Hey guys
I'm new to surfing and need some advice on buying a board I'm in the Newcastle area. Looking at buying a longboard around the 9ft size. Can anyone tell me if East coast surfboards (ECS) are any good? I'm interested in their classic log. Or does anyone know any good places in Newy for decent second hand boards.
Any help would be appreciated
Cheers

Most of the shops and shapers around Town have second hand ones on the rack..

just depends on what has been traded as to what is available..

Best thing is to just drive around and have a look. I'd start at the Surf Factory.


Also have a look on the usual sites Gumtree and EBay..

My Young bloke has an ECS short board and its great in every aspect other than the plugs for the fins. They are a softer plastic that (in our case anyway) have worn. Not an issue if you put your fins in and leave them in but if you travel a bit and take fins in and out that could end up being a bit inconvenient. Great shape and excellent construction other than that though. Never seen one of their longboards.

I've got a couple & I love 'em for their shape & low weight. However I would not recommend them to someone new to surfing coz your unlikly to find a heavier glassed 1. Like SP says, plenty of 2nd handy options over your neck of the woods. Probably still gonna be like $500 2nd hand as opposed to $500 new, but you should be able to find something with a heavier glass job.

From what I have seen they go good


Come in Teacake your expertise required (surely no more biased than others)

Yeah what Ted said Teacake is sponsored by them and also I believe SA has a couple I'd rate them from what I've read and heard.

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MickPC said...
I've got a couple & I love 'em for their shape & low weight. However I would not recommend them to someone new to surfing coz your unlikly to find a heavier glassed 1. Like SP says, plenty of 2nd handy options over your neck of the woods. Probably still gonna be like $500 2nd hand as opposed to $500 new, but you should be able to find something with a heavier glass job.

I've had 2 both with heavy glass jobs. The first one I ordered and had to wait 6 weeks (still standard price) but the second they had in stock. Pretty reasonable boards as far as pop outs go but even with the heavier glass there was a fair bit of deck sinkage probably due to poor quality or over sanded blanks.

I'd be looking at a good second hand board over an ECS. Like SP said go and have a look at the Surf Factory.

Thanks mate. I presume heavier glass equals a more robust board right?

Thanks for the help guys...think I'll go into town today and check out second hand boards

G'day Dyso.
Welcome to the Dark Side.

My 26 year old son has had the 9'4" ECS 'modern mal' longboard for two years now. He has surfed it, on almost double overhead days and in 1 foot dribblers. They are a good design with an ok finish. They are a little light glass wise and his board has a fair few depressions and bumps, even finger marks from eskimo rolls. But for the price, they are really good value. I would suggest going for the 9'6" classic log as it will provide you with a stable platform to get this longboarding thing going. Good luck. Couple of photos of the 9'4".

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Dyso89 said...
Thanks mate. I presume heavier glass equals a more robust board right?

Not really, has as much to do with the blank quality as it does with the glass..

if it's your first Longboard i'd steer away from a true log and look at something more all round.

IMO Newy waves tends to suit a more HP type all rounder then a proper Log..

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SP said..

Dyso89 said...
Thanks mate. I presume heavier glass equals a more robust board right?

Not really, has as much to do with the blank quality as it does with the glass..

if it's your first Longboard i'd steer away from a true log and look at something more all round.

IMO Newy waves tends to suit a more HP type all rounder then a proper Log..

Good advice

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/charlestown/surfing/10-4-west-triple-stringer-longboard/1109910062

$300

Triple Stringer & appears to have plenty of rocker (good for newer surfers). Includes board bag & fins

10'4 - little longer than 9'0, but who gives a fark...not me
24 1/2 wide - some will say you need monkey arms, I'd say its about the same width as the log I sold a few weeks ago. Super stable, but you don't wanna be out in anything over waist high with this as a new surfer imo...but anything under will be a blast, even the ankle biters are fun with a board like this

I wonder how he went??


Something like this would be perfect for around Newy.

Unless you are a large Gent??

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gordon-and-Smith-Longboard-Malibu-excellent-condition-cover-grip-legrope-/301927662753?hash=item464c4a84a1:g:Na4AAOSwKfVXDaH2

I'd give the 10'4 a miss, they really don't suit the waves we get most days. Too wide, too long.

