Hi All - Basically looking for some advice on a board that I won't be using for long.

Long story short I'm down to 107 kgs from 135 kgd 3 months ago (went from physical labor to an office job - yikes) and have fallen in love with surfing.

A mate offered me a board (8 foot foamy) to have a crack on and I LOVE it (I use to sail skiffs, there's this amazing feeling when you pop the kite and the boat first accelerates - Surfing gives you the same thing - LOVED IT). But I don't have permanent use of the board.

Basically the weight loss is ongoing and I want to be riding shortboards within 2 years.

I am surfing through the winter to keep building fitness and stability. At the moment what I'm doing isn't surfing - more swimming around with a surfboard, but I am improving pretty quickly (fitness is skyrocketing).

I need a BIG board to surf this winter just to keep getting fitter and more stable (and who knows, maybe even standup). The point is I won't need it for long as I get lighter / better and don't want to throw away cash on something I'll only use for 6 months.

Can anyone suggest a good way to buy a cheap board. Any advice welcome.

P.S I've seen a few around the $500 mark that looked ok but I didn't want to spend that much, that being said they appear to hold value pretty well (surprisingly well) so I COULD just spend the cash and sell it later on. But I wouldn't mind having a beginners board for other people as well.

This one "was" going cheap!

I reckon you could get along to a surf shop that has demo boards and most of these will be durable epoxy type construction like NSP or Surftech.
Try a few out and work out what you like.

As long as it has a M logo you cant go wrong

munro^^^^^^^

Yer support Kiwi Shapers

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chrispychru said...

munro^^^^^^^

Congrats on the weight loss Flash - nice work. If I was you I would aim for a nice high volume Mal - something at least 3 inches thick and 23 wide should do you well. I think you may find that you will end up keeping the board for a long time (as its always good to have a Mal no matter what you ride) so if you find sometihng you really like be prepared to pay that bit extra as you may end up getting yrs of use out of it. Where are you based? Maybe if you enlighten us someone in this room can probably stare you in the right direction to a shop / board store that may be bale to help.

Alternatively ebay is always a good hunting ground if you are prepared to wait for the board that you want (and happy to back your judgement) and gumtree always has some bargains going cheap from backpackers who need to sell up as they are moving on.

Good luck with the board hunt but just remember that you need to post pics of anyboard purchases in this room or there will be trouble LL really likes it if you can show off your new toy in a beach side setting on a bbq. Others like Mac really appreciate a nice piece of lawn. I am not so fussy.

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FlashAhAhh said...

Hi All - Basically looking for some advice on a board that I won't be using for long.

Long story short I'm down to 107 kgs from 135 kgd 3 months ago (went from physical labor to an office job - yikes) and have fallen in love with surfing.

A mate offered me a board (8 foot foamy) to have a crack on and I LOVE it (I use to sail skiffs, there's this amazing feeling when you pop the kite and the boat first accelerates - Surfing gives you the same thing - LOVED IT). But I don't have permanent use of the board.

Basically the weight loss is ongoing and I want to be riding shortboards within 2 years.

I am surfing through the winter to keep building fitness and stability. At the moment what I'm doing isn't surfing - more swimming around with a surfboard, but I am improving pretty quickly (fitness is skyrocketing).

I need a BIG board to surf this winter just to keep getting fitter and more stable (and who knows, maybe even standup). The point is I won't need it for long as I get lighter / better and don't want to throw away cash on something I'll only use for 6 months.

Can anyone suggest a good way to buy a cheap board. Any advice welcome.

P.S I've seen a few around the $500 mark that looked ok but I didn't want to spend that much, that being said they appear to hold value pretty well (surprisingly well) so I COULD just spend the cash and sell it later on. But I wouldn't mind having a beginners board for other people as well.

Hey flash,

Just did a similar thing myself and if I were to do it over again I would get 2 boards. Start on a 9' mal and later get a 7ish foot board. The 9' won't be wasted as there are many days with small waves so at least you get wet most days. I wanted a boardfor all conditions and what I have is good but IMHO 2 boards are better than one.

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FlashAhAhh said...

Hi All - Basically looking for some advice on a board that I won't be using for long.

