This board any good? or have i wasted money?

[proudmama]

Hi im new here and to surfing just moved to cornwall and bought this board http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221120590356? ... 97.c0.m619.
Is this going to be any good for me to learn on? im 5'2 and weigh 44kg.

[Hurricane]

If you have never surfed before I would suggest a longboard, but you can learn on a shortboard with time after all thats how I got my start.

[IB_Surfer]

Won't be easy, but you are light enough to have it float you.

[proudmama]

Thanks for answering guys picked the board up this eve. If i can't do it I guess il just have to resell and hope I don't loose to much money. I've never surfed at all before so am jumping in at the deep end.

[Hurricane]

You should't resell it just keep practicing and soon you will get it.

[IB_Surfer]

Don't forget to post how much fun you had!!

[proudmama]

Am going to practice popping up at home i think and get my fitness up as i havnt swam for a long while so am guna be weak. The ocean doesnt take any prisoners lol so am a little nervous if im honest. Want to change the fins over too as i dont want to cut myself etc? Arnt there like soft ones if that makes sense lol.

[jaffa1949]

Proudmama, good on you, do all the fitness things and enjoy your journey
Two things with the fins you can spend more money on getting ProTeck fins which have a soft edge on them and they fit a number of fin systems including FCS so they might do, or just sand the trailing edge of the fin so it is less sharp, it won't detract from the performance.

Have fun!

[dtc]

Two things with the fins you can spend more money on getting ProTeck fins which have a soft edge on them and they fit a number of fin systems including FCS so they might do

I have the Proteck fins and they seem (to me) to work as well as 'normal' fins. They cost about the same as most quality fins (so not budget but not abnormal). Don't get the orange ones, which are very soft, but the see through ones (which look quite interesting) or the white/black ones should be fine (ignore the website which says they are for 'intermediate/advanced' surfers - they are just fins).

Do you need them? Well, I have never landed on my fins but know people who have (including one who required 80 stiches). So I use them. 10,000s of people dont and never have an injury.

[proudmama]

Where do I get the fins from in the uk? I can't find them anywhere :-/

[dtc]

You can order proteck online from a few places (http://www.surfcohawaii.com/Pro-Teck-Fins-s/26.htm; http://www.seabase.eu/products/cat/Fins ... Teck-Fins/ http://www.quiversurfboards.co.uk/produ ... eck-Fins/; plus ebay or amazon).

Or ask a surf shop to get them in for you - in Australia most will, even if they dont have them on display.

[proudmama]

Thanks for the links. I went into our local town and went into a surf store for some fins, wax etc and the bloke wouldn't even sell me anything. He asked what board I had and stuff. I told him and he said I will never ever learn to surf on it and should re-advertise it for sale. I left shocked and very deflated he totally patronized me and said you really do know nothing about surfing. Safe to say I will never go back in there shop again.

[cravenbiker]

What a dick!!!! Name and shame that moron man!!!!

[dtc]

Thats bizarre. Even if you dont know anything about surfing, thats the point of having people in a shop who can help you out.

[jaffa1949]

That would be the last day someone with that attitude worked in my store

[drowningbitbybit]

I went to a surf shop once and they refused to sell me the wax that I wanted saying "it was the wrong one" (no, it wasn't, just not what most other people were using)
Never went to that shop again. Sounds like this place is trying hard to lose customers too.

[jaktequila]

Hi proudmama. I'm a male, 177cm and 70kg, learned on a 6'4 shortboard last year. Took me around two months of nearly every surfing to get the hang of catching and riding waves. If you're determined enough you'll succeed! Keep it up!

[IB_Surfer]

Thanks for the links. I went into our local town and went into a surf store for some fins, wax etc and the bloke wouldn't even sell me anything. He asked what board I had and stuff. I told him and he said I will never ever learn to surf on it and should re-advertise it for sale. I left shocked and very deflated he totally patronized me and said you really do know nothing about surfing. Safe to say I will never go back in there shop again.

Playing devils advocate, how often are you surfing? If once a month he might be right, although he does not need to be a jerk about it. If you are committed and are going two or three times a week then you are good.