The other one the blokes is selling would be a better fit but even then it is a bit Loggy but Pieters boards are good and even the logs are pretty easy to surf.

http://djbsurfboards.com.au/surfboards/

Have some cheap purchase price Aus made boards ($900 starting for a longboard).

Great price, pretty close to the second hand market price wise - Good bloke to deal with and he can make you a custom to suit exactly what you are after.

Down in Sydney but it is a short trip from Newy.

There's a Billy Tolhurst modern log in the classifieds and it's just down the road at Umina.

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SP said..
I wonder how he went??


I'd give the 10'4 a miss, they really don't suit the waves we get most days. Too wide, too long.

Yeah will be uber gay if he doesn't come back & let us know what he bought.

That $300 board would be perfect for my local...you never see bargains like that over here for longboards.

Wish it was easier to post surfboards, someone should make a biz for it & just have long shipment times waiting for enough boards to build up to send over in bulk.
Packed by people who know how not to ding boards. I'd be happy to wait until next summer for that board, gonna need another big board by then.

As said, I can give them a double thumbs up. My opinion is probably pretty biased but of the 10 or so boards, they've all been awesome! Glassing has been up to the job for taking a beating from me and sure it isn't equivalent to a $1000+ board, but it does more than great job at a much cheaper price tag.

For a beginner I'd go a modern mal probably, I have a 9'6 log and have had other sizes, as well as the comp model but the comp model is a bit tippy as iit's narrower while the log is easy to catch rails and fall off. The modern is probably a good board in between.

I have had a few friends buy various models, shortboards and longboards, all surfers of varying skill and they have all enjoyed them. But entirely up to you with what you go with

From me, a double thumbs up. Any questions and I'll be happy to give you my 2 cents. Can send some pics if you like also

Teacake

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Teacake said..
As said, I can give them a double thumbs up. My opinion is probably pretty biased but of the 10 or so boards, they've all been awesome! Glassing has been up to the job for taking a beating from me and sure it isn't equivalent to a $1000+ board, but it does more than great job at a much cheaper price tag.

For a beginner I'd go a modern mal probably, I have a 9'6 log and have had other sizes, as well as the comp model but the comp model is a bit tippy as iit's narrower while the log is easy to catch rails and fall off. The modern is probably a good board in between.

I have had a few friends buy various models, shortboards and longboards, all surfers of varying skill and they have all enjoyed them. But entirely up to you with what you go with

From me, a double thumbs up. Any questions and I'll be happy to give you my 2 cents. Can send some pics if you like also

Teacake

ECS was your sponsor correct

They'd have to glassed better then JS...weakest piss board I ever had

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MickPC said..

SP said..
I wonder how he went??


I'd give the 10'4 a miss, they really don't suit the waves we get most days. Too wide, too long.

Yeah will be uber gay if he doesn't come back & let us know what he bought.

That $300 board would be perfect for my local...you never see bargains like that over here for longboards.

Wish it was easier to post surfboards, someone should make a biz for it & just have long shipment times waiting for enough boards to build up to send over in bulk.
Packed by people who know how not to ding boards. I'd be happy to wait until next summer for that board, gonna need another big board by then.

Yeah, looking at your vids it probably would.
We get a lot of beachies they tend to be sucking up one minute and going fat the next so a good allrounder tends to cover most bases. You also need to be able to get them through the break, not many channels to assist in the paddle out.
My normal LB is 9'1 x 22 3 /4 x 2 5/8.

At my weight i am never going near anything 24.5 wide and 3.5 thick ( well maybe in Waikiki ) Even my 10ftr is only 23 by 3 and that is probably to bulky for me.

If you are keen on that board send me a PM, i can check it out, pick it up and pack it for you. Or be a good excuse for you to get that east coast road trip under way.

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SP said..

Yeah, looking at your vids it probably would.
We get a lot of beachies they tend to be sucking up one minute and going fat the next so a good allrounder tends to cover most bases. You also need to be able to get them through the break, not many channels to assist in the paddle out.
My normal LB is 9'1 x 22 3 /4 x 2 5/8.

