yer you probley heard it before . I am 65 kgs 172 high and wanting to surf in 2-3 foot buby waves not sure on a size would a 7- 8 ft min mal suit or would i need bigger . Lets refaze a bit i cant paddel surf to well yet neither i userly use a kite to tow in . Yep i am from the other side looking for a different advanture .
My thoughts are that if you are just starting out surfing and will only be hitting the small stuff get yourself a nice big board to start with - volume is your friend. You will progress faster and have a lot more fun. Mini Mals are rubbish in my opinion and should be avoided by most. They are just as much hassle as a bigger board (re storrage, transporting and weight) compared to a short board yet pooh all over them in practise.
As you are only a lightweight at 65kg you will not need to go to big on the volume. I would think have a look around for something in the lower 9 foot range. Some others on here can probably give you some more detailed suggestions.
Enjoy and make sure you post some pics of yr new weapon.
Because my memory of learning is quite fresh in my mind, I can agree with Ted. Stay away from Mini-Mals, even if you're on the lighter side.
Go find a good condition 9' to 9'6 longboard, with somewhere close to 3" thickness.
I tried exactly what you're planning, and it took me so much time to just catch a wave, let alone stand up. As soon as I had something that paddled well, and was reasonably stable, my surfing improved dramatically.
Thanks everyone for thequick replys have now got an idea at least @ ted i will put up a photo hopefully one with me on it (thats if the camera is quick enough ha ha ) Thanks SAM
Not much bigger/heavier than you. Got talked into a longboard for Perth's crap waves. True, I could catch anything bigger than a ripple with my 9'6", but not much fun to ride. For the past two years I have exclusively used a 7'10" Channel Islands Waterhog (54 liter). This board catches waves nearly as easily as a mal, but is much more manouverable and responsive. Unlike my 8'0" minimal (standard shape with little rocker and wide in the nose), the "Hog" can generally handle steep take-offs without pearling (nose diving). Also, tuflite construction is exactly that: tough and light. One of the very few items that, in hindsight, I would not hesitate to buy again. In other words, I agree that mini-mals can be crap, but the "Hog" is a different animal all together. May not necessarily work well for you, but it is certainly worth your consideration.