Information overload

[Farno]

I've been reading this site over and over again trying to figure out what size board to buy to learn on. I'm 5'11 and 170lbs.

I thought i had it sorted out at 7'6 - 7'10 minimal but after doing a search and reading all the 'I'm a learner what board...' threads should i be lookn for a long board around 9'?

I'll be out max 1 day a week at the most twice, not ideal but with a new born baby it's all i can manage. I'm lookn at getting a few lessons next week, but the shop doesnt seem to sell boards. I'm looking for a board that will get me out in most conditions, i'm after old skool cool just simple stuff

This is the longboard i was lokn at HERE

7'10 minimal HERE

Another 7'10 HERE

7'6 minimal HERE

Any advice welcome. I know you get 100's of post like this and i feel stupid having to ask, but you lot know WAY more than me

[mrc]

Yeah the & 10 should do you fine I actually started on a 7,6 but I"m fairly close to the beach.

[justloafing]

IMO I would go 9'6 - 10'0 and at least 3 1/4" thick if not thicker.

If your only going to be able to go once a week it is going to take you longer to learn. If I was you I would rent a few different sized boards before you purchase one.

[Farno]

If I was you I would rent a few different sized boards before you purchase one.

That would be great, but i cant rent any

The school here uses foam and semi-soft, but these are on a daily basis

Will the extra 4" make that much difference to me. I mean it would be good to have as a learner but as/if i get better will it hold me back or would the 7'6 be just as good an option?
I'm off on holiday next week and i would like to spend as much time of my holidays in the water

[rich r]

At 5'11", you'll notice some difference between the 7-6 and 7-10.

But I ride an 8-6 now, after 25 years on a short board and I can move it around.. so if you're worried about performance, don't.

I rode a 9-6 in huntington beach last weekend and it was a touch more sluggish than my 8-6, but still a nice ride.

that 9-0 O;shea looks like a nice ride, and at 2 3/4 thick, it won't be as sluggish as some thicker boards.

[Farno]

After phoning a few places they all seem to be saying 7'10 so its between these three boards.

1. TAKE OFF

2.TAKE OFF 2

3.O'SHEA

All the boards have slighlty different thicknesses

[surfscream]

Frog,

Am in the same predicament as you trying to find a first board.

One bloke i have found to be of great help is a bloke called dave summner from bude , you can find him on ebay. look up mini mal in the search bar and his shop is called SummersSurf Shop . he sells various boards sunride/epoxy etc

just email him about a board ie if it is the right type for you etc and then see if you can do a deal with him. he definatly will, he has done me a sunride 7'6 with board bag and leash for £260 including postage to the north east!

reckon i could have got him down a bit an all

[justloafing]

After phoning a few places they all seem to be saying 7'10 so its between these three boards.

1. TAKE OFF

2.TAKE OFF 2

3.O'SHEA

All the boards have slighlty different thicknesses

Well have fun on it but if you don't do worth a crap on it ( I really hope your up and riding quickly) don't say I didn't tell you so. Your first concern should be wanting to get up and be able to ride. When you can do that and make turns easy then go to the smaller boards. I can't ever think of a surf school that I have seen or read about that would start a guy of your size on a 7' 10" board. There is a reason they don't. Also the thickness counts for a lot. I have a 2 1/2 inch thick board then went to a 3 1/2 inch board. It made all the difference in the world. I am 5'8" 160 pounds so I am not a tall nor fat.

[dougirwin13]

If you aren't gonna be able to surf much go for the longest, thickest, widest board that you want to be riding (OK, there are some limits but you don't seem to want a longboard, so...).

-doug

[rich r]

I say chuck conventional wisdom and go for the 7-10.

It's big enough to float you. If you're serious about learning, you'll struggle a bit but work through it.

Fun boards are good for new surfers who might want to go shortboard, but provides higher stability without sacrificing a lot of maneuverability you might with a thicker and/or longer board.

[justloafing]

I say chuck conventional wisdom and go for the 7-10.

It's big enough to float you. If you're serious about learning, you'll struggle a bit but work through it.

Fun boards are good for new surfers who might want to go shortboard, but provides higher stability without sacrificing a lot of maneuverability you might with a thicker and/or longer board.

I could agree with what you are saying to a point but frog is only going to be able to go once a week.

[Farno]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, i know this must pop-up every other day, so thank you.

One shop today did point out that i want to use the board all year round and he suggested a 7'6 as the best all round option. He said i might struggle to get out in the larger winter swells. I did mention about going as large as i dare, but he still said the 7'6 was the better option. The 7'10 is more expensive and i mentioned the board to him, seemed a nice bloke to talk to aswell. A few shops i've phoned always seem to want to push a much more expensive board onto me