Hi, my boys aged 10 (30 kilos) and aged 11 (45 kilos), they had lessons and love, and want boards for this coming christmas, i have to be prepared (re finances) and buy now in the sales (before tomorrow 30 June); they dont want the 'foam' they think are babyish, yet they are beginner and need a board they can ride and also grow into (so value for money). Ive no knowledge of anything to get other than in the shop and the 2nd hand ones are very cool for now and long lasting but 2nd hand at $600 each. I understand they need to be wider at the nose for better balance and also 5 fins the more someone advised. Also told its better to learn on a bigger board.And Im confused by the measurement chart as boy
aged 10 is 120cm tall, 30 kilos, and boards showing under 35 kilos to get 26 volumne, but the boards (specifically the Cheap Thrills board (link below); starts at measurements showing 45 kilos = 32.4 volumne so that would be a board 6'2-6'4?
and the other boy aged 11 is 150cm tall, 45 kilos, and boards for him would start also the same; 45 kilos = 32.4 volumne so that would be a board 6'2-6'4 but hes bigger than his brother so the next one up is 63-72 kilos and the board be 6'4-6'8?I want them to be able to enjoy now for their height / weight / age but also not be useless grown out of it in a year.

PLEASE ANY HELP IM GOING OUT OF MY MIND AND ALL THE RESEARCH IVE DONE IM STILL NOT THAT WISER FOR WHAT TO ORDER ON LINE, IF THE SALE IS WORTH IT.

The Cheap Thrills on the SurfBoard Warehouse;
www.thesurfboardwarehouse.com.au/surfboards/board-type/fun-boards/ www.thesurfboardwarehouse.com.au/vessel-eco-bean/ www.thesurfboardwarehouse.com.au/vessel-zephyr/ www.thesurfboardwarehouse.com.au/surfboards/board-type/

I want value for money whilst sales on and need some honest good advice.
Sorry long email, a mum with no idea and 2 boys rearing to go!
Thank you.

Those recommendations are for experienced surfers. The surfboardwarehouse do some really good boards. I have had a couple. If it was me, I would be looking at the 6'2" and 6'4" Zephyr. I prefer that construction (traditional PU over epoxy and other laminates).

With those volumes they should be able to get up reasonably well. Duck diving will be an issue, but it will be for any beginner.

DO NOT follow their volume recommendations. You want them to enjoy it and have success.

In a year or two they may want higher performance, lower volume boards, but those will get them up and going, won't become too small for them until they are adults and the prices are very good.

Second hand high performance boards will cost more and do them no favours.

Disclaimer: no affiliation with TheSurfboardWarehouse, just a very satisfied customer with two of their boards. I do mainly buy custom - but they will start at $900 plus.

Do you know anyone who surfs ? Maybe not if you coming here . Maybe if they have friends that surf talk to their folks for some guidance. A shop will see you coming a mile off - stay well clear ! Where are you based?

I would recommend you get a couple of second hand boards of Gumtree or similar. Your kids might not even like it after a few more goes. Happens a lot. At that age they will be stoked to just be out in the water so no need to spend a fortune on a board that they will probably ruin anyway.

I would budget $200 a board. Keep an eye out on gumtree and anyone who has a board on there for over a week or two and has $300 on it will probably take $200 anyway. Have a look at the approx. dimensions that Drip mentioned. Just make sure the boards are not too yellow / brown and your boys will be fine for a while.

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Ted the Kiwi said...
Do you know anyone who surfs ? Maybe not if you coming here . Maybe if they have friends that surf talk to their folks for some guidance. A shop will see you coming a mile off - stay well clear ! Where are you based?

I would recommend you get a couple of second hand boards of Gumtree or similar. Your kids might not even like it after a few more goes. Happens a lot. At that age they will be stoked to just be out in the water so no need to spend a fortune on a board that they will probably ruin anyway.

I would budget $200 a board. Keep an eye out on gumtree and anyone who has a board on there for over a week or two and has $300 on it will probably take $200 anyway. Have a look at the approx. dimensions that Drip mentioned. Just make sure the boards are not too yellow / brown and your boys will be fine for a while.

Yeah the bit about going even cheaper is valid too. I was just talking about if you wanted the flash versions. Ted talks sense too about the early drop out rate.

I know you say they don't want a foamy but there are some good soft-tops around. Eg. Softech

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Ted the Kiwi said..
Do you know anyone who surfs ? Maybe not if you coming here . Maybe if they have friends that surf talk to their folks for some guidance. A shop will see you coming a mile off - stay well clear ! Where are you based?

I would recommend you get a couple of second hand boards of Gumtree or similar. Your kids might not even like it after a few more goes. Happens a lot. At that age they will be stoked to just be out in the water so no need to spend a fortune on a board that they will probably ruin anyway.

