Tiki Surfboard for a beginner?

[surf patrol]

Hi there i was just wondering if a Tiki 7ft 6 fatboy surfboard would be a good first time shortboard for me?im learning on my friends mini-mal at the moment and i want to buy my own surfboard and practice and get used to one board!i am 5 ft 11 and i weigh 12 stone & 2 pounds and getting heavier.

here is the info on the board:
Length: 7'6 ft
Width: 21 1/4
Thickness: 2 7/8

i want to surf alot and i am going to newquay in the summer and i want to be able to surf decently by then! i dont want to buy a rubbish board and then have to move on and buy another board, so would this board be good for me?take in account that ive had a couple of lessons on my friends mini mal which is 7ft 4, so is this board ok for me?

[bluyan]

if i was you and knowing what i know now i would go for something like this

http://www.tikisurf.co.uk/wetsuit.asp?productid=13568&productname=Tiki%20Mini%20Mega%20Mal%20Custom%20Surfboard

decent board that when your ready to move on you won't want to sell,build your quiver btw i'd go for the 8'4" and you will be doin more surfing than paddling

as for the tiki boards,i've got a 10'2 cruiser and fookin luv it....

cheers
ian

[TheRedDarren]

Hi Dan,
IMHO don't go with the Tiki board. The reason I say this is because I've just done loads of research into buying a decent new custom to use instead of my epoxy pop out mini mal and I found http://www.surfedout.com down in Braunton in north Devon (just opposite the Tiki shop).

I went to the Tiki shop to buy a Sumo and even tested it, the guys were not exactly helpful (bordering on "couldn't be bothered") but also the board didn't really get me going, it didn't have that wow factor, it felt a bit slow and sluggish and not very exciting.

Then I went over to see this other shop, and the difference in service and quality was astonishing. I had a chat with Glenn (the owner) He was really helpful and passionate about his stock, He asked questions to get the info He needed to know to find out what I wanted out of a new board and my surfing, then He insisted not begrudgingly offered a test board to prove his point! The board I tested was a Nigel Semmens B52 hybrid, very similar to the Sumo on paper but very different in the water, it went like lightning from the take off and turned on a dime!

All in all his knowledge, service and attitude towards me was a league above what you normally get these days and I've ordered a brand new B52 with slightly different dimensions based on what Glenn and Nigel recommended (He also passed me the phone to talk to Nigel about the board).

In short, if you go to Tiki they'll sell you a board and take your money...
If you go to Surfed Out, you'll get a board that will suit you down to the ground and service you will be amazed with!
Oh, and trust me, I'm just a happy customer not a tout for his business!

[bluyan]

yeah i would agree with thered....surfedout have gotta have the most helpful bunch of people workin for them including the owner....and the dog
just make sure you get summet your gonnacatch plenty of waves on..