Long story short I'm down to 107 kgs from 135 kgd 3 months ago (went from physical labor to an office job - yikes) and have fallen in love with surfing.

A mate offered me a board (8 foot foamy) to have a crack on and I LOVE it (I use to sail skiffs, there's this amazing feeling when you pop the kite and the boat first accelerates - Surfing gives you the same thing - LOVED IT). But I don't have permanent use of the board.

Basically the weight loss is ongoing and I want to be riding shortboards within 2 years.

I am surfing through the winter to keep building fitness and stability. At the moment what I'm doing isn't surfing - more swimming around with a surfboard, but I am improving pretty quickly (fitness is skyrocketing).

I need a BIG board to surf this winter just to keep getting fitter and more stable (and who knows, maybe even standup). The point is I won't need it for long as I get lighter / better and don't want to throw away cash on something I'll only use for 6 months.

Can anyone suggest a good way to buy a cheap board. Any advice welcome.

P.S I've seen a few around the $500 mark that looked ok but I didn't want to spend that much, that being said they appear to hold value pretty well (surprisingly well) so I COULD just spend the cash and sell it later on. But I wouldn't mind having a beginners board for other people as well.

do not listen to anyone on here,best tip you will ever get

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chrispychru said...

munro^^^^^^^

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FlashAhAhh said...

Hi All - Basically looking for some advice on a board that I won't be using for long.

Long story short I'm down to 107 kgs from 135 kgd 3 months ago (went from physical labor to an office job - yikes) and have fallen in love with surfing.

FlashAhAhh, there aren't many blokes on here who can remember learning to surf, so don't listen to any of 'em..... except Kadilak, and me of course...... I'm coming up to my second anniversary on longboards, so my lessons and the pain of learning are still very, very fresh in my mind.....

Seriously, get something between 9 and 10 feet, make sure it's at least 3 inches thick, and not too much rocker or you still won't paddle it well.

Beware of franchised surf shops. They will sell you what ever looks good under your arm....

It may be worth it to just fork out for a softie to start, then trade that back for a glass board. One of the blokes at my local, OBCT, has a 10'2 something, in Epoxy I think, and it flies. He's a big guy too.

Most of all, get in the water as much as you can, there is nothing like time in the water to help improve your fitness and ability.

I started on a 9'4 Wayne Deane, which I love to death, and it cost me $600 in pristine condition.

Check ebay if you're not concerned about surfing a chinese epoxy board, they can be cheap and will ride pretty well. A mate of mine bought one for $300 new, including a bag and leggie.

Most of all, get something that will float you well, and paddles well.

If you're around the Northern Beaches, we could hook up and have a look at some of the stuff the local guys ride.

Michael

And don't forget newguy as well. But newguy is not a big guy, but he is a short boarder like flash wants to be. Get in quick asking him questions about learning. Fast learner but may not have a good memory.

My advice, don't use the word Noob, bad enough those computer geeks stole our verb to describe looking at crap on the net. Surfing the net pfft why did they go for riding, climbing, something..... anything else
Sorry just always found that weird

But Michaels advice above is pretty good and so is Crispys.

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kadilak said...

And don't forget newguy as well. But newguy is not a big guy, but he is a short boarder like flash wants to be. Get in quick asking him questions about learning. Fast learner but may not have a good memory.

Yeah Kadil's the leader of our sub beginner pack though, so listen to him mate and listen good My tip is definately stick with the bigger board. Forget the softie if you are keen. It's basically the same as a fibreglass board just harder when you bump you head on it. Even better you can keep it for later when you want to muck around in small stuff.

Progress at your own pace and don't care about anyone else or if they are staring at you. It's funny how a couple years can make the difference between you now catching waves and making those guys whom were sniggering at you look like beginners. Give me a buzz if I can help with anyone mate.

Most importantly, have fun!

^^^^well said

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newguy said...



Yeah Kadil's the leader of our sub beginner pack though, so listen to him mate and listen good

You poor b@rstards!!

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chrispychru said...

^^^^well said

Oh yum on so many levels

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Simondo said...

This one "was" going cheap!

Evo?