[dexterbuzz]

Hi all,

I gues this question has come up a thousand times, but hey, I'll ask it anyways.

I'm completely new to surfing, never tried it, never been on a board before, but it's something I've always wanted to do and I'm going to take the opportunity now to learn or else I never will.

My question is one of which board to get?

I've looked at nearly every website etc that exists and spoken to all my surfing mates and the advice is all different and my head is starting to explode!

I can either go for a longboard, about 9' or so, or a mini mal at about 7'6 upwards.

I'm about 6' and nearly 14 stone, but I guess it might help to shed some of the excess weight and get a bit fitter too!

Can someone please offer me some advice as to which way to go please?

I'd have to say that I prefer the look of the mini mal but obviously it's not all about looks I know. I'm reasonably fit, but at approaching 40, I know i've got limited stamina and cant paddle all day like youngsters can. I'm not looking to try and be all cool with a shortboard on the beach, I just want to fulfill a long term ambition and ride a few waves. I know I'll probably never be doing any tricks or stuff like that, but i'd like to be good enough to one day use the 6'8 neil perrow board I've got as a goal.

any help/advice would be gratefully received.

[62microbus]

hello

firstly welcome to the forum.
I would say the first thing you need to do is go and have some lessons, you can then get a feel for your level and if you actully like it. once you have done that i would say to get one of the NSP type boards that are similer to a pop out which will be great to learn on. these boards are great at catching little waves and really stable. once you have progressed a bit you can then trade it in for a nice mini mal. i would say you should try and get something arount the 8ft mark in length. these boards also keep their value really well and you should be able to sell it on quite cheaply.
good luck

[playing the angel]

hello knowledgable people, while you're on the subject of complete beginners....
Never surfed before & want to book myself a surfing holiday in Newquay cos I love it down there. Gonna come on my lonesome & not the richest girl in the world, so can you reccommend any good courses/accomodation that aren't too madly priced? Also, anything else you think I should know?

[62microbus]

hi playing the angel

I would say either stay at watergate campsite and book in with the extream academy (www.watergatebay.co.uk)
OR
Stay at porth or anywhere in newquay itself and go to the ALL GIRLS surf lessons at lusty Glaze.

Welcome to the forum & Good luck

[Alsone]

I would just add that if you're sure its surfing you want to do in the day and nothing else (not much to do anyway unless you go sightseeing around Cornwall generally), then its usually cheaper to book a week long course of tuition than to pay for individual lessons every day.

Al.

[ANCIENTWILLIAM]

Welcome DEXTERBUZZ & PLAYING THE ANGEL to the forum

The advice already given is sound so I won't go there, but I will repeat what we normally say on here as well.

As far as accomodation & lessons are concerned use the search facility on this forum & the various links not only in the forum but also on the website in your quests for knowledge or somewhere to stay. There are many good places to stay in Newquay & the surrounding area as there are surf schools as well.

Good Luck

[playing the angel]

cheers dudes. been having alook through the various links but you can't beat a bit of personal recommendation. never trust a website just cos it's shiny ;-p
plan is short trip before summer, potter about, visit some of the places I love, get perranporth pizza :-) & have a couple of surf lessons to see if I can even stand up on the board when it's on the sand let alone in the sea. if i don't wimp out like the lazy moo i am, then come back down october time for a surfing holiday. hurrah!

[ANCIENTWILLIAM]

Originally Posted by playing the angel

then come back down october time for a surfing holiday. hurrah!

Good call

Though personally I prefer September to October for some reason, especially like the barmy one we had last year, I still got sunburnt then !!!

Mind you, having been landlocked since last September, watching the snow flurries outside & about to have to go out in it then I'd take anything currently