[hopeless beginner]

hey all, wonder if anyone could help? im prob about to buy a minimal off ebay but before i do just need to check a few things. im 5ft6 and the board is 7ft6 is that gonna be too big for me? any help would be much appreciated.

ta muchley x

[jamesring]

well it depends on the thickness of the board and other things. but im 6' and i learned on a huge 9' foam monster which i could barely carry. if theyre bigger then it basically means theyll be steadier and so easier to stand up on. although if theyre too big they may be tricky to paddle out but 7'6" sounds about right for you

James

[Alsone]

Careful about buying on ebay for a hard board as a lot of them are cheap far eastern factory productions.

Typical problems are warped decks, poor shaping and inadequate cloth / resin as this latter thing is where the cost lies. Inadequate cloth / resin makes the board weak and can lead to all sorts of nasty problems such as dings, crushed / split decks and even total breakage.

Not saying that every board is bad, but from what I've seen advertised a hell of a lot look dodgy, brands you've never heard of (try googling the brand), websites with no shop address or contact numbers only mobile numbers or web forms. Look on here, there are a couple of people who've posted looking for spares for some of these boards as the company has disappeared and they can't find spares (read specific fin fitments) anyware.

Try asking on www.a1surf.com 's bulletin board for brand advice but generally ebay is not a good place to look for a board unless you're looking for a specific 2nd hand board from a reputable shaper.

I'd try a proper surf shop such as:

Beachbeat Surf Boards www.beachbeatsurfboards.co.uk

or

Tunnel Vision http://www.tvsurfshop.co.uk

(Both Cornwall).

You'll pay a little more but get a better board. A cheap board will cost you £'s more when you constantly have to have it repaired or have to trash it entirely prematurely.

As for board size, ask a shop expert as opinions vary and the suitability of a board has more to it design wise, than just mere length. A whole host of factors including rail shape, tail shape, thickness, width, fin set up, all contribute or detract from stability / directional stability and its only with the right combination that you'll truly find a board that makes you happy.

Also, consider whether you want a foamy, combination board (foam deck + rigid underside) or a hard board. If in doubt, again consult a reputable surfshop - best found from word of mouth as some just want to sell you a board rather than offer real independant advice. Find a good one though and you'll get all the help you need.

[hopeless beginner]

thaks guys for all your help. hey ALSOME, thanks for the tip about ebay, didnt even think about that stuff, although the board is brand new but will check out the brand before i buy. also was just wondering about custom made boards as my mate had his custom made and he said that it worked out cheaper than buying it from the surf shops normally. unfortunatley he is no longer in the country and so i cant get hold of him for advice about it. is that true of everywhere or did he just get lucky?
ta muchley , Heidi x

[hopeless beginner]

SORRY just realised spelt your name wrong. Duh! x

[Alsone]

Well I've been asking about Beachbeat for having a board made and all he feedback I've had has been positive on the subject, it appears they are very well respected and their shaper has a good reputation.

I'd expect to pay around £350 for a decent board from practically anywhere, anything much less than this and you have to start asking the questions as to where the shortcuts have been made.

My advice based on the advice I received, is check out the Beachbeat website.