I would budget $200 a board. Keep an eye out on gumtree and anyone who has a board on there for over a week or two and has $300 on it will probably take $200 anyway. Have a look at the approx. dimensions that Drip mentioned. Just make sure the boards are not too yellow / brown and your boys will be fine for a while.

Great advice Ted

Haylz - awesome job for getting the boys into surfing!

All of us who read and post on this forum were once teenage groms and there is a hell of a lot of great advice and experience between us .

Bottom line is , the boys will want a "real board" (fibreglass) and being agile young lads they will be able to ride just about anything at that age .
My mum bought me a 6'4 x 18.5 x 2 1/4 when I was 13 , and I still ride similar dimensions these days.

If they have had lessons , anything around the 30 litre mark will do the trick - their spirit, excitement and motivation will do the rest. You dont need to spend a lot on their first board - just get them hooked first then they can always upgrade later .

Sounds like a case of severe surfboard anxiety. I have sufferred from it on and off for a while.

I have friends who suffer even worse surfboard anxiety. Spend all their money on new sticks, and calling me at 4am raving about dimensions and constrution techniques.

I can help you. Surfboards are complex things, capable of providing huge reward yet crippling worry if one is bombarded with options.

Go simple.

Go hand ski.

www.taylorsmistakehandski.com

Peace.

Let us know what you get.

Tell them you will get them more advanced boards when they advance. Soft top boards are perfect for learning...just show them some vids of people ripping on soft tops to show them they are actually pretty cool boards these days. I see kids having a great time on them at my local beachy every summer. Giving learner kids anything else seems ridiculous to me.

Here's one of my childhood heroes with a soft board model. I've checked these out before & they looked pretty cool.

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MickPC said...
Tell them you will get them more advanced boards when they advance. Soft top boards are perfect for learning...just show them some vids of people ripping on soft tops to show them they are actually pretty cool boards these days. I see kids having a great time on them at my local beachy every summer. Giving learner kids anything else seems ridiculous to me.

To be fair, some of the late teen to early twenty rippers pull out soft boards and surf amazingly well on them when the local waves are small and gutless. They are far better nor than they were even five years ago.

My 7 year old is about the same size as your youngest (123cm x 28KG) and he's riding this 5'7 x 18 1/2 x 2 1/2 board made by some guy no ones ever heard of....its a bit wider in the front half than your tradional shorty to help with balance...pretty neutral rails and bottom...reasonably flat rock with a little bit of flip in the nose to help with take off's...where are you located?

There is quite a good dicsussion on Sways about kids boards www.swaylocks.com/forums/shortboard-dimensions-kids

If your near the sunny coast Mark Pridmore ( www.moresurfboards.com ) he knocks out a few kids boards

If you in Vicco go and see Simon Ford at 4D he does boards for all the local groms and has heaps of second handy's.....

Your post has taught me one thing I need to stop feeding my kids

Also if you head down the second hand board route, buy them a good selection of Porsca pens and let them "ART" them up themselves..

I like foamies for kids to learn on also, but they may grow out of them quickly also..

Foamies way better to learn on. Fins, pointy noses can do alot of damage and that will put them off.

Father of two, (10 and 12, in the weight range your kids are), qualified surf coach, experienced surf shop employee, Sunshine Coast.

Dont get new boards for them. The last thing they need is the latest and greatest new fad-wangled 5 fin boxed, sled with latte flavored volume. It will turn them into ungrateful, self-entitled wave hogs with zero respect for the ocean and the equipment required.

if they have had lessons on a soft top board, and are keen, then they are ready for a fibreglass board. There is no market for second hand boards, so there are heaps of bargains out there. Check out the local surf shops. The ones with real surfboards, not the fashion shops. Check out Gumtree/eBay or there might even be a local surf Facebook group in your area. My kids boards were kerb side pickups that required some repairs, (we did everything except fin plug resets). There should be good boards around for under $150, if not less. Buying new boards means a lot of money with no guarantee that they will actually suit your kids needs. And no resale value, (less than half what you paid at best)...

You our should be looking for something at least 6' long. My boys are both on 6'3" plus boards after learning on my old boards. They are stable enough, yet able to turn. If you get a board that is shorter, they learn to turn as if on a skateboard by swinging the front foot rather than leaning on the rails.

Don't get hung up on volume. All that is needed is a board that when sat upon, floats them reasonably. i.e. The board stays fairly flat in the water, if not a little under the water. This will be enough to allow ease of paddling, which is the first skill element that needs to be developed. Ability to paddle equals ability to catch more waves for longer equals quicker learning equals more fun. Length is the key. When they are catching open face waves and turning on the rail, they can get a shorter board.

Where are you based?