Hey guys I made the mistake of thinking I could get on a short board too early having a skate snowboard skurf background and now I'm looking for something cheap to learn on/build up them foundations no one told me how hard surfing can be especially in our fast breaking sometimes choppy shore waves. I found this board for pretty cheap $150 ! but can't find anything about the brand "Hot Tamale" Made by Siren I think ? no reviews, nothing.

My question is has anyone heard of the brand, had any experience with them good or bad ? Is epoxy sandwich ok to learn on or do I need a foamy ?

First time posting thank you.

Hi, the name rings a bell I see 3 or 4 on gumtree ranging from 150 to 400.
Depending on your weight I really cant see anything wrong with this board to learn on and at 150 thats a cheap way to get into surfing.

Hey Salty - it's a cheapy brand but that board looks perfect to learn on. Looks in pretty good nick so for $150 I'd say it's a bargain. Epoxy is a bit tougher and a bit more floaty, both good things for learners. Enjoy.

whats your height/weight dude?

Saltynfresh ..... mate I did exactly what you are doing ..go for it. (BTW .. i rode dims very similar at 6"3 x 93kg but if you are smaller the float will help you)
Work on good technique ... no short cuts (cause they become looooog roads back ) and and you will be enjoying the stoke in no time.
cheers
G

Thanks everyone ! Atleast now I know what to look out for and that I'm on the right track unfortunately I missed out on the board. I'm looking at a classic Aussie Malibu for $200 I'm low on dosh, that's also why I'm hunting low prices. I've been crook for the last 3 years and hoping to get out on the water to recuperate. So I really appreciate your advice everyone, thank you.

Im 174cm and 60kg this classic mal might be more suited to me, it being 7'4" but it has a square bottom like a nose rider are they still as good as a pointed tail ?

What do you think my maxium and minimum size board would be ?

7'2" - 7'6" for learning - then keep it as a summer fun board for the smaller days (or loaning to a friend wanting to learn).

Once you can take off and trim every wave you go for, then you can start looking for a 6'6"' on your way down to a 6'2" and smaller (depends on many, many factors, including width, plan shape, volume, your fitness and the waves you surf).

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SaltyNfresh said..
Thanks everyone ! Atleast now I know what to look out for and that I'm on the right track unfortunately I missed out on the board. I'm looking at a classic Aussie Malibu for $200 I'm low on dosh, that's also why I'm hunting low prices. I've been crook for the last 3 years and hoping to get out on the water to recuperate. So I really appreciate your advice everyone, thank you.

Im 174cm and 60kg this classic mal might be more suited to me, it being 7'4" but it has a square bottom like a nose rider are they still as good as a pointed tail ?

What do you think my maxium and minimum size board would be ?

My advice is when learning is to stay well clear of a classic mal or log style board,the rocker and rails are not suited for beginners. Volume will be your best friend while learning,why? it will assist you in catching more waves and the more waves you catch the the faster you will learn.

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GPA said..
7'2" - 7'6" for learning - then keep it as a summer fun board for the smaller days (or loaning to a friend wanting to learn).

Once you can take off and trim every wave you go for, then you can start looking for a 6'6"' on your way down to a 6'2" and smaller (depends on many, many factors, including width, plan shape, volume, your fitness and the waves you surf).

I reckon thats bang on...

Or Anaconda have a 7"0 foamy which is decent on sale for like $140 or an 8"0 for $160... ride it till your trimming then decide if your a cruiser and want a nice middy egg in the mid-low 7ft range or want to move up to a log to NR around 9'4"-9'6" or move down to an sb to rip...

Either way, find the old dude who surfs great and knows the local, make friends, listen, take particular note of lineup etiquette or, get a few private lessons and you'll progress much faster

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AndyrooMac said..

GPA said..
7'2" - 7'6" for learning - then keep it as a summer fun board for the smaller days (or loaning to a friend wanting to learn).

Once you can take off and trim every wave you go for, then you can start looking for a 6'6"' on your way down to a 6'2" and smaller (depends on many, many factors, including width, plan shape, volume, your fitness and the waves you surf).

I reckon thats bang on...

Or Anaconda have a 7"0 foamy which is decent on sale for like $140 or an 8"0 for $160... ride it till your trimming then decide if your a cruiser and want a nice middy egg in the mid-low 7ft range or want to move up to a log to NR around 9'4"-9'6" or move down to an sb to rip...

Either way, find the old dude who surfs great and knows the local, make friends, listen, take particular note of lineup etiquette or, get a few private lessons and you'll progress much faster

Would the 7ft be good enough Andy ? I don't mind paying the extra $17 for the 8ft if it would benefit ? So body glove is a decent enough brand?
Thanks for the advice!

Id go the 8 footer personally,

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SaltyNfresh said..

AndyrooMac said..

GPA said..
7'2" - 7'6" for learning - then keep it as a summer fun board for the smaller days (or loaning to a friend wanting to learn).

