Hi all, first post :)

I'm looking to buy my first surfboard. I am 6'2" / 188cm and 183lbs / 83kgs. I have already bought my wife a 7'6" mini mal (she is 65kg/177cm), which I might try to use sometimes, but it's probably a bit small.

Any suggestions?

Warm welcome mate,I'd go for a 9.1 x 22 2/3 x 2 7/8 to get you up and running,thruster fin set up for ease.It will have an M logo right

Welcome to the room Max, you're sure to get a long list of suggestions here.

One bloke will tell you to get a McTavish custom job, another will tell you to get a SUP, another will tell you to get a Clearwater, I'll tell you to go see the guys at Diverse...... Oh, and one bloke will tell you to get a giant epoxy tuflite by Mickey Munoz....

Truthfully, for your weight you want a longish board, 9 feet plus, that has some volume, as in about 3 inches thick. Some makers are now making on volume, and will show litres capacity on their specs, so anything above 80 litres will float you OK. Make sure it's not too heavy of you're just learning, then get some quality lessons.

Most importantly don't listen to Mac, Lacey, Chrispy or OBCT, because they'll just tell you to buy what ever looks good under your arm.....

EDIT - see, my first prediction was correct

well I'll slip in here - go classy go GODDARD

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thePup said...
well I'll slip in here - go classy go GODDARD

good advice pup.

While I'd love to get a 9' board, the logistics of it seem to be a bit of a nightmare. I can't really fit anything longer than 8'2" in my car, which makes a longboard a bit of a dealbreaker.

Considering this restriction, would it be feasible to start out on such a board, or, the other alternative is a fish, however I have heard both positives and negatives for these.

I should add that my dad has a 8'2" mini mal, which I have stood up on a few times before. I have only spent a couple of hours in the water.

Try to demo an 8.2 NSP. Tough/heaps of float/good paddler/thruster setup/cheap/surf well/fits in most cars.

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maxwolfie said...
While I'd love to get a 9' board, the logistics of it seem to be a bit of a nightmare. I can't really fit anything longer than 8'2" in my car, which makes a longboard a bit of a dealbreaker.

Considering this restriction, would it be feasible to start out on such a board, or, the other alternative is a fish, however I have heard both positives and negatives for these.

I should add that my dad has a 8'2" mini mal, which I have stood up on a few times before. I have only spent a couple of hours in the water.

Soft racks mate they work great I even use them for a SUP when I come over your way . The more volume you have the better off your going to be . Your not one of those Auldi drivers are you

I can vouch for the soft racks, they works great are super cheap and you dont need to buy expensive permanent racks.

I have an 8'2 x 22ish x 3 and I am 81kgs, 6 feet tall and I like the board but am looking for something a bit longer.

I think 7,8 and 9 foot is the quiver.

Go roof racks

Storing it in our tiny apartment is a problem too, so I think I will have to stick to 8'2" or under.

Just steal your dads or get one similar....8ft or an 8'2 will have you up and away no problems

OK go big 8.2 x 23 x 3

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towball said...

maxwolfie said...
While I'd love to get a 9' board, the logistics of it seem to be a bit of a nightmare. I can't really fit anything longer than 8'2" in my car, which makes a longboard a bit of a dealbreaker.

Considering this restriction, would it be feasible to start out on such a board, or, the other alternative is a fish, however I have heard both positives and negatives for these.

I should add that my dad has a 8'2" mini mal, which I have stood up on a few times before. I have only spent a couple of hours in the water.

Soft racks mate they work great I even use them for a SUP when I come over your way . The more volume you have the better off your going to be . Your not one of those Auldi drivers are you

Really!! I tried soft racks and the board would dolphin bounce at 100km/h. Very unsettling. Got rid of them much happier with solid racks. Maybe I was doing something wrong but I did not like them on the highway.

I had the 8 foot fish, now have a 9 foot mal. Mal is easier to paddle as it glides better, but I would also love to get my fish back. I still surf like a beginner so cannot really tell you which board is better for trimming and carving. BTW the mal does actually fit in a Mazda 3.

My advice would be to spend as many hours in the water as possible, and enjoy every minute of it.

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kadilak said...

towball said...

maxwolfie said...
While I'd love to get a 9' board, the logistics of it seem to be a bit of a nightmare. I can't really fit anything longer than 8'2" in my car, which makes a longboard a bit of a dealbreaker.

Considering this restriction, would it be feasible to start out on such a board, or, the other alternative is a fish, however I have heard both positives and negatives for these.

I should add that my dad has a 8'2" mini mal, which I have stood up on a few times before. I have only spent a couple of hours in the water.

