Advice: Choosing the right board

Blake2907's picture
Blake2907 started the topic in Friday, 7 Dec 2018 at 12:03pm

Hey guys,

I'm looking to get at my next board in the new year. There is SO so much out there, its hard to know where to begin.

About me:
• I'm comfortable in getting into most size surf. Paddling, duck diving etc no problems.
• I don't fall off too often and making most of what I paddle for (Volume needs to be higher)
• I'm surfing more regularly Most often 2-4/5ft (Beach breaks - aiming 2-3/week)
• I am slowly starting cutbacks, sometimes fall (not keeping over the board) But I really want to improve on this !!!
• Need improving on generating my own speed.
• Currently, riding a 5'10 x 19 3/4 x 2 3/8 = 28L. feels ok. or sometimes a 6'2 x 19 1/2 x 2 3/8 = 30L (This feels too long..) JW1 FCS Fins
• 33yrs - 75kg - 173cm.

Looking for:
• Something that will help me improve on cutbacks (Fins selection might help too)
• Improve catching more waves (Volume estimating needs to be 32L).
• And eventually, progress into verticle moves.

Any advice or specific boards I should look into?

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Friday, 7 Dec 2018 at 1:31pm

Good on ya Blake, nice to see someone offer a realistic assessment of their skills. I'm sure the brains trust will come up with some good suggestions.

joesydney's picture
joesydney's picture
joesydney Friday, 7 Dec 2018 at 2:10pm

Nice one - I think you have identified one problem 28L is undervolumed (imo).

I can't recommend enough a Lost Puddle Jumper, they catch so many waves, generate speed and are really forgiving (you can get your foot placement all messed up and you can recover - unlike a HPSB). Importantly they will consistently allow you to practise your cutbacks. Spend a summer getting that wired and then look to get something more HP. (The only drawback is you will find going from a Puddle Jumper to a HPSB you will be going really slow. PJs (and other hybrids) because they are flat and have volume generate their own speed, HPSB you have to work them to get speed)
Also if you are on the East Coast I cant recommend enough the HPC up at Casuarina for coaching, a humbling experience

Blake2907's picture
Blake2907's picture
Blake2907 Friday, 7 Dec 2018 at 2:30pm

Thanks Joe,

I have just moved up from Sydney to the G.C... Casuarina is very close and had the HPC on my radar for a coaching session/weekend. I'll definitely look into that.

The Puddle Jumper looks good. I'll research more about them, reviews and try to get one under my arm over the weekend. Should be ok getting into a shortboard, don't ask, but I painstakingly taught myself to paddle, stand and getting across waves on a 6'0 DHD shortboard, over many many years haha

Thanks for your input!

joesydney's picture
joesydney's picture
joesydney Friday, 7 Dec 2018 at 3:54pm

Nice one - be ready to be humbled at the HPC and they split screen you surfing on Video with Mick Fanning. You will question whether you are doing the same sport.

The guys at Surfboard Empire (who have license for Lost, MR, Pyzel, DMS ) are pretty good and should let you get on a couple of demo boards. They also provide boards to the HPC so when you go on the coaching you can try heaps of boards.

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Friday, 7 Dec 2018 at 7:22pm

Blake I’m no expert but if you’re just starting cutbacks and riding a 5’10 at 33 years old and 75 kg I’d just swallow some humble pie, forget about what others will think of you, and get a board a foot longer and much thicker and floatier.
Don’t worry about what fins you’re using, you’re not going to be able to notice the difference.
Foam is your friend

Blake2907's picture
Blake2907's picture
Blake2907 Friday, 7 Dec 2018 at 9:23pm

More than happy to get anything that is going to help. I'm not worried or tied to any brands or cool factor. Foam sounds good to me!

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Saturday, 8 Dec 2018 at 7:23am

I think you’ll enjoy going for a surf much more on a bigger board. Good luck!

indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming Saturday, 8 Dec 2018 at 7:53am

Good info given in original post, i think your board dims sound perfect.

I don't think you are at all under volumed I'm 5,8 and 90Kg and ride boards between 5,8 to 6,2 @ 29-31L which are fine when I'm regularly surfing, but I do feel under volumed when i haven't been surfing much and have the weight of a wetsuit.

Being summer maybe add a fun board to your quiver or something more fishy with a wide point further forward with more foam under your chest, personally i think this helps paddling and catching waves and personally these are the boards that for me do good cutbacks.

Optimist's picture
Optimist's picture
Optimist Saturday, 8 Dec 2018 at 7:56am

90KG and 31 litres...Your a fit bugger Indo ...Good on you...I remember those days …..sigh.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Saturday, 8 Dec 2018 at 8:46am

"Blake I’m no expert but if you’re just starting cutbacks and riding a 5’10 at 33 years old and 75 kg I’d just swallow some humble pie, forget about what others will think of you, and get a board a foot longer and much thicker and floatier.
Don’t worry about what fins you’re using, you’re not going to be able to notice the difference.
Foam is your friend"

This x a million.

