New longboard advice

[ezdipper]

Hello, I am 6'0, 195 lbs and will be primarily riding the St. Augustine to Daytona area with some trips to Wrightsville Beach, NC. I am 46 years old and used to surf years ago with a G and S 6'6. It has been over 20 years since I have been surfing and am now getting back into the sport. I am interested in longboard surfing and need some advice. I have found the following boards at Ron Jon surf shop on line and would like opinions about these or other boards that you might reccomend. Thanks

Ron Jon 9' 0" Pintail Longboard Surfboard (Picture attached)

This cruiser is shaped from the classic longboard template but with the more modern harder rails. Great for the smaller days or when you just feel like cruising. Easy to paddle and fast down the line. Comes with two removable FCS side fins and a removable 8" center fin. On smaller days remove the side fins and ride it as a smooth turning single fin. Recommended for experienced surfers up to 240lbs and beginners must be at least 100lbs or it just won't happen. 19" nose, 23 1/4" wide, 15 3/4" tail, and 3 3/4" thick.

or

Ron Jon 8' 6" Longboard Surfboard

This cruiser is shaped from the classic longboard template but with the more modern harder rails. Great for the smaller days or when you just feel like cruising. Easy to paddle and fast down the line. Comes with two removable FCS side fins and a removable 8" center fin. On smaller days remove the side fins and ride it as a smooth turning single fin. Recommended for experienced surfers up to 220lbs and beginners must be at least 100lbs or it just won't happen.

Web site is http://www.ronjons.com/ProductList.aspx?Category=Surfboards&MenuGroup=5&SelectedItem=39&Page=1

[justloafing]

Hey, If you get up to WB give me a shout. As for the board my advice is stay away. Those are cheap pop outs. Get a decent board to start with. I would rent a few and see what you like then go with a good quality second hand or new board. Talk with a local shaper would be a huge help.

[RJD]

edzipper - what do you want to do, ride a large shortboard or go fully longboarding, because for your size neither of those will do the second.

[ezdipper]

Thanks to you both for the replys. I am trying to keep the price down on a board purchase and have not really found any locally that I like. I want a board that I can manuver some with some decent turns and cuts but also one that will catch the smaller surf and I can re learn on. I hope that if I can put some good time in I can always add a shorter board later. Again I will mainly be surfing in Daytona, St. Augustine Fla. and Wrightsville Beach, NC. So board advice will be appriciated. I think after so many years I will be basically at begninner level as far as skills go, but do have water and surf knowledge so not completely green.
justloafing I will in WB around the second week of July.

[themathteacher]

I believe Ron Jon is importing their boards now, not sure. You might want to find out before dropping serious money on a thin, cheaply made board from Taiwan. If I'm wrong go for it.

As to which one, go with the 9ft, nice and big and easy. If you want performance you will need a 2nd board later, for now get a nice big one to get back into surfing...

[ezdipper]

Have been doing some more reseach and the minimals look good. Opinions and advice on these?

[justloafing]

Have been doing some more reseach and the minimals look good. Opinions and advice on these?

I think minimals are good for bigger surf if your a longboarder and you can't get out with a longboard. One problem and I think you need to think about what you want to do. A minimal does not carry the character of a longboard or a shortboard. In other words you end up in between the two and you limit yourself. Also being on the east coast of the US bigger is better if your not going to shortboard and good shortboarding waves are few and far between. JMHO

PM me when your coming up and we can go out. If you still do not have a board, I have a nice 9'6" log for you to try and a 9'0" more of a performance board you can try.

[justloafing]

I believe Ron Jon is importing their boards now, not sure. You might want to find out before dropping serious money on a thin, cheaply made board from Taiwan. If I'm wrong go for it.

That is what I have found out about Ron John too. It has been talked about many times here and abo0ut a 1/2 & 1/2 split. Should one get a cheap board that you can learn on and basically go straight and then you have to get a new board to progress or..................get a board that you can learn on and progress on beyond just standing up and riding? I always believe in the second. Not that the second needs to be a high performance board but one made for the waves your surfing not just a cheap popout that is not made for just any wave. Shape matters in different parts of the oceans.

As far as looking at the money. Either you go second hand or new. Lets say your going new.

$300 for a cheap popout that you can go straight on. After you have done that you need to go out and at least spend $650 for a decent board to learn to do other things on. That adds up to $950 out of pocket.

or

$650 for a board that you can learn on and progress on and probably want to keep in your quiver for a long time.

