General Info

[long_man]

right before anyone says anything, i have trauled through god knows how many pages of topics about different board types, etc before having to post this!

first things first......

i am 6ft 5" (hence the username) and weigh in at around 15 stone!

i am currently on the search for a board that will cover my needs. i will be surfing hopefully at least once a week, more if possible.

i am a beginner in the surfing world but am a compitent bodyboarder.

i want a board that i can learn on, but i want to be able to progress well with it, i was thinking of a 7'10"/8' mini mal!!

the surfboards i was looking at were;
circle one 7'10", cortez 8', or hawaiian soul 8'.

can anyone help me with which board would be better suited to my needs (longer etc), and also on board manufacturers as well, i'm leaning towards the circle one after what i have read about it.

sorry for the long post, but i thought i would put all the relevant info in first time round.

thanks for any help anyone can give me.

H

[RJD]

Unless your 14 I'd forget ANYTHING under 9'6" for your size, 23" wide, 3 inches thick, easy going profile (square tail, nothing to extreem).

[justloafing]

Unless your 14 I'd forget ANYTHING under 9'6" for your size, 23" wide, 3 inches thick, easy going profile (squaer tial, nothing to extreem).

Exactly what you need.

[Otter]

The longer the board, the easier it will be to learn. Once you get the hang of it, try something different. Can't tell you how many people I know who started with a shortie, got frustrated and quit.

[northswell]

Agree with the above.
Tmoz over her e should be a 1-2ft day kids out proper lesson will be 3plus on the sets. I may just leave them to their own devices.

[long_man]

......holy sh1t.... at least as long as 9'6"?

well i guess you guys have been there and done it?

can anyone recommend a semi decent board for around 350 spondooolies?

so not even a circle one 8'5"???

H

[kitesurfer]

Personally i disagree. I wouldn't recomend you get a longboard unless you are intending to be a longboarder.
Agreed a longboard will be easy to catch waves and learn the basics but you've mentioned getting a board you can progress with. If you're intending to progress to shortboards then a minimal (like you've suggested) is a better option as it won't condition your surfing one way or another. Depends on which way you want your surfing to go really.

KS

[long_man]

i definately want to be able to use a board i can progress with for a fair while, i am pretty sure that i would prefer being able to surf the bigger waves with a shorterboard (mini mal or something), rather than noseriding or something. (sorry if that sounds kinda naive)

so kitesurfer, do you think an 8ft mini mal would be ok?

i was looking at a circle one, hawaiian soul or cortez, although i cannot find much to do with cortez, i think they are made by Alder sportswear?

[drowningbitbybit]

do you think an 8ft mini mal would be ok?

Yup, but you'll need a fairly thick volume to float you. 3" thick kinda thing.

From looking around on t'internet (rather than actual experience...) the min-mals from Cortez and Circle One are pop-outs, while Hawaiian soul are custom? Is that right?

If so, I'd be going for the Hawaiian soul eight footer.

[Real Pol]

I'm agreeing with KS on this one. Go for a big minimal, 8 foot.

A longboard is for longboarding.

You're not that much bigger than some of my friends and they all learn't on 7'6" minimals so I can't se why you'd have any problems.

As for make of board I can't help you there.

[kitesurfer]

As for make of board I can't help you there.

Definatley a custom Harmergeddon, shaped exactly for your size.

*hangs head in shame at irresistable urge to plug his own boards*

KS

[long_man]

As for make of board I can't help you there.

Definatley a custom Harmergeddon, shaped exactly for your size.

*hangs head in shame at irresistable urge to plug his own boards*

KS

C'est combien s'il vous plait monsieur

[Dec]

c'est tres expensive. Il est un putain! Just joking

I'm sure he'll have a good deal going for you.

[long_man]

well, after a bit of thought i decided to purchase 1x 8' hawaiian soul.

it should hopefully be with me on wednesday

i can't wait......

and then theres more......hopefully after a few months once i have got to grips with the soul (and spondoooolies dependant), Mr Kitesurfer himself will hopefully be sorting me out with a fatboy flier

just thought id share the excitment

P.s thanks for the help and advice Chris

[greg@hoodatsurfco]

welcome to a new life. there is nothing like surfing.


the first time you stand up is probably the best feeling ever.

[Otter]

I don't have any idea how much 15 stone actually is, but I'm 6'4" and I know precisely how tall 6'5" is... If I were a beginner with those dimensions, I would stay with a longboard to learn on.

I'm not trying to dis kitey or anything, but I think you'll be struggling with an 8' board. There's nothing more frustrating than paddling out on a board which doesn't float you very well and you have to work your arse off to get it to move.

You've got some wave reading experience, take advantage of it, get yourself an inexpensive, used longboard and give it a whirl until you feel comfortable actually surfing. You've got your whole life ahead of you to experiment with other boards, but first you've got to learn how to ride. I'd hate to see you become one of those poor disillusioned souls who wanted to perform like Taj Burrow, but never get past the kook stage.
Just my HO.

And I do agree completely and emphatically with the post above...

[RJD]

I don't have any idea how much 15 stone actually is...

95 kg's.

IMO when learningits wave count thats important, all you learn as a learner ona longboard is just as usefull , if adapted , on shorter boards.

If your not catching waves your not going to learn anything.

[greg@hoodatsurfco]

i think learning on a long board is good, because you can develop the feel of the pop, and timing. then when you get comfortable you can move up to a shorter board and hold onto the long board for small days.

[long_man]

....well we will just have to wait and see, if i end up getting annoyed then ill have to try a longboard, but i think i should be ok. (hopefully )

i'll have to keep you all posted.

[drowningbitbybit]

8ft IS a long board. Okay, its not a longboard but it is a long board.

You'll have no problems on an 8ft board.