As it's very hard to find reviews from users about this board I'm going to write down one for those like me in need of directions.
The board is:
22 7/8 wide
and
3 3/16 thick
(what the hell is 22 7/8?? why not cm? Still don't get it..)
Well, it's big!
It's not easy to carry around as it's a bit heavy and if it's windy it's a lot of fight!
Now, let me tell you: I'm 173cm, I'm thin, and my shoulders are like those of Sheldon Cooper!
Also, I'm 36yo and I didn't do any sport in the last 20 years. Also, I'm working every day, I have a lady with me, I have friends and dinners and movies and things to do. Basically I have a life and I live 100km from the closest surf spot. You know what I mean?
Now, my review of this board is: “Thanks God I got it!”
When I started I didn't know if I was going to keep surfing. It's hard. It's physically super demanding, it requires driving for hours, it's frustrating.
When you go to the beach, you really need something to enjoy. Something that allows you to catch all you can, mostly 20cm of white water, and no stress about maintenance.
This board gives you all you can get out of the water and of your body.
I started along with a friend, same body structure, same age, same lack of fitness. He got a nice second hand custom board.
Now, one year on, after lots of care, he went to the ding repair 3 times, he spent 200$, he waited 1 month -no surfing- , he had to fix something by himself.
He has the deck like a golf ball.
Mine? I bang the board to the car, to the roof rack, to the walls, sometimes it fell on the ground when I take it out of the bag, few times the wind flipped it over on the asphalt, I drag it on the sand, I had some 'closer encounters' with other boards in the water.. I put my back knee on the deck just like my friend..
Nothing. It's just fine.
Also, it's much more easy to paddle.I mean: EASY. I usually go faster and catch more waves then my friend.
And I'm Sheldon Cooper, ok?
I learnt on the white water. I moved to the green waves. I started to turn the board. Now I can really change directions, and I walk a bit on the deck, not to loose the wave.
It's a lot o fun and the day I will over stage this board is still far away.
I go surfing during weekends. My sessions last 2 hours. That means that if i'm lucky I get 8 hours in the water a month. If.
Also, I'm better then my friend now. He's still trying to understand what the board needs. But most of all, I catch more waves then him.
Now I don't understand who just bark against this kind of product.
Believe me, oh reader in my same, average position: they may have their reason, but they are NOT giving you the best advice!
If you have things in common with me, Mr Average, well, buy one of those big cheap board!
That's what you need to start with!
They are just fine and the shape it's just a copy/paste from handmade boards. Nothing more, but nothing less.
One day, maybe in 1 or 2 more years time, I will probably go to the local shaper and tell him what I'd like to have. One day, as a surfer. Not now, as an idiot.
. 