Once you can take off and trim every wave you go for, then you can start looking for a 6'6"' on your way down to a 6'2" and smaller (depends on many, many factors, including width, plan shape, volume, your fitness and the waves you surf).

I reckon thats bang on...

Or Anaconda have a 7"0 foamy which is decent on sale for like $140 or an 8"0 for $160... ride it till your trimming then decide if your a cruiser and want a nice middy egg in the mid-low 7ft range or want to move up to a log to NR around 9'4"-9'6" or move down to an sb to rip...

Either way, find the old dude who surfs great and knows the local, make friends, listen, take particular note of lineup etiquette or, get a few private lessons and you'll progress much faster

Would the 7ft be good enough Andy ? I don't mind paying the extra $17 for the 8ft if it would benefit ? So body glove is a decent enough brand?
Thanks for the advice!

Good enough as a starter... and then some finless fun later... and then get something better once your comfortable trimming, maybe speak to your local shaper is the best plan.

They are pretty thick as well... i'd go stick one under my arm and see what works...

I would go 8ft but i'm 80kg...

And its better to have too much foam than not enough...

but at 60kg i'm pretty sure 7' would be ok...

www.anacondastores.com/water/beach-surf/surfboards

finbin.net/body-glove-soft-surfboard-review/

I'm 114kg and I surf a 7'6" or a 8'0" fat boy's fish shape. At 60kg that 7' foamie will definitely get you into plenty of waves.

Spend a little time on YouTube watching instructional videos on how to read the waves and how to position yourself. Work on your paddling technique also. Good positioning and strong paddling will get you into plenty of waves.

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GPA said..
I'm 114kg and I surf a 7'6" or a 8'0" fat boy's fish shape. At 60kg that 7' foamie will definitely get you into plenty of waves.

Spend a little time on YouTube watching instructional videos on how to read the waves and how to position yourself. Work on your paddling technique also. Good positioning and strong paddling will get you into plenty of waves.

Whats your age GPA ok pm me that,thats inspiring your riding a 7.6 WOW thumbs up mate.

52yo... 53 in Nov.
I surf a 7'6" Modern Lovechild or a 8'0" 7S SuperFish XL4 at 58lt and 64lt respectively.
Just gotta get a bit more foam under the guts and maintain some level of paddle fitness.

I also have a 9'6" GSI McT Fireball Evo that gets a run when the waves are waist high or fat, but the 7S is my go to board at the moment - mostly cos it's the newie.

shop.surfindustries.com/us/surf/fish-shaped-surfboards/7s-super-fish-4-im-surfboard/

Ah Good stuff thanks everyone. Yeh I've been watching heaps of instructos and studying the veterans from the beach. At the same time getting out with my shorty (because that's all I have at the moment) so can you trim with a foamy ?

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AndyrooMac said..

SaltyNfresh said..

AndyrooMac said..

GPA said..
7'2" - 7'6" for learning - then keep it as a summer fun board for the smaller days (or loaning to a friend wanting to learn).

Once you can take off and trim every wave you go for, then you can start looking for a 6'6"' on your way down to a 6'2" and smaller (depends on many, many factors, including width, plan shape, volume, your fitness and the waves you surf).

I reckon thats bang on...

Or Anaconda have a 7"0 foamy which is decent on sale for like $140 or an 8"0 for $160... ride it till your trimming then decide if your a cruiser and want a nice middy egg in the mid-low 7ft range or want to move up to a log to NR around 9'4"-9'6" or move down to an sb to rip...

Either way, find the old dude who surfs great and knows the local, make friends, listen, take particular note of lineup etiquette or, get a few private lessons and you'll progress much faster

Would the 7ft be good enough Andy ? I don't mind paying the extra $17 for the 8ft if it would benefit ? So body glove is a decent enough brand?
Thanks for the advice!

Good enough as a starter... and then some finless fun later... and then get something better once your comfortable trimming, maybe speak to your local shaper is the best plan.

They are pretty thick as well... i'd go stick one under my arm and see what works...

I would go 8ft but i'm 80kg...

And its better to have too much foam than not enough...

but at 60kg i'm pretty sure 7' would be ok...

www.anacondastores.com/water/beach-surf/surfboards

finbin.net/body-glove-soft-surfboard-review/

Just wondering, what's finless fun ?

Geez I'm almost getting sick of posting up this video...but hey it's a good reference one...finless and foamies...this one could well both delight and confuse you as to what your surfing goals are to be.

Fast forward past the bodyboard sections if you just want to see foamies and foamie finless sliding.

If your looking for a cheap board contact Vanders he is officially retired from surfing.

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Cuttlefish said..
Geez I'm almost getting sick of posting up this video...but hey it's a good reference one...finless and foamies...this one could well both delight and confuse you as to what your surfing goals are to be.

Fast forward past the bodyboard sections if you just want to see foamies and foamie finless sliding.

I'm 9 minutes in and that is pretty good.
Just not all in one go