advice on beginner longboard needed

[nostradomus]

I'm a beginner who lives right next to small to medium surf (2' - 6') on a typical day here at Tamarack/Carlsbad, CA. I am looking for advice on a longboard purchase. I'm a big guy at 6'1" 275# so have been looking at 10' and above boards. I haven't ever surfed in a full wetsuit and even then it was over 10 years ago and usually in Hawaii for a vacation once a year.

I'm trying to decide between:

10'6" x 24" wide x 4" rounded pin tail, tri fin. $450 (bit more plain look)
or
10'0" x 23" wide x 3.25' thick squash tail $400 (bit more interesting look)

both are in great condition and have pluses and minuses to their look.

I'm leaning to the bigger board due to my size, but slightly question the rounded pin tail for me, but welcome any input before I throw down the cash on either of them in the coming week if not already sold.

TIA-

[themathteacher]

The second one is similar to mine, same dims and squash tail but at 9'6. Even that long and wide I still get outpaddled by bigger boards, so at 275lbs go with the 10'6.

I actually prefer a pin tail, my budy had a takama pintail and I liked it better than mine. However, I have limited longboard experience, so lets see what other say.

BTW, I've surfed tamarack and terramar and love those breaks, fun wave to have next to your pad!

[jaffa1949]

Welcome Nostrodomus, you are leaning the right way, 10'6" and the thickness will do you well as you learn. The rounded pin won't be a problem and if the fins are based on plug or fin boxes you've got built in tuning as you improve. Just set out to have some fun fun fun in the warm California sun. All you need is the T bird

[nostradomus]

Sounds like I should secure this 10'6" board and not look back...

If my back will play nice (no regular issues but occasional reminder that I'm not 20 years old anymore). maybe I'll even consider knee paddling on this super floaty (4" thick).

GREAT reminders in similar threads about practice, practice and more practice on the land in popups as there is no reason to do all of that muscle stretching and conditioning in the water.

Thanks-

[themathteacher]

Hey, just a little advice: check out terramar, it's a much more consist.ent break. I've caught tamarak really good before, especially right next to the jetties, but terramar has been better more often when there is a good swell.

Still, tamarak is a good break, fun