Surfing (help)

[lo-key]

So I'm wanting to get into surfing this summer, but I don't really know where to start in terms of buying the right board, what to look for in a board (I'd probably buy second hand to start off with) and so on.

Can anyone recommend a Website or Forum that I could look into in terms of surfing? Kinda like NS?

Or can any of my fellow NSers help me out?

ty

 

[theabortionator]

So I'm wanting to get into surfing this summer, but I don't really know where to start in terms of buying the right board, what to look for in a board (I'd probably buy second hand to start off with) and so on.

Can anyone recommend a Website or Forum that I could look into in terms of surfing? Kinda like NS?

Or can any of my fellow NSers help me out?

ty

Do you live near the ocean or go there regularly?

Honestly I wouldn't buy a board at first, I'd rent one. See if you like it. There are shops pretty much anywhere there are waves where you can rent. Even if you decide to buy one early on. I'd at least take a day or two on a rental and see how you like it. Besides, a lot of places that rent have the big old foamers that are wide and long with a soft top. Not the best looking rides but they're good to learn on.

If you're going to be by the beach for a while(live there or staying there for a couple weeks) you could buy a board and then if you hate surfing by the end or want a different board, re sell it. Toss it on CL, ask some shops about trading it. Subtract a few bucks that you would have spend to rent for a few days and if you can get that back you're in good shape.

Another thing to think about. FLYING WITH A SURFBOARD IS FUCKING EXPENSIVE. Idk what it is now but even 10+ years ago it was $100 each way on some airlines. So if you're on a vacation might not be a bad idea to try and sell it before you fly back unless 100 home and 100 to your next vacation is worth it.

If you end up buying a board you might as well buy your own wetsuit as well.

But I'd def say go used. No point spending a ton of money on something you might not take to.

Good luck. I'm probably horrific at surfing now after not going out for so long. I should sell my board as it's just a big dust collector.

It's 3 am so if that wasn't hepfull my bad

 

[I_Am_Mod]

if you're an absolute beginner, start off with a course and try out some different boards.

then decide wether you want to go for something big and stable like a longboard or a malibu or you fancy something a bit smaller. a mini mal, hybrid, fish, short, etc.

My first own board was a small 5'11 hybrid, i bought it upon recommendation, i picked a high volume hybrid with a fat nose so it would be easy to paddle and catch waves. And i must say i love it!

So for a beginner who likes shorter boards, i'd say try a high volume hybrid with a wide waist and some volume in the nose. Or if you're more in love with big boards, check out some mini malibus or longboards. They're very fun to surf in less than good conditions and will be a lot of fun in the beginning but maybe later on, become a bit boring.

Also keep in mind where you're going to surf, are the conditions generally good? are the waves clean, big? then a short board might be more fun. Are the conditions generally a bit less, smaller waves, less clean, etc. then a malibu or a longboard will be a lot more fun!

Small boards are generally easier to paddle through the breaks, a bit harder to catch waves with and a bit more agile/nervous. Larger boards will catch waves easier, be harder to paddle through the breaks, more stable but less agile.

Hybrids are shorter boards with a high volume and fat dimensions to try and take the best of both worlds...

Also, take fcs fins that can be replaced and not glassed/fixed fins because you will break them as a beginner .

 

[I_Am_Mod]

also, join a local buy sell trade/ second hand surf group on facebook. There will be some good deals for sure!

 

[lo-key]

Do you live near the ocean or go there regularly?

Honestly I wouldn't buy a board at first, I'd rent one. See if you like it. There are shops pretty much anywhere there are waves where you can rent. Even if you decide to buy one early on. I'd at least take a day or two on a rental and see how you like it. Besides, a lot of places that rent have the big old foamers that are wide and long with a soft top. Not the best looking rides but they're good to learn on.

If you're going to be by the beach for a while(live there or staying there for a couple weeks) you could buy a board and then if you hate surfing by the end or want a different board, re sell it. Toss it on CL, ask some shops about trading it. Subtract a few bucks that you would have spend to rent for a few days and if you can get that back you're in good shape.

Another thing to think about. FLYING WITH A SURFBOARD IS FUCKING EXPENSIVE. Idk what it is now but even 10+ years ago it was $100 each way on some airlines. So if you're on a vacation might not be a bad idea to try and sell it before you fly back unless 100 home and 100 to your next vacation is worth it.

If you end up buying a board you might as well buy your own wetsuit as well.

But I'd def say go used. No point spending a ton of money on something you might not take to.

Good luck. I'm probably horrific at surfing now after not going out for so long. I should sell my board as it's just a big dust collector.

