Just got a board on Craigslist, have VERY beginner questions

[skaneverdies]

Hey everyone. First of all, pardon my ignorance here. I'm a long time skateboarder and am only now trying out surfing. I don't have a ton of friends to really ask about this, so I figured I'd come on here.

I just got a new used board on Craigslist. It's a 6'0 x 18 BYB squash tail thruster. It's pretty small, but someone did suggest that, as a skateboarder, I might be keen on getting used to a small board right off the bat. I also weigh 130 pounds, I'm a pretty small dude.

Anyway, I took it out to Cowell's in Santa Cruz today just to get a feel for the board. It seemed alright, but I'm just not sure what is normal and what isn't. First of all, the board rests about an inch below the water (with the nose sticking out). Is that normal, or is it supposed to be laying completely on top?

On a similar note, I didn't catch any waves today, but when I did try standing on my board just in open water, it sank down quite low. Again, normal or not? If I were to catch a wave and pick up some momentum, will that keep the board afloat? I will say that while I'm paddling around, it definitely keeps me above water.

Finally, is it totally necessary to wax the board? It's got a Dakine traction pad, but should I be getting some grip in the middle?

Thanks in advance for dealing with my surf virginity!

[drowningbitbybit]

Okay, first of all, find something heavy and compact - something like the Yellow Pages is often quite useful. Try a couple of practise swings with it first, and then go and find the person who said you'd be fine with a 6' board because you're a skateboarder and hit them over the head with it until they lose consciousness. Then hit them some more.

A 6' is totally unsuitable for a beginner.
And being a skateboarder is absolutely no use whatsoever until you know how to paddle out, duckdive, catch a wave, pop up... THEN, and only then, will the skateboarding part be an advantage.
95% of learning to surf is the bit before you stand up.

If the board is below the waterline, then its definitely too small for you. A 'sinking' board can be ridden, but it takes a lot of practise before you can catch a wave on a board that small. A short board will always sink if you're just standing on it - it has to plane across the water and get lift before it will float.

Keep on practising, but if I were you, I'd put that board in the garage for now, and hire a much bigger board for a few sessions. You still wont be able to surf your small board after that but at least you'll know what its supposed to feel like.

[surferdude_scarborough]

Okay, first of all, find something heavy and compact - something like the Yellow Pages is often quite useful. Try a couple of practise swings with it first, and then go and find the person who said you'd be fine with a 6' board because you're a skateboarder and hit them over the head with it until they lose consciousness. Then hit them some more.

Hilarious but the advice in dbbb's post is sound. That board is way too small to learn on. Get yourself a large board to learn the basics on. Keep the shortboard for when you can paddle out, catch waves consistantly and you're starting to make some turns.

[skaneverdies]

Hey guys, thanks a lot for the honest (albeit bummer) advice. I guess I got what I paid for in free advice. The board itself is nice though, and I think I got a pretty good deal on it, so I think I will hold onto it for now and see if I maybe can't find someone to lend me a bigger board for a few weeks. In fact, maybe I'll see if I can work out a trade on Craigslist with someone that might be looking for a smaller board.

If all else fails, I suppose I'll bite my lip and fight the uphill battle. But thanks again for the admittedly more-informed advice!

[Ricar]

.l.

[naniekso]

hey man heres my advice. keep the board. give us the dimensons. go buy a Costco softop 8ft'r.

once you feel like you learned to surf on that board, meaning:
* your stamina for paddling has gone up
*done some research online for the best places to surf in Santa Cruz for your skill level
*learned about surfing etiquette
*ask more questions about surfing on this forum(don't be afraid, you will get ALL kinds of anwsers)
*learned a bit on the longboard forums
*turn and accelerate and catch more waves and you leave smiling

you may then move onto a shorter board. you then RETURN the costco surfboard(because their return policy is amazing, even if its broken) and go find yourself a new 6'4 surfboard or use your one you have. I'm guessing you under 5'8.

