Surfboard for big guy

[SpaceEater]

Hi, im trying to get my first board, ive been out a few times on my friends board and ive decided that i want to get into surfing now, and im not sure which to choose. my main concern is weight and size, i understand that body boards have weight capacities, but do surfboards do also? i am currently 5'10 at 250 lbs . my price range is 150-250, and surfboard size is a big factor for me, since i dont have a car and need as small a board as you guys think fit so i can carry or take the bus. obviously i wont be doing big waves anytime soon.

Any advice is appreciated, thanks!!

[drowningbitbybit]

As a 250lb learner, you need a BIG board. 9ft+.

Forget about shortboards, or even quite-short-boards. You need a big board. Volume is everything.

[SpaceEater]

actually ive been thinking about it these past... 10 mins.. haha, and yes ive decided to get a bigger board, it just doesn't seem worth it.

that being said, any recommendations for a "big guy board"? my price range is still about 150-250, thanks!

[Surf Hound]

At 250 lbs and a begginer I would recommend a long board that is 80 plus in volume. You need a big board to learn and have a good time. The more I think about it -- I would say 90 plus in volume. Get a big ol' long board 3.5" plus in thickness and watch out for people in front of you!!! By the time you get the hang of that board I guarantee your weight will be down and you can start looking at something in the 9' range at 65-75 in volume. Volume is the key my friend!

[SpaceEater]

is it possible to get a board like that for about 200 bucks? i dont want a really nice first board since im gonna bang it up a bit. but i dont think there are many of those that are preowned that i can buy, if you guys dont mind, could you post a few models and brands? or links? thanks!

[drowningbitbybit]

For your first board, go with a cheap second-hand pop-out, so NSP, BIC and the like. They're very tough and perfect to learn on - and there's heaps of them about, so if you look hard enough you should be able to find something.

But remember... 9ft+... 9ft+.... 9ft+...

[jaffa1949]

But remember... 9ft+... 9ft+.... 9ft+...

27ft board are you out of your Roy

[SpaceEater]

i know i should use a 9foot, but i just came across a surfboard at costco, for only 100 bucks! its a 8foot wave storm, is it any good? would it work as my first board?

[drowningbitbybit]

I don't mean to be a snob, and I completely agree that newbies should get cheap pop-out boards to start with, but a $100 board from CostCo is actually too crap.

A board like that would, just about, I guess, be okay for your first few times out on white water, but as you've already had your first few times out with a mate's board, you should budget for a wee bit more.

You dont need a fancy custom yet, and a pop-out will be fine, but get a good pop-out.

And 9ft+!!!!!!!!!

[SpaceEater]

Thanks, i almost went ahead and bought the one from Costco cause it was so cheap, but i guess ill look harder. the only problem is, ive been searching for a month, and no one in my area has been selling bic or nsp surfboards.. i guess ill have to keep looking. =[

[surf patrol]

actually too crap.

[SpaceEater]

hi everyone, hope your all doing well.

so ive finally found aboard that i can afford, but before i take the plunge, i wanted t ask for some final advice, this is a 9'2" x 23" x 3" custom sol life longboard. and my concern is... WILL THIS FLOAT ME?! i understand that the bigger the board, the easier it is to ride, but im my case, WILL THIS BOARD EVEN FLOAT A 250LB BLOB?! I might be exaggerating about the blob as im quite fit, but i didnt want to buy a board and have it sink on me, not to mention dangerous.

[dtc]

I'll first direct you to viewtopic.php?f=15&t=16061

then to this video viewtopic.php?f=15&t=16061 (which is mentioned in the above post)

Keep in mind that what 'float' means differs depending on your level of experience, what you are used to and lots of other things. Good surfers often say things like 'I like a board that floats me up to 1/2 way between my rib cage and belly button', but for me (less good), that doesnt seem much like floating... Once you are up on the board on the wave you dont need anywhere near as much volume to keep moving, its the paddling out and into the wave where volume counts.

Anyway, you arent going to get much of a bigger board - perhaps you could find a 10ft but it wont be more than 23inches side and 3" thick (and the thickness seems to be for the length of the board, it doesnt have a thinly foiled rear). The board will float you, even if that means a couple of inches below the water when you are sitting on it (which is perfectly normal for a surfboard). My 9'1" board floats me about 1" below the water when I am sitting on it (ie: basically I am completely floated) at 185lbs, but its narrower (22 1/4) and thinner (2 5/8) than yours.

I say go for it and get started...

BTW, do some googling on surfboard fin injuries and perhaps sand down those fin edges (I actually use Proteck fins, but that is another cost). As one beginner to another (experts may feel outraged at the suggestion).

[SpaceEater]

O.O!!!!!, i just saw the video, that awesome beast probably has some crazy wide, and thick custom board, but this has definitely got my blood pumping. THANKS!

[drowningbitbybit]

WILL THIS BOARD EVEN FLOAT A 250LB BLOB?!

Yes, that'll float you.
Go for it.

[jaffa1949]

It will float your boat
Go for it

[rhguns]

I am a new surfer also, 6'2" 280. I bought a used Yater Spoon, 10' almost 24" wide by 3 1/2" thick and it seems to work for me fine. I can paddle out, sit on it, and catch a wave here and there. Its the standing up part im struggling with. But as far as "float" it does fine. I found it used for $225.

[jaffa1949]

I am a new surfer also,. Its the standing up part im struggling with.

That applies to us all sooner or later we find our feet.
Even after over 50 years of surfing sometimes I struggle with the standing up, sometimes the old rugbied knees will not cooperate.
The manoeuvre is known as a "full kook reverse" it can be followed by faceplant or wicked wallow.

[oldenglish]

Yeah I did bjj for years before starting surfing last year and was well accustomed to sprawling and burpees (popup style movements) but for my first few sessions I just couldn't seem to do a pop up in one lotion without knees, then out of nowhere with no real practice besides surfing I just started doing a proper popup and it definitely made catching waves easier. I think a lot of it has to do with getting comfortable on the board and paddling for waves. It seems like you need to be ahead of the wave in terms of thought and if your mind is stuck in the present you will be popping up too late, turning too late, and transferring weight too late. So I'm with Mr. Jaffa you will get it, it just takes time and it might be so quick and painless that you dont even realize you did.it correctly.