[ezdipper]

Thanks justloafing. Think I might look at new boards and go with your idea "learn and progress." Now I need to decide on what. Still the big question for me. Other than Ron Jon in Cocoa, I am looking at these surf shops.http://www.zwavesurfshop.com/welcome.htm
http://www.pitsurfshop.com/
Any suggestions on the boards these shope carry?
I think I will have to go with the long board vs. the minimall based on what I have read and what I want to do. I can always get a shorter board later if need be.
As for WB I will most likely be there around the 12 of July. Working on confirming the dates now and will keep you posted. Thanks again for all the help and offers on letting me try one of your boards. James

[justloafing]

ezdipper, sent you a PM

Here is a link that I posted on here on a new Allison board I got.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=9339

[Nasty nate]

Another place to look at boards is "cape surf" just up the road from ron jon. They gave me a good deal on a longboard with bag and fcs 10.5 fin upgrade. Plus the customer service was outstanding. Not promoting them just letting you know of some other options. They had a website but i havent been able to find it for awhile now

[ezdipper]

Hey Nasty Nate, thanks for the reply, what type of board did you get and how does it handle? Also is your size similar as far as height and weight? Just trying to get more info to make an informed decision.

[Nasty nate]

Im about 145lbs to 152lbs depending on wut I ate. About 5'10 My board is a 9'6"x 22.5 x 3". The guys let me upgrade to a fcs 10.5 fin and I traded them what came with the board and just paid the difference in the cost of the fin. She paddles great , is stable and has great maneuverability with the fin not quite all the way forward. I just got it last summer so I'm still getting the feal for her but so far I think I may want to go down slightly to a 9 footer I guess a little shorter is a natural progression. I will be there next weekend I can prolly get the address for them if you need.

[ezdipper]

Well have ordered a longboard from Will Allison, will pick up in July. Went to St. Augustine today and rented a board at the Pitt. Need more practice. Need to adjust pop up. Majority of time as I was rising to my feet I would end up pushing the board out with my feet and falling off to my backside. Any suggestions on how to improve this other than practice? Foot placement etc?

[Nasty nate]

It could be your putting to much weight to your back foot and causing all your weight to push the board out. Also check to see if your squared up with your feet under you. You may find yourself leaning back for some odd reason. I would try putting a bit more pressure on your forward foot and see what happens.

[ezdipper]

Thanks Nate, I believe you are right. Think I need to practice this week out of the water some then go back this weekend and give it a try when I have the form down better.

[ezdipper]

Picked up my board today and it is AWESOME!!! Will post some pics in next day or so. Heading out early AM to try it out. Thanks to Will Allison and Matt for everything.

[ezdipper]

Here is a shot of my new board with shaper Will Allison out of Wrightsville Beach NC. Surf wasnt the best the week I got it but it handled well and I think it is just what I was looking for. Thanks to Matt for reccomending Will. See you all again one day. Sorry I missed you Matt, will drop a line next time I am up your way.

[zorba]

Hi Ezdipper,

Hope you don't mind me droppin in on you, but seems you are off this wave now

I am in a very similar sitch to the one you were in back in June. I am exactly the same height and weight as you, if a few years younger (37yo), and looking for a longboard.

So very interested to hear how you got on with the new board. What dims is it and how is it performing?

I bought a 8'6" Southpoint epoxy "longboard" a while back, but I've worked out in between that for my size and weight its essentially a minimal. Using it I can only catches green waves above 3ft and whitewater, and there are a lot of waves where I surf (North coast of Ireland) that are smaller than this..... so getting frustrated.

Was recommended a Robert August 9'6" What I Ride (surftech)- anyone any experience to share of this ?
Only problem is that I have to wait 6weeks plus for delivery if I order, so would consider an equivalent from another shaper/manufacturer as I got the horn for surfing right now.
dims are: nose 18", width 22.875", tail 15", thick 3", volume 81cc, fins 2+1

Can anyone recommend me an equivalent?
Want something that catches waves under 3ft, from 1ft-3ft basically (doesn't need to handle big waves as would use the 8'6" for anything big, and would eventually acquire a hybrid or fish for bigger days anyhow). Not bothered about noseriding especially, and read on here that boards adapted for noseriding compromise too many other aspects (harder to catch waves, paddle-speed, pearling etc.).

thanks in advance

[surf patrol]

I like this forum.
By the way,I am a newer here.
<edit>