once you feel ready for your shortboard

*its uphill from here, just takes practice and wave time. if you can find more time on a bad wave you will learn more tahn you would at the quality spot. WAVE QUANITY AND QUALITY have a very weird line between them. sometimes you can dip into both

I would say i developed fast in one year, went from longboard to shortboard to shorter board. i still have my longboard though. its great for getting dates. YOUR A SURFER? *I WANA LEARN CAN YOU TEACH ME? I can find time for that, how about tuesday? SURE I"D LOVE To LEARN< THEN MAYBE AFTERWORDS WE GO KISS AND MAKE OUT IN THE SUNSET! sounds good..

[simmo74]

No ones mentioned it yet but yes you will need wax

[billie_morini]

You know what this reminds me of? I'll provide a parable.

"A city boy lives in the middle of the Manhatton. He bought a tractor. "Why did you buy a tractor when we live and work in the Manhatten," asked his brother. He answered, "Because I got such a good deal on it."

[KevinJALax]

An inch below the water is definately too small for you, especially at your skill level. i would suggest getting a foam board, you can probably find one on craigslist, and practice in the white water, just getting the fundamentals down, like popping up, paddling, turtle rolling, etc. I know it sounds lame, but it shouldn't take long before your in the line up and attempting to catch the wave before it breaks, which require a bit more skill. You wont neeed wax for the foam board, but you will for boards with a harder top (epoxy, fiberglass, etc). PM me if your'd like some more help

[themathteacher]

You guys are funny. It's not the fact that it's an inch bellow the water line, mine are about the same and I surf them fine. A board that size is for someone about 150lbs and intermediate ability, so if you weight that then hang on to it for later cause eventually it will be perfect for you.

As to wether you can ride it or not, do a begginer test: get in the shallows and wait for a nice whitewash, one that has some push. Throw yourself toward the shore and onto the board and pop up, forget paddling, best way to see what the board can do, or not.

[undergroundthry]

Hey everyone. First of all, pardon my ignorance here. I'm a long time skateboarder and am only now trying out surfing. I don't have a ton of friends to really ask about this, so I figured I'd come on here.

I just got a new used board on Craigslist. It's a 6'0 x 18 BYB squash tail thruster. It's pretty small, but someone did suggest that, as a skateboarder, I might be keen on getting used to a small board right off the bat. I also weigh 130 pounds, I'm a pretty small dude.

Anyway, I took it out to Cowell's in Santa Cruz today just to get a feel for the board. It seemed alright, but I'm just not sure what is normal and what isn't. First of all, the board rests about an inch below the water (with the nose sticking out). Is that normal, or is it supposed to be laying completely on top?

On a similar note, I didn't catch any waves today, but when I did try standing on my board just in open water, it sank down quite low. Again, normal or not? If I were to catch a wave and pick up some momentum, will that keep the board afloat? I will say that while I'm paddling around, it definitely keeps me above water.

Finally, is it totally necessary to wax the board? It's got a Dakine traction pad, but should I be getting some grip in the middle?

Thanks in advance for dealing with my surf virginity!

Although I highly recommend you listen to the other member's and score yourself a longboard (I'd personally suggest a PU longboard, not a foamie just because of the feel of the board), if you have the drive and determination, I'd keep the shorty and just go out everyday and practice on it for hours on end. I started on a shortboard and it was extremely frustrating to learn on, but I finally managed to get the basics down in 3 months. I know it's almost impossible in Santa Cruz, but find an uncrowded, safe spot to surf. Also, "Monkey See, Monkey Do." Watch other shortboarders, pay attention to every movement they make and their position on the wave and board and then try it out yourself. That's just my 2 cents. You can treat this one of two ways: fun or work. If you want to have fun, start on a longboard because you'll catch waves a lot easier. If you are insistent on shortboarding, surfing a shortboard will be like going to school; you really don't like it, but you have to do it to prove to yourself you can.