Soft racks mate they work great I even use them for a SUP when I come over your way . The more volume you have the better off your going to be . Your not one of those Auldi drivers are you

Really!! I tried soft racks and the board would dolphin bounce at 100km/h. Very unsettling. Got rid of them much happier with solid racks. Maybe I was doing something wrong but I did not like them on the highway.

I had the 8 foot fish, now have a 9 foot mal. Mal is easier to paddle as it glides better, but I would also love to get my fish back. I still surf like a beginner so cannot really tell you which board is better for trimming and carving. BTW the mal does actually fit in a Mazda 3.

My advice would be to spend as many hours in the water as possible, and enjoy every minute of it.

The secret is to have as little of the board over the windscreen Kadi ie back as far as possible also if there is less volume at the back of the board put it on backwards . 110k with a 666 no problem

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Tux said...
Just steal your dads or get one similar....8ft or an 8'2 will have you up and away no problems

Yep, I agree, rack up some time on Dad's 8'2.

Although a 9'1 is probably better to learn on. Easier to paddle, and easier to glide into small waves, and start riding clean/green faces...

Surftech Tufflite is an excellent starting point... Really strong, and will hold up to the belting you are going to give it... You'll knock the nose and tail on everything at first... car doors, car bonnets, doors, door ways, walls, ceilings, handrails, concrete stairs,... EVERYTHING! A Tufflite just bounces off this stuff!

Simondo has a heap of beginner boards hit him up

Channel Islands Water Hog - 7'10 in Tufflite would be very good.

Robert August - Corky Carrol 7'6 would also be fun.

Robert August - What I Ride 8'4... also available in "Wood".

Any of those 3 boards would be very good. Corky Carrol is a classic looking board, but would be slightly harder to learn on, but you could really advance on it too... A keeper for the long run. Same for the Water Hog. Water Hog would be slightly easier to learn on.

I could ride either of these boards in a huge variety of conditions. Have fun!

www.surftechaustralia.com.au/?option=com_content&view=article&id=291&Itemid=489

www.surftechaustralia.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125&Itemid=418

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62mac said...
Simondo has a heap of beginner boards hit him up

Cheers, but err.. who is that?

Simondo is me!
What state are you in?

You're cheeky Mac!

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maxwolfie said...

62mac said...
Simondo has a heap of beginner boards hit him up

Cheers, but err.. who is that?

Don't worry he's taking a piss arrr the piss

You can see how the workers are this arvo , simondo /mac

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towball said...
You can see how the workers are this arvo , simondo /mac

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Simondo said...
Simondo is me!

No your not the real one.

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MichaelR said...
Welcome to the room Max, you're sure to get a long list of suggestions here.

One bloke will tell you to get a McTavish custom job, another will tell you to get a SUP, another will tell you to get a Clearwater, I'll tell you to go see the guys at Diverse...... Oh, and one bloke will tell you to get a giant epoxy tuflite by Mickey Munoz....

Truthfully, for your weight you want a longish board, 9 feet plus, that has some volume, as in about 3 inches thick. Some makers are now making on volume, and will show litres capacity on their specs, so anything above 80 litres will float you OK. Make sure it's not too heavy of you're just learning, then get some quality lessons.

Most importantly don't listen to Mac, Lacey, Chrispy or OBCT, because they'll just tell you to buy what ever looks good under your arm.....

EDIT - see, my first prediction was correct

buy a CLEARWATER mate. in all seriousness you can buy a big boys shorty and still learn and have the time of your life. go see a local shaper and tell them the deal. im sure they will be more help than the knuckleheads on here

Serious now mate my two cents Bic Magnium 8'4 from memory heaps of volume

Also Max, ask yourself what type of surfing do you like. Shredding like a shortboard rider or cruising like a longboard rider, that might go some way in tipping the balance of what type of board to get.

Because you asked in here you may already have your answer.

@Simondo - I am in NSW.

@stuk - Well, err.. I'm not sure, I don't have enough experience to really know. Chances are that I'd probably find surfing with a shortboard more exciting.

Anyways, I'm eying a second hand custom mini-mal. I am a bit concerned about two things -

One, the glassed on fins. I figure I am better off with removable ones to start with, in case I break one.
Two, the fact that it's 8'1" but only 21.25" wide, and 2.75" thick. Is this too narrow for me?

^^^^^width is your friend when starting imo. even on a shorter board as you will find most fish type boards have gone done that path for the simple reason they are easier to paddle and ride

any board mac have had or will have.



ps mac, i owed you one, you know why