You've taken the wax off, so its increased its price already

To clean up a board, I usually use white spirit and a gentle washing up scourer. Then window polish works beautifully (no, really)

If its yellow, thats age and wont come off.

[ILee]

It's a bit yellow but it's lovely and shinny and back on Ebay. Fingers crossed.

How does this one sound to ya? A bit better for me and it's only round the corner as well.


7'6 Nigel Semmen's mini mal surfboard in good condition considering the amount of use and the distance its travelled in its lifetime! There are a few pressure dings and one of the three fins needs some fibre glass work as it is only held in at present by a temporary repair. This has been a great board for learning and would make an ideal first board for beginners,as its pretty easy to get up on.

[drowningbitbybit]

How does this one sound to ya? A bit better for me and it's only round the corner as well.


7'6 Nigel Semmen's mini mal surfboard

Thats more like it

Right length, right shape, lots of volume

The only thing that would concern me would be the condition - maybe get a photo of that damaged fin and the dings on the forum and let some of the experts look at it (Im fine with fixing dings - dont have much of a clue when it comes to glassed on fins though)

Most things are fixable though (except delamination).