after a bit of help to pick out my first Mal choice, coming of a sup after back injury so desperate to get out prone paddling and progres to long boarding. Once fully fit.. Need something pretty stable with a bit of volume in it

I have been looking at a few 9 to 10 ft second hand classics in Freo, brand new Modern Retro single fin (9 ft ish x 23") and top end Firewires which are a bit out of the budget, just wondered if it's worth buying a Chinese brand new Retro or a second hand classic. I think I already know the answer to this one !!!

ant help greatly appreciated

phil

Get ready Phil, as soon as the Greenroom Boys are onto this post you will get all the info you need.

Well at least I think you will.

Just be ready for a little bit of pimping.

ET.

one for one recommend you listen to macs advice

Thanks ET, I knew I would get a bit of stick but one less SUP on the water, for now !!!! Been thinking about buying one for a while as always admire the guys down at my local break, Mettams so this injury has just accelerated the purchas as I struggle to even paddle my sons Katana 5'6" !!!!

just need some advise on old classic vs off the shelf and glass vs Tufflite, can't afford a nice new Mctavish so got to hunt out a bargain

phil

In my humble opinion, something like this one would be worth considering, just make sure it's got a bit of thickness if you are really after lots of volume (2 3/4 or more, preferably closer to 3 inches...)
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/como/surfing/longboard-surfboard-9-ft-4-wayne-deane-/1076423384
Wayne Deane knows his stuff. This looks like a board most longboarders would be happy to jump on (although the purists won't like the tail pad .) ... and in a year or two, or whenever. you can sell it for close to what you paid... By then you'll either want to keep it, or you'll know exactly what you want to spend the big bucks on....

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wavelength said..
In my humble opinion, something like this one would be worth considering, just make sure it's got a bit of thickness if you are really after lots of volume (2 3/4 or more, preferably closer to 3 inches...)
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/como/surfing/longboard-surfboard-9-ft-4-wayne-deane-/1076423384
Wayne Deane knows his stuff. This looks like a board most longboarders would be happy to jump on (although the purists won't like the tail pad .) ... and in a year or two yo, or whenever. you can sell it for close to what you paid... By then you'll either want to keep it, or you'll know exactly what you want to spend the big bucks on....

I agree. Just look for something decent second hand. Brush the cheaper Chinese pop out option and if you've never ridden a heavy single fin log then avoid that as well as they're not easy to ride.

Pimp alert!!!

Dude your in WA, call the WA Master Steve at Clearwater (now in GC but has WA store) . His boards are way WAY better and similar prices to anything you've mentioned, $1100 ish. Best of all you'll get a custom, so made to suit your ability and waves your surfing. Only issue is he's too cheap and too Popular so there's gonna be a wait...

At the very least, give him a call, he's a legend...

Try and find a second handy from a good shaper rather than a cheaper pop out...if you don't like you can always re-sell most longboards hold thier value pretty well...if you coming off a back injury bigger is better but probably look to add this by getting something wider and thicker rather than longer this will make it easier to handle in Perths short period swells...as previously mentioned I would avoid a full on log

The Modern Retro is a great board in fat waves up to chest/head high. It has very little rocker & is a nice wide nose rider. A local guy I consider to be the best local longboarder rides one when its small. Cuts back, foam rebounds, nose rides through barrels. He had me planning to get one & I bought a similar board for small waves, improving my crappy cross stepping & getting down to the nose. They're nose riders & they're arguably not suited to the waves around your location other than isolaters on small days which it would be great for.

But for something more versatile & for getting back into prone surfing your better off with more rocker in my opinion. I'd be looking at high performance 2 + 1 longboards if I were you.

Here's some 2nd handy's.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/katanning/surfing/mctavish-razar-longboard/1075838461
I'd pay the asking price if I had to after offering $700, Tuflite would be good to have in crowds


www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/bicton/surfing/longboard-rudkin-9-1-exc-condition/1076466015
Looks to be in good nick & who knows. He might even take $500

www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/coogee/surfing/miami-longboard-8-x21-/1076208396
Asking a bit much for a board thats had a large ding which looks to be repaired structurally sound. But pretty ugly. Boards like this would also be very versatile & easier to handle over winter. But you should be able to score one like this for $300-$400

From the Breeze
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Surfing-Longboards/~t6its/Buttons-Hawaii-Long-Board-9-0.aspx?search=3hhigVXsWWoS5o3MMoobuA==
Great looking board, been up for ages so it might actually already been sold. I'd consider it 2nd to the Mactavish Tlite

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Surfing-Longboards/~ti8zg/Bruce-Montgomery-Nose-Rider-9-6.aspx?search=3hhigVXsWWoS5o3MMoobuA==
Old faithfull HP LB...a good basher for getting back into it.