It's 3 am so if that wasn't hepfull my bad

if you're an absolute beginner, start off with a course and try out some different boards.

then decide wether you want to go for something big and stable like a longboard or a malibu or you fancy something a bit smaller. a mini mal, hybrid, fish, short, etc.

My first own board was a small 5'11 hybrid, i bought it upon recommendation, i picked a high volume hybrid with a fat nose so it would be easy to paddle and catch waves. And i must say i love it!

So for a beginner who likes shorter boards, i'd say try a high volume hybrid with a wide waist and some volume in the nose. Or if you're more in love with big boards, check out some mini malibus or longboards. They're very fun to surf in less than good conditions and will be a lot of fun in the beginning but maybe later on, become a bit boring.

Also keep in mind where you're going to surf, are the conditions generally good? are the waves clean, big? then a short board might be more fun. Are the conditions generally a bit less, smaller waves, less clean, etc. then a malibu or a longboard will be a lot more fun!

Small boards are generally easier to paddle through the breaks, a bit harder to catch waves with and a bit more agile/nervous. Larger boards will catch waves easier, be harder to paddle through the breaks, more stable but less agile.

Hybrids are shorter boards with a high volume and fat dimensions to try and take the best of both worlds...

Also, take fcs fins that can be replaced and not glassed/fixed fins because you will break them as a beginner .

Thanks for the help guys this is cool,

I've already surfed before and I know the basics, but I only ever did it once a year over summer for a few days on foam boards...

But yea my main question was just how board sizes work and what to look for which you guys have explained perfectly, so thanks!

 

[.otto.]

just bleach ur hair and shaka and spin a 360 and you will teleport to hawaii

 

[John18_6]

There's a surfing club at my school that I thought about joining. But they surf on Lake Superior, I'm not THAT dedicated.

 

[DrZoidberg]

How tall and heavy are you, first of all? And second, being honest, do you suck or can you catch waves? Can you stand up and control the board or was it taking you for a ride when you last surfed. Also, what kind of wave is your usual break producing? Is it a tiny summer dribble most of the time or is it something with more energy?

I feel like all the surfing forums aren't as good as NS. There's the surfer mag forums, there's forums on swellinfo and there's probably others. Swaylocks is for shaping and design, but most people on there are old and suck at the internet.

Anyway, board sizes are pretty much preference, within reason. Unlike with skis, where it'd be silly for a six foot tall person to ride 155s, a six foot tall guy could ride a 5'3" if they're comfortable with that and have the proper skills/fitness. It'd be a wide 5'3", but very short nonetheless. There are loose standards, but it depends on the type of board.

The big question here is what kind of boards do you enjoy, or what style of surfing do you enjoy? And of course that has to be compared to what kind of boards you're actually good enough to ride/would be useful for you. So what are you looking to do and do you know what boards you like or don't like? There's boards of all sizes for all skill levels now.

Without knowing any info about you, I'm going to assume you want to shortboard. As such, shorter, stubby boards have come a long way in recent years. They're widely applicable to a variety of waves, from the smallest that can be surfed on the board to head high stuff, given proper fins and rider skill. I hate throwing out numbers without your stats, but unless you're very heavy and or tall, or very light and short, it's hard to go wrong with something around 5'10", maybe 20-21" wide and with approximately 30 to 35 liters of volume. For example, a 5'10" firewire potatonator. Or the dominator or spitfire from them, which probably will have a bit less volume and be skinnier in the nose and tail at the same length. These boards are often called hybrids or small wave shortboards. But the definition of small wave varies throughout the world. In reality these boards are, as I said, applicable on most days, tiny to head high or bigger if you want. They offer a lot of "performance," whatever that means... So don't get roped into buying a skinny, thin and highly rockered high performance shortboard because you want performance.

Do you have friends who surf? Try one of their boards. If not, maybe a place nearby rents a variety of boards. Try something long, short, and figure out what you like and don't like.

 

[Mr.noodle]

I surf a lot over the summer and I've had a 200$ board for 3 years and it's still looking great. I know just about nothing about it, but it's about 5'8" and it has a pointy nose. My dad gave me a few lessons cause he grew up in jersey and knew how to surf but I've been on my own for the past 2 years teaching my self. I progressed quickly and it just kinda came naturally to me. It's really fun but build up good arm strength because you will get tired within the first half hour if you're kinda weak

 

[.otto.]

There's a surfing club at my school that I thought about joining. But they surf on Lake Superior, I'm not THAT dedicated.

DUde! join, it will be worth it, surfing the great lakes is sweet and theres a super small close knit community, i surf lake michigan when its good, its worth it man

 

[John18_6]

DUde! join, it will be worth it, surfing the great lakes is sweet and theres a super small close knit community, i surf lake michigan when its good, its worth it man

I've never surfed before and I can't really ride a skateboard. I'd get rekt