As a side note, I am going over the basics on how to get yourself into the water. Once I cover those bases, I will post things that are a bit more personal and fun!
Your First Surf Board
I am not going to deny, this is a really complicated topic. Surf boards are extremely personal and I cannot claim any expertise to the mysteries of a perfect board. What I will explain is what I have noted as good introductory boards.
I am going to keep this brief:
You want a egg shaped, tri-fin fun board OR an 8'0"-9'0" foam board.
The Breakdown
Shape:
You want it as egg-shaped as possible. That means you want a big oval board. If you're asking why, the best I can give you at this time is that the egg shape is usually more boat-like and stable. That makes it easier to paddle, catch, and stand up on a wave. The more narrow or pointy the board, the less stable the ride. There are other certainly other options, feel free to flip through the sources I listed below. I am over simplifying this, but it is so complicated and I really learned that your first board should be an egg. You will learn as you get better about the other styles, but egg is clutch.
Size:
As I researched, it appeared to me that there are the two options for first boards: fun boards and long boards. Generally speaking, the longer the board, the easier it will be to get into the wave. A serious drawback lies in carrying your board. If it is too large it becomes unmanageable. Here comes the beauty of the "fun boards". Yes, they all should be fun boards, but these guys are extra fun because you can catch almost anything while still being able to carry the board. These are boards that are probably between 7'2"-8'0" and super eggy. My board is a fun board and I think it was the best investment I've ever made. My recommendation is an egg shaped fun board.
Fins:
Here is the honest to God truth: I don't know shit about fins. I just know that the 3 fin set up is what you want. 1 big one in the middle with 2 little guys on the side. Oliver from Aqua surf shop out here in the Sunset said he would teach me more about fins, so once I do that, I will spread the love. For now, go with it.
Leash:
You want the leash to be about the size of your board. I have a 7'10" and my leash is 8'0". You can buy one at any surf shop.
Wax:
Put down a base coat of wax all over the torso of the board (and the part where your hands go on the rail, or the side of the board). After the base coat is down, put cold wax down for SF surfers. DO NOT DO THIS FOR FOAMIES OR SOFT TOPS.
What type of board?
Foam board- great to begin with, super cheap. Check out costco.
What is it? Think of a block of shipping styrofoam, covered in a soft skin like that of a boogie board.
Soft top- great to begin with but to be honest, I don't like these boards for anything besides the white wash. Good to start out with, not so good for long term progress.
What is it? A soft top is like a high end foamie. It has a soft skin lining, which a foam center
Fiber glass- Awesome & cheaper than epoxy, but get's pressure dings really easily. It's a great investment, but acknowledge that your first board can and will get beat up. It's a tool, nothing more (thank you to my brother, Quitofer, for forcing me to understand that when I bought my board).
Epoxy-Lighter weight, more expensive...I don't really know much about epoxy yet. I'm still too much of a newbie. I encourage you to look at this link for clarity, though.
Surf bags or surf socks:
Unless your a massive klutz, don't waste your money...yet. Eventually, I will suggest the board bag, but I can go into that later. For now, just be gentle.
In Sum:
If you want to just get your feet wet on a stable board without making a huge investment, get a 8'0"-9'0" foamie or soft top. If you want a real board, get a 7'2"-8'5" egg shaped board. As a good friend Josephus O'brien just reminded me, it really does not matter how beautiful or perfect the board, it's more important to have something that is thick, floaty, and stable.
MY BOARD:
Her name is Taylor for obvious reasons. She is a 7'10" fun board (so she is shaped like a oval, long board but is a bit shorter). I have the tri fin set up but I still don't know anything about that. I have an 8'0" leash. Have a look below. She kicks ass.
Sources:
1. http://witchsrocksurfcamp.com/blog/5-things-beginning-surfer-should-know-about-board-design/
2. http://www.surfipedia.com/blog/epoxy-vs-fiberglass-whats-the-difference/
3. http://www.degree33surfboards.com/blogs/gettin-pitted/14071105-traditional-fiberglass-vs-epoxy-vs-nexgen-so-which-is-better
No comments:
Post a Comment