Personally I'd go as good condition as I could find 2nd handy for getting back into it...best of luck mate

Brother I would go a firewire longboard. They are around 1000 bucks and are pretty good value I reckon. Destination surf in falcon has 3 of them in timbertek and they look beautiful.
I have an FST version.

Just came across a CJ Nelson Pearson Arrow 10 ft in Tufflite locally, sounds a bit wide at 24" but night be ok, any thoughts

phil

I had a CJ for a while, you must recognise a couple of things, firstly, it's a no compromise nose rider, it nose rides well, but that's all it does well, everything else, it just copes with and you need to put some work into your turns. The original big arsed fin is crucial to to way it nose rides and you must have it on for the board to work.

scondly, the thickness is 2 7/8 th. That's fine for most people, but if you're a fat turd like me, and over 100 kg, early wave entry is not always possible and since it's such a slow turner, early entry is important.

im over 6ft so the 24" wide was not a problem.

I've always been of the opinion that the people who can ride signature model board the best, are the ones whos names are on them, so I tend to stay away from them these days.

The CJ Nelson model you are talking about is a soft railed log style single fin board. Being a fair bit lighter than a heavily glassed log it may be a bit more responsive. The question is what type of waves are you surfing ? If you are mostly riding punchy beach breaks or steeper waves then that board probably wont suit. If you're riding softer waves then it might be OK but will still lack the versatility of a more modern shape.

Ahhhhhh yes wise words indeed thanks on the, probably not the one to learn on for sure.

phil

Ok, here's the bit where I'm treading on thin ice between having a subjective opinion and severe conflict of interest given I'm paid to sell, design and create these products globally.

Firstly, I'm not a longboarder, I'm from a shortboarding background started to ride SUP's a while back and now prefer to ride prone boards again. I can surf kind of but I'm no pro either.... With all of that in mind I've been riding of late and have fallen in love with a 9'2 NSP Elements Longboard.

I can hear the traditionalists scoffing already... NSP.. Hah! Sure, Epoxy, pop out, Chinese trash, blah blah blah.....

Well they're actually made in Thailand, not China anyway and they're vacuum moulded Epoxy over a purpose blown watertight EPS core. Not just Epoxy.

Ok, i'm off the defensive or sell...... It's a surfboard, I'm a surfer, I have a right to enjoy riding it and an opinion on whether I had fun or not.


I've been riding a 10' PU Log of late and enjoying that immensely. I have a few other Longboards around the house so I took this one for a spin... Seriously blew me away.... Catches waves easy, pivots from the bottom, run to the front and slingshot down the line, no catching and that immediate familiar feel like I'd ridden it 40 times already... But it's the 1st surf?? Nose riding was the easiest I've ever experienced and I can't even noseride....

I reckon these boards have some merit. I'm ready for the kicking for saying it in here but wow.... How much fun can you have????

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Rossall said..
Just came across a CJ Nelson Pearson Arrow 10 ft in Tufflite locally, sounds a bit wide at 24" but night be ok, any thoughts

phil

My main question here would be, have you surfed a Tufflite before?
Personally I'm not a fan, I find they tend to buck around a lot in the white water and kinda sit on top of the water rather than using momentum to drive through. I had a Robert august model, but just prefer the general weight and feel of fibre glass...

for the inconsistent Perth type waves 10 ft NSp ,tuflite, fine, good for the small days , will get you going earlier and catch more waves,I surfed mine in small south Adelaide type waves,went well , even got a few waves at small Chinamans.....as mentioned they tend to float when riding , different story for down South of course, (Margs), that's when the MCtav Original went well, currently on a 9.3 evo 2 here on the Goldy , where its been good for the last few days , but when the swell is small( about 70% of the year on the Goldy) the NSP is much more fun and gets you more waves, just my opinion of course, cheers ....

so what did you end up on? or are you still researching?


don't forget to post some pics