I'm in the market for my first board and want to use it for a combination of surfing and flat water. I only want one board at this stage.
I have been surfing for 10+ years. I have been dealing with a bulging disc problem (L5,S1) for the past 4 years. Approximately 5 weeks ago my back went on me again. At the moment i can SUP but am avoiding surfing. I really need to work on my core strength.
I have only had 3 sessions on SUPs but really enjoyed it and found balancing relatively easy.
My budget is $1300 (incl carbon paddle, leash, grip) but I have been looking at pushing it to $1500 for the ECS Evolution 10ft model.
I am wondering if anyone else here has used this model or can recommend something similar.
I actually want to get my hands on something as soon as possible.
The ECS Evolution would be a good first, all round board. I started on a similar shape and now also have an ECS PW2. The brushed carbon is worth it if it's within your budget. I am very happy with the strength and durability of my ECS board. You should consider a regular remedial yoga class such as Ryoho yoga to help with your back.
Hi HeAintHeavy, A 10'+ board sounds like a good size if you have a back problem. Also make sure the board weight is low, because carrying and moving heavy boards can put strain on your back.
Have a look at our range of all rounder SUPs at Ben Buckler Boards. They'll fit your budget too. I'm 78kgs and love riding the 10' in the surf.
I've surfed since I was a young kid too and I regularly swap between paddle surfing and short board surfing to have fun and get the most out of the water conditions.
Thanks for the advice guys.
Ben, I checked out your site.. just wondering which is the all rounder? Is it the woody? Really like the look of your boards mate but would love to know how they go in the water. Is there a warrantee?
Hi mate, yes the Woody, Toes Nose and the Quazi are all rounders, just different wood styling. And yes all packages come with a 12 month warranty. We love to keep all our customers happy so please let us know if we can help further in any way.
For what it is worth, I started at 10' and went to 9'5" pretty quickly (and 8'8" after 8 months). (I am 6'3" 90 kg.) 9'5" is long enough for flat water but more fun in the surf.
But with your back you need the lightest board possible, but I am not sure what you can buy new for $1500 (that is really light) - so maybe consider used (I don't have one for sale).
