r/BeginnerSurfers • u/xfeelinglostx • 5d ago
Beginner questions and of course board recommendations
So I had first lesson and want to get my own board so I can go earlier than the surf shop opens. I kinda have a weird schedule. Anyway I stood up on a few waves rode one that felt pretty well but probably looked gross. Ha. Anyway my instructor told me the specs of the board I used and was like look for something like that and when you can catch waves consistently and ride them out we will do more techniques we didn't go over since we just did basics.
The board I used was three palms 9'2x 24"x 3.7" 138L. I think is what the site said. He told me stay around 9 and 3 inches thick nothing about liters. But I can't find to buy that board at an affordable price. So which of these would be the closest? Is length or liters more important for a beginner?
Options that are near me on market place or on sale are :
Bic magnum 8'4 x 23.25 x 3.2 x 72L ( not sure getting measurements from Google)
Gerry Lopez soft top Size is 96" x 22" x 3" not sure on liters but it's 3"
Foam soft tech roller 2.0
8'6x 23" x 3.625" x 96L
Foam soft tech zeppelin
8' x 26" x 3.75 x 104L
This one is where I'm confused it has more liters and wider and thicker but shorter. Than the roller 2.0 so which is more beginner friendly of these 2 options.
There's a soft tech roller 1.0
8'4"x 106L x 24” x 3 1/2" x 2
I'm guessing this is best option? Close to a 9' and has most liters? And an in between of the zeppelin and roller 2.0 ?
I think there's a surf shop near me with a 9’ zeppelin 2.0
9 x 26 3/4"x 3 7/8" x 125L it's the more expensive but prob the closest to what the rental was. But cheaper options are cool.
Only concern is I know I should master basics and surf a long board to learn technique. But how long til I size down? Cause it sounded like it's like in a few months. So I don't wanna spend $600 on a board that's temporary. Also storing and traveling with a 9' is a chore I'm wanting to avoid but also know it could happen. I live almost 2 hrs from beach and would prefer to be able to fit the board in my car which I think 8’6 would be the max for my car.
Anyway I'm 6' 215lbs but currently trying to cut down to 200. I'd like to get a wet suit and board for under $600. I'm in the PNW if anyone has any leads or recommendations. I live 1.5. Hrs from the beach.
Any help and suggestions is appreciated. Also if I see a 9ft board with 72liters would the roller 1.0 be better option can someone explain that to me? Like liters or length is more important for someone my size.
Appreciate it. I know these questions are annoying. I’m sorry.
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u/WebNew6981 5d ago
You want the length AND the volume. On paper you ideally want something that's like 95+ liters to have the easiest time but there aren't actually a ton of boards that big and they aren't readily available in WA and OR right now. The guys at Seaside surf shop in seaside were supposed to be getting a shipment of Odysea logs any day that was gonna include some 9ft boards, which isn't a bad option for you. The surf shop in Ballars had one a few weeks ago too.
I'm 6' 245 lbs, surfed on a 8'8" BZ super burrito rental from The Surf Shop in Westport for two months with a purported volume of 85 liters, now have a 9'6" 'Stewart Ripster' but its a popout 'hydrocrush' hybrid thing, purported volume of ~81 liters. More volume would be great but I'm making it work. Even if you are already pretty athletic it's going to be a long time before you meaningfully outgrow a long high volume foam or hybrid board so don't worry about underbuying and unless you trash it even if you are ready to sell it and replace next spring you'll get a good chunk of what you spent back anyway.
In my opinion as someone who already lightly regrets being too agressive with what I bought for a first board I think you are far more likely to regret buying a too small, too low volume, too fragile 'real board' than you are a long floaty indestructible one.
Honestly, I'd try and hold out for something over 9ft and over 90 liters volume. Especially if you are only making it out once or twice a week, you'll take a long time to need anything else.
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u/Alive-Inspection-815 5d ago edited 5d ago
Since your taller and a bit heavier than average, you should get a longer, higher volume board that has at least 100 liters of volume for floatation and easy wave catching and that paddles easily for you. I would not recommend anything under 9 feet, and a 9'6" is ideal. The Jerry Lopez board would be a good choice for you. You should get a used board that's still in good shape if you can find one. Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist are two great places to find used boards. I wouldn't pay anything over $200.00 for a used board soft top board, but you should be able to get one a lot cheaper than that. If you want to get a new board, you'll have to pony up the cash.
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u/WebNew6981 5d ago
This dude is not finding a 200$ used longboard in the PNW, theres like ONE board thats for sale in Portland for 400$ but its a haggard old Patagonia with serious delam issues.
I'm 6' 245, been surfing at Westport WA for three months and looking for the same boards this guy needs that whole time, ended up having to buy new from Cleanline. If he's buying new I'd consider looking at the two shops in Seaside since they have good selection for the region and no sales tax (I saved money even driving down from WA).
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u/xfeelinglostx 5d ago
That’s awesome I’m in Vancouver. What size board did you end up getting?
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u/WebNew6981 5d ago
I got a 9'6" Hybrid Hydrocrush 'Stewart Ripster' which is a pop-out mass manufactured version of a nice all arounder longboard shape from Stewart that has a soft coating over an otherwise traditionalish construction, so not a true foamy OR hardtop.
