upgrading to a real board when I'm ready in the mean time...

[saltcreep]

Ive been surfing almost any chance I get and have gone as far as just having my foamie in the bed of my truck just in case I want to go after work for a bit. I've managed to catch a few more waves here and there and still learning a proper technique for my paddle and a good balance after the pop up. I've been just browsing around and looking at a new board when I think the time is right and wanted to ask a few questions as to what to get next. Now I know I'm no where near ready for a real shortboard and the waves here don't get past maybe 6ft on a good day. Padre sees better days but an 8 hour trip every weekend isn't going to happen. So I will settle with whst I have till other wise. So do I go with a legit real tri fin funboard/mini mal or could I go with a fish? I've heard and read thst a fish does pretty well in mushy and small waves with the added width it has over the shortboards plus let's face it I wanna go fast lol. What would you suggest and from where should I get it from? Should I speak with a shaper or get a pre made one? If a pre made one, by which company should I stand by?

[drowningbitbybit]

So do I go with a legit real tri fin funboard/mini mal or could I go with a fish? I've heard and read thst a fish does pretty well in mushy and small waves with the added width it has over the shortboards plus let's face it I wanna go fast lol.

Forget about a fish for now. A real fish (as opposed to a superfish or a mini-mal that's a bit fishy etc...) is supposed to be ridden short and loose... both things that a newbie isn't ready for. Fish are skatey and fun, but for now you'd just find them wobbly and unstable. Also, while fish are fast, you need to work them to keep them going, so you're only ready for a fish when you can weave up and down the wave to generate speed.

So think funboard at the moment. Don't go tiny ( = frustration) and then they're a great next step on the progression ladder. You can surf a funboard at a very high level once you've got the skills, so don't go getting fooled into thinking you need something more high performance. There's nothing high performance about sitting out back not catching waves

[saltcreep]

Thanks! Just the response I was hoping for. Now I fall back to get a off the rack (right term?) Or go to a shaper. Money is a lil tight for me so what ever is cheaper and I can still get great performance out of it the better.

[dtc]

Second hand is the best cheap first board. If you give your weight and height we can make some suggestions as to the right size to look for; there are so many small shapers/makers of boards that its hard to recommend any specific manufacturer (although there are some global brands).

You mention Padre - so you are in Texas? Then I assume Craiglist is a good point of call; but lots of surf shops have a second hand rack as well and they can be worth haunting.

[waikikikichan]

Now I fall back to get a off the rack (right term?) Or go to a shaper. Money is a lil tight for me so what ever is cheaper and I can still get great performance out of it the better.

Think of surfboards as wood cabinet. A master carpenter craftsman can build you a custom wood cabinet, takes time and cost more ( and to some,worth every penny ). But for most apartment dwellers, a cabinet from IKea or Target , etc. made from press/particle board with wood veneer finish will serve their needs just fine and cost less.

[saltcreep]

Alright so off the rack then or a second hand. I was just confronted by my wife on my height so I just found out in 5'6 - 5'7 145 lbs. :p I can spend about $300 on a board and fins I'll have to figure something out

[dtc]

I suggest you look for a board within the following dimensions

length: 7'10 - 9ft. With your weight you could possibly go fractionally shorter (eg 7ft6) but I don't recommend it given your skill level. The longer the board the (much) better for a beginner, even if you want to later go for a shortboard.

8ft will be fine for you, but 9ft is a more common length so might be easier to find. It doesn't really matter; waikikichan who posted above is (I believe) 120lb and surfs a 9ft (very well). So anything in that length range

width: 21.5 - 23 inches

thickness: 2 5/8 - 3 inches

Outline (shape): funboard or mal shape (mal = Malibu) (see below)

Don't worry too much about the width and thickness, as boards that are the right length and type (ie funboard/mal) will be the right width and thickness. The only thing to avoid is a 'gun' (which is a board for very big waves) which can be 9ft long but narrow (19inches) and with a pointy tail (pin tail - looks like the nose of a shortboard). Avoid at all costs!

Don't be tempted to drop down to 7ft6 and get a fish or a hybrid board - that is the next step. If you really much go to 7ft6, make sure its still a funboard shape. But much better off staying around the 8ft mark

Fins: single fin or thruster will be fine - there is no strong argument one way or the other, its a matter of preference.

While I'm not recommending these boards (although they aren't terrible by any means), so you have an idea of what you should be looking for:

funboard: http://www.surfindustries.com.au/surfbo ... boards.php

longboard/mal: http://www.surfindustries.com.au/surfbo ... boards.php

(the only real difference is that the mal often (but not always) has a wider/rounder nose; and funboards is another name for what used to be called 'mini mal' ie are just shorter boards but with the same general design).

Google up for what to look for in a second had surfboard. An epoxy board is a good first board as they are much tougher; but a good traditional (fibreglassed) board is just as good.

If you can get a board with fins that will save you the $70 or whatever a set of fins costs; personally I would always buy a new leg leash so don't worry if your board comes with one or not. A board bag is an added bonus - you will probably want one so if that comes with the board great.

Good luck

[saltcreep]

didn't want to make a new post so I'll just ask on this one. what do you guys think about a big fish at 8ft? figure it being at 8 would make it just as stable and buoyant as a 8 funboard. would it be still to skaty and sketch for a beginner?

[waikikikichan]

A 8 foot fish is not a fish ....... It's a WHALE !!

When they say Fish's are fast, loose, good in the mush and Skatey, they're talking about 5'8"- 5'10" ish boards. Not 8'.

Just because a board has a swallow tail doesn't make it a Fish either.

[saltcreep]

Lol! I was just wondering because I had a guy come to me at my usual spot and offer the board to me for 200. didn't know if I should go for it or not.

[oldmansurfer]

I surfed a 7 foot fish board and it was quite similar in paddling into waves as my 9'6" longboard but it turned well and was fast. The only thing with it was I got bucked off in whitewater quite often. I imagine a 8 foot fish will get you into waves as easily as a 11 foot longboard.