See so many adult beginners struggling on under-volumed equipment.

JaM's picture
JaM's picture
JaM Saturday, 8 Dec 2018 at 10:12am

Are you ever going to do WCT turns if yes, buy a WCT style low volume elite athlete thruster,
if not, foam is your friend, buy a 7ft mid length such as a Campbell brothers egg

indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming Saturday, 8 Dec 2018 at 12:08pm

Whoops i was driving along this morning and thought i think I had typed 90kg i meant 80kg...i seem to bounce around 80kg to 85Kg but never lower or higher.

In all honestly though, i haven't been surfing much of late, had a surf on a board i hadn't ridden for ages on Thursday that is 5,8 @ 31 litres and noticed when sitting on it, I'm way under water, i am thinking of getting a grovel board with about 35L for those times when I'm not at peak fitness and out of whack just to help me get the ball rolling again.

Im actually not a very good paddler, but i hate to much foam when up and ridding.

CryptoKnight's picture
CryptoKnight's picture
CryptoKnight Saturday, 8 Dec 2018 at 1:07pm

Blaker, or as Les would have put it, bloke, ‘whoops’!!!?? FFS. Bloke, ‘I’m no expert but’... Exactly FFS, bloke, alarm bells swillnut crescendo. In a nutshell. Again.

Think, ‘I’m no expert but I’ll be your heart surgeon today’, and the last words that you hear after that are ‘whoops’.... bloke...

So bloke, unless you want your surfing to ludicrously, all time, all galaxy loser plummet into a ludicrous fiasco of clifftop roars of laughter, followed by the walk of shame, ala this infamously hilarious all time all loser, all galaxy ‘I’m no expert but whoops’ plummet, take ‘I’m no expert but whoops’ for exactly what it’s worth in a nutshell. A resounding ever fucking plummeting zilch... bloke.
Pay careful attention to the ‘I’m no expert but... whoops’ characters in this debacle bloke, and note how ‘90’ quickly plummets to ‘80’... in the real world bloke... again... in s nutshell...

https://www.swellnet.com/forums/wax/381069

East coast, eastern sea board ya say bloke? Just keep driving straight past it son. I’ll let you in on a little secret bloke, Over that way they have a way of making lotsa shite sound real... well ‘legendary’...

You haven’t got any injures have ya bloke...

thatguy's picture
thatguy's picture
thatguy Saturday, 8 Dec 2018 at 3:07pm

That's quite a confusing post luv. Have you had a lot of coffee?

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Saturday, 8 Dec 2018 at 3:13pm

The big un-injured specimen has been on the protein shakes all morning.

CryptoKnight's picture
CryptoKnight's picture
CryptoKnight Saturday, 8 Dec 2018 at 3:58pm

Oh no!!! Hahahahaha, lil chubby thatty's broken out of the nursin' home again! Of course ya confused ya chubby little cunt thatty! Stampedin' hotted up, run away gophers!!!! Again!!! I like it! in a nutshell!

kbomb's picture
kbomb's picture
kbomb Saturday, 8 Dec 2018 at 5:41pm

Blake. I too learnt as an adult and wish I hadnt stuffed around on shorter less volumed boards. I now ride a 6'10 @ 55lt (I'm 6'5 and 95kgs) and I am catching more waves than ever, plus, doing more turns. Cant recommend foam enough!

Flashinthepan's picture
Flashinthepan's picture
Flashinthepan Saturday, 8 Dec 2018 at 5:41pm

This expertise you profess…
Are you ever left alone with fragile minds and fragile bodies?
Is there any professional body you are associated with or code of ethics you abide by?
Can we add the post above to your testimonials folder?

Blake2907's picture
Blake2907's picture
Blake2907 Saturday, 8 Dec 2018 at 8:23pm

Thanks for the input... and Bitcoins... I think.

thatguy's picture
thatguy's picture
thatguy Sunday, 9 Dec 2018 at 8:20am

How sad. You've deteriorated quicker than I thought. Hopefully 2019 will be a better year for you and you'll get the correct diagnosis. Until then, we're here for you luv.

thatguy's picture
thatguy's picture
thatguy Sunday, 9 Dec 2018 at 8:22am

Blake, a good shaper can add foam in the right areas so you still end up with a board that goes well but is easier to paddle and pick up waves.

lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy Sunday, 9 Dec 2018 at 8:51am

.

Blake2907's picture
Blake2907's picture
Blake2907 Wednesday, 12 Dec 2018 at 2:03pm

Thanks ThatGuy,

I have been out in the recent swell (QLD) which helped to get into more waves... with 4,000 of my mates.... but a chance to either eat shit or practice turns. As the swell dropped in the last couple of days I'm struggling to get into waves again damn it! Foam fomo