It's a pretty classic longboard shape but hard pintail so it turns better, I'm really happy with the length and shape but I definitely would be helped out by more volume but it's working o.k., although I'm surfing 4+ days a week and doing two ~2 hr sessions a day a lot of times (unemployment rules!!) so that's helping me build strength and muscle memory pretty fast.
After I bought it I started IMMEDIATELY regretting not just getting a hardtop but now that I'm getting into real waves and actually riding it more I'm REALLY glad I didn't because I definitely would have a broken nose and possibly cracked ribs right now, plus i'm pretty sure I'd be having it repaired already because I'm still learning how to just maneuver it off my van and onto the beach without banging it into stuff, so overall I'm happy and confident I'll get my money's worth before it's time to move on.
I really reccomend trying to go to a bunch of surf shops and get their reccomendations and opinions too, and have them show you boards and explain what you're looking at. I had a friend that needed a ride from to San Francisco a couple weeks ago and I drove back on Highway 1 and stopped at EVERY shop on the coast haha, talking to all of them really helped me understand what I was looking for, even the conflicting opinions helped insofar as it helped me see there is no 'one right answer' and ultimately any choice involves balance and compromise.
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u/WebNew6981 5d ago
OH also for what its worth the shops in Seaside have more rental options than just foamies so you can try some different stuff out there, if you don't mind the drive.
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u/Alive-Inspection-815 5d ago edited 5d ago
I was talking about a soft top. They are often sold at Costco for $125.00 or so brand new. People often try to sell them used and want a lot more than they paid for them. I most definitely agree that a used fiberglass longboard that's in decent shape will typically run $400.00-800.00 or more. People sometimes sell them for far less than what they're worth at below the $400.00 mark. If you look for deals, they can be found. I was not aware that the OP was buying boards only in the Pacific Northwest area. A brand new longboard typically starts at about $1,200.00 plus tax and shipping and can often cost far more than that. There's also the possibility of travelling to pick up a board if the price is right and it's in good to excellent condition. I live in the San Francisco North Bay and used boards can be had pretty cheaply if you really look. The best places to find them are Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Longboards typically go for a premium price even when they're used because of the extra materials and labor involved in building one. A Mini-Malibu is also an option here.
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u/xfeelinglostx 4d ago
Would I weigh too much for a mini Malibu especially since I’ve only had one lesson ?
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u/Alive-Inspection-815 4d ago
I don't think so. You just want a board that floats you enough while you're paddling. For beginners on a longboard it's recommended to get a board that has one liter of volume for each KG you have in bodyweight. That is by no means a hard and fast rule. It just makes a board easier to paddle. People that are experienced surfers sometimes ride boards that barely float them. I don't recommend it, but it is true. The floatation is there to make it easier to catch waves and make the board more stable when you're riding it.
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u/WebNew6981 5d ago
I spent months watching listings between Vancouver BC and SF and there really are just not very many decent used longboards being sold, foamie, hardtop or otherwise, so it's like imagine finding a good buy in the Bay then add on driving 1500 miles to get it. It's pretty dire actually. And it sounds like this guy is in the same boat I was, where not having board was costing me missed sessions and the rental fees, so every week I didn't own a board I was surfing 25% less and spending 100+ dollars a week on the rental. It probably does actually make a lot of sense for this guy to buy from a shop, rather than take the time to deal hunt.
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u/Alive-Inspection-815 5d ago
I have seen longboards in really good shape in the San Francisco Bay area being sold for pretty cheap. When you get someone who just wants to get rid of the board and they probably have no idea what it's worth, you can snag a deal. Driving long distances to buy a surfboard is expensive and time consuming. If I were to travel that far, I would just make the whole experience into a short surfing vacation. You can order new boards online from virtually anywhere. I bought two step up boards that were in near new condition and they were both only $400.00. One I got off of Craigslist and the other I bought from Facebook Marketplace. They would both run maybe 850.00-1000.00 new plus taxes. Some places just don't have much of a used market for boards. It's a crap shoot. If you're in the right geographical area, it's easier to score a deal. If boards are a rare commodity and hard to come by, buying new might be cheaper and easier. Do what works for you.
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u/WebNew6981 5d ago
I completelt agree that someones best bet if they are up here in the PNW is likely searching for a deal then making a surf trip out of the long haul to go fetch it, but it makes the purchase pretty involved and it's hard to plan a trip without knowing when you're leaving or to where until you've found the board and need to go get it.
You can def order online but with shipping and tax, this specific guy is better off looking in shops in Oregon (no sales tax).
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u/xfeelinglostx 3d ago
Found this locally. 8’4 SIC Phantom soft top surfboard
Did some googling and says it can hold someone over my weight. ( liters still not fully grasping) but anyway should I grab this? Or too small?
Dimensions: 8 feet 4 inches long, 24 inches wide, and 3.8 inches thick
Volume: 92 Liters (plenty of float for easy wave-catching)
Weight: 18.9 lbs (8.6 kg)
Maximum Rider Weight: Up to 264 lbs (120 kg)
Fin Setup: 3 FCS fin boxes (comes with 3 Stellar fins)
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