At my weight i am never going near anything 24.5 wide and 3.5 thick ( well maybe in Waikiki ) Even my 10ftr is only 23 by 3 and that is probably to bulky for me.

If you are keen on that board send me a PM, i can check it out, pick it up and pack it for you. Or be a good excuse for you to get that east coast road trip under way.

Gotcha yeah understandable...I found a neat trick with my 10', I would lean back sitting with the nose in the air & spring forward as a wave hit me & just pounce over waves up to 3 feet of whitewater. Mind you that is 3 feet fat whitewater, not churning beachy suck white water. Probably only work in 2 foot of that...when I finally get a camera again & a chance to soloshot with it I'll try & get some decent footage to help explain. I've taught it to a couple of locals & they're loving it. Heaps easier than eskimo rolls & uses far less energy with no recovery time lost. So you can power out past the next breaking wave much easier if you time it right.

Thanks heaps for the offer & I was gonna take you up on it. Unfortunately someone has grabbed it already. Not surprised, seemed like a good deal. I'll probably end up getting a Sunover JR or Firewire TJ to replace my CW for performance & just keep an eye out for the biggest log I can find. Preferably about 11 or 12 feet.

East coast between Ballina & Sydney is high up on the to do list for sure...cheers mate

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MickPC said..

SP said..

Yeah, looking at your vids it probably would.
We get a lot of beachies they tend to be sucking up one minute and going fat the next so a good allrounder tends to cover most bases. You also need to be able to get them through the break, not many channels to assist in the paddle out.
My normal LB is 9'1 x 22 3 /4 x 2 5/8.

At my weight i am never going near anything 24.5 wide and 3.5 thick ( well maybe in Waikiki ) Even my 10ftr is only 23 by 3 and that is probably to bulky for me.

If you are keen on that board send me a PM, i can check it out, pick it up and pack it for you. Or be a good excuse for you to get that east coast road trip under way.

Gotcha yeah understandable...I found a neat trick with my 10', I would lean back sitting with the nose in the air & spring forward as a wave hit me & just pounce over waves up to 3 feet of whitewater. Mind you that is 3 feet fat whitewater, not churning beachy suck white water. Probably only work in 2 foot of that...when I finally get a camera again & a chance to soloshot with it I'll try & get some decent footage to help explain. I've taught it to a couple of locals & they're loving it. Heaps easier than eskimo rolls & uses far less energy with no recovery time lost. So you can power out past the next breaking wave much easier if you time it right.

Thanks heaps for the offer & I was gonna take you up on it. Unfortunately someone has grabbed it already. Not surprised, seemed like a good deal. I'll probably end up getting a Sunover JR or Firewire TJ to replace my CW for performance & just keep an eye out for the biggest log I can find. Preferably about 11 or 12 feet.

East coast between Ballina & Sydney is high up on the to do list for sure...cheers mate

what you are doing a version of what the clubbies do with their skis to get over waves mick

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chrispy said..


what you are doing a version of what the clubbies do with their skis to get over waves mick

Ahhh prob subconsciously learnt it from them then haha

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MickPC said..

chrispy said..


what you are doing a version of what the clubbies do with their skis to get over waves mick

Ahhh prob subconsciously learnt it from them then haha

hey its a great trick for the bag. harder than it looks

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chrispy said..

MickPC said..

chrispy said..


what you are doing a version of what the clubbies do with their skis to get over waves mick

Ahhh prob subconsciously learnt it from them then haha

hey its a great trick for the bag. harder than it looks

It is possible to get sucked back down again if you get a little over ambitious...that aint fun

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chrispy said...

MickPC said..

SP said..

Yeah, looking at your vids it probably would.
We get a lot of beachies they tend to be sucking up one minute and going fat the next so a good allrounder tends to cover most bases. You also need to be able to get them through the break, not many channels to assist in the paddle out.
My normal LB is 9'1 x 22 3 /4 x 2 5/8.

At my weight i am never going near anything 24.5 wide and 3.5 thick ( well maybe in Waikiki ) Even my 10ftr is only 23 by 3 and that is probably to bulky for me.

If you are keen on that board send me a PM, i can check it out, pick it up and pack it for you. Or be a good excuse for you to get that east coast road trip under way.

Gotcha yeah understandable...I found a neat trick with my 10', I would lean back sitting with the nose in the air & spring forward as a wave hit me & just pounce over waves up to 3 feet of whitewater. Mind you that is 3 feet fat whitewater, not churning beachy suck white water. Probably only work in 2 foot of that...when I finally get a camera again & a chance to soloshot with it I'll try & get some decent footage to help explain. I've taught it to a couple of locals & they're loving it. Heaps easier than eskimo rolls & uses far less energy with no recovery time lost. So you can power out past the next breaking wave much easier if you time it right.

Thanks heaps for the offer & I was gonna take you up on it. Unfortunately someone has grabbed it already. Not surprised, seemed like a good deal. I'll probably end up getting a Sunover JR or Firewire TJ to replace my CW for performance & just keep an eye out for the biggest log I can find. Preferably about 11 or 12 feet.

East coast between Ballina & Sydney is high up on the to do list for sure...cheers mate

what you are doing a version of what the clubbies do with their skis to get over waves mick

Do you mean like the clubbies on their paddle boards??

That is the best one to use over here, rolling takes to long... Lean back pop the nose up push it down and start paddling before you get sucked back..

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Cobra said...

Teacake said..
As said, I can give them a double thumbs up. My opinion is probably pretty biased but of the 10 or so boards, they've all been awesome! Glassing has been up to the job for taking a beating from me and sure it isn't equivalent to a $1000+ board, but it does more than great job at a much cheaper price tag.

For a beginner I'd go a modern mal probably, I have a 9'6 log and have had other sizes, as well as the comp model but the comp model is a bit tippy as iit's narrower while the log is easy to catch rails and fall off. The modern is probably a good board in between.

I have had a few friends buy various models, shortboards and longboards, all surfers of varying skill and they have all enjoyed them. But entirely up to you with what you go with

From me, a double thumbs up. Any questions and I'll be happy to give you my 2 cents. Can send some pics if you like also

Teacake

ECS was your sponsor correct

And TK could nose ride a fridge door

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AndyrooMac said..

Cobra said...

Teacake said..
As said, I can give them a double thumbs up. My opinion is probably pretty biased but of the 10 or so boards, they've all been awesome! Glassing has been up to the job for taking a beating from me and sure it isn't equivalent to a $1000+ board, but it does more than great job at a much cheaper price tag.

For a beginner I'd go a modern mal probably, I have a 9'6 log and have had other sizes, as well as the comp model but the comp model is a bit tippy as iit's narrower while the log is easy to catch rails and fall off. The modern is probably a good board in between.

I have had a few friends buy various models, shortboards and longboards, all surfers of varying skill and they have all enjoyed them. But entirely up to you with what you go with

From me, a double thumbs up. Any questions and I'll be happy to give you my 2 cents. Can send some pics if you like also

Teacake

ECS was your sponsor correct

And TK could nose ride a fridge door

did he noseride your subx andyroo?

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chrispy said...

AndyrooMac said..

Cobra said...

Teacake said..
As said, I can give them a double thumbs up. My opinion is probably pretty biased but of the 10 or so boards, they've all been awesome! Glassing has been up to the job for taking a beating from me and sure it isn't equivalent to a $1000+ board, but it does more than great job at a much cheaper price tag.

For a beginner I'd go a modern mal probably, I have a 9'6 log and have had other sizes, as well as the comp model but the comp model is a bit tippy as iit's narrower while the log is easy to catch rails and fall off. The modern is probably a good board in between.

I have had a few friends buy various models, shortboards and longboards, all surfers of varying skill and they have all enjoyed them. But entirely up to you with what you go with

From me, a double thumbs up. Any questions and I'll be happy to give you my 2 cents. Can send some pics if you like also

Teacake

ECS was your sponsor correct

And TK could nose ride a fridge door

did he noseride your subx andyroo?

I've been meaning to give him a run on it to get his thoughts, I'm sure he could though as I can do a stretch 5 on it