[Deap]

I only started surfing last year using the Practise foam boards at Fistral. I'm getting pretty good and want to step up and get my own board. I'm planning on getting down every other weekend this year so I want my own board.

I've seen people recommend against getting one so soon but I don't want to keep paying rental.

Should I just ask around the shops and get a board that suits me or should I be taking some midway steps 1st and look at getting one later?

[jesster]

Hmmmm....depends. As long as the board you buy is floaty enough so that you catch lots of waves and keep having fun, that is what it's all about after all. no point buying a short board that you cant surf. you'll look cool until you get in to the water....then you'll look like a bit of a tool if you cant ride it. On some of the smaller days the most fun i have is on a foamy. its all about wave count

Have a chat with the surf shop staff and be honest about your ability.

Maybe see you in the water!!

[Deap]

Thanks for the info, I emailed those guys for advice and have, as yet had no reply. I noticed a section on boards recommending 3 type of boards.

Shortboards - recommended for intermediate and advanced level surfing.

Fishes - intermediate surfers.

Longboards - for intermediate surfers and advanced level surfing.

Looking at these 3 styles I can't tell what I should be looking for. everything is acceptable at intermediate level according to this list so why don't i just dive right in and get a shortboard?......

Here Is what I have been somewhat lead to understand.

Shortboards -
Purely for advanced surfers, They don't look like they would balance well. In fact I think this is the point,they are made to cut through the water and are purely focused on forward momentum. Experience is all that will help you balance these things.

Fishes -
I have never seen a single one of these on the shores of Newquay, I don't understand the point of the shape. do they make paddling easier? Personaly I think they look a bit ghey. having one of these with a good design on would be comparable to putting go-faster stripes and flames on a mo-ped

Longboards -
Somewhat inbetween the other 2, bigger and bulkier gives more float to the board helping you balance, not as fast as short boards but for a (beginner) fun, as they are easier to get to grips with than a short board but still somehwhat harder than foamies.

Could anbody correct me if I am wrong,

I obiously want a short board ASAP and if it's possible I will go straight there, but if its a case of having to move up in stages please shout up now before I buy a board that can't be used for 3 years..

[ILee]

Have you tried a shortboard? I mean did you rent one and have ago? Unless you can happily stand, turn and turn again I wouldn't start thinking of a shortboard yet.

It's all about wave time not looking cool walking across the sand with a board. Less haste more speed and all that pooh. Don't email or phone you can't buy a board that way. Get down there, walk in the shops and talk to the people. Make sure you are happy with the person you are talking to as well

Have a word with the people at Surfers Paradise Surfers Paradise Surf Shop or Tunnel Vision http://www.tvsurfshop.co.uk/front.asp both will give you all the advice and help you need in selecting a board and won't just sell you something for the sake of it.

Good Luck

[Deap]

Thanks, I'm not trying to rush to a shortboard, In fact that's exactly the info I needed. I only triled emailing Surfboards UK, to get some advice. I have a simple rule when choosing a company to shop with, no reply, no sale. I need to trust who I'm shopping with so thanks for the recommendations.

I went to a couple of shops near great western looking for a wetsuit and all they guys were bothered about was "selling" something to me, I walked out of there and went to Reef, there was a shortish bald guy in there who just told us what we should buy and walked away.

Brilliant, he did not care if I went elsewhere but he explained what I needed to know and recmmended a wetsuit for me but didn't care if I bought it or not. obviously just enjoyed helping me make the right purchase.

I bought it from there just for the fact he obviously knew what he was talking about and that I had the right info.

I will go to the shops you reccomend when I go down Newquay.

any shops I should stay away from?

[ILee]

I tend to go to the shops I know so can't say I have any horror stories for you maybe some other peeps can tell you about some other shops.

I did go to Dream Sessions once next to Tad n Nicks to buy some West gear (I'm a sucker for West) and the bloke in there was more conserned talking to the girls rather than sorting me out but I knew what I wanted and hell he's only human.

Surfboards UK are near Tunnel & Surfers Paradise so no harm in going in for a chat if someone has recommended them, you never know they might not have received your email.

[ANCIENTWILLIAM]

When buying a board then just anything that looks too touristy to be honest on shop choice. Avoid North Shore, Boardwalk, Bilbo etc. unless you know EXACTLY what you want & what your looking for as the staff aren't always clued up. Especially during the season when the student workers are there ... these places are more suited for clothing, DVD's bags etc rather than their boards.

The recommendations from ILEE are solid, though since Andy sold his business I don't really know how good TUNNEL VISION are now unless someone has bought a board out there in the last year !?!!

Apparently STORMY always said SUNSET SURF were good as well up past TADN'NICKS heading to the LION

[Deap]

I think what I will do is make a listing thread in a month or so when I am heading down. see what names people come up with. the more recommendations I get for a store the more chance I'll visit it.

[Deap]

Ok, so I went board shopping about a month back. Not the best experience. I was basically told the best board I could get in each shop was the one they had in stock! I know Shop Clerk's are there to SELL, but come on who was giving me the "right" info?

We had been advised to get

EPC board just a plastic board not too heavy

a BIC (they guy who had this in stock told us it was the best board we could get)

one shop advised us to get a short board!

(these were all shops on the top above GW beach) although which said which I can't remember.

Me and my mate popped into The Great Western surf school as we both had a good time learning with them the 1st year.

Were advised as you guys said get a longboard/minimal, and to stay away from BIC boards as they were durable but really heavy.

We had pretty much decided EPC for cost effictiveness and best balance of weight/speed for a beginner.

We decided to rent one 1st to test them and we stopped in at a shop just through the town on the road to fistral (other side of sommerfield) and rented a board from a mint guy called Jimbo.

I rented another a bit further up the road at a crossing, I can't remember them name of the shop but there are 2 on that corner heading up the hil to the golf course and fistral.

the one with all the decking next to the breakfast bar was really helpful.

the other was not, the attitude on the woman behind the till was awful and told us her stuff was the best and that EPC boards are cheap shite (I assumed it was because she didn't have any in stock) and by this point I was discusted with her attitude so I left and rented an EPC board across the road.

Brilliant time, the boards are so much faster than foamies but stilll have some good float to them. It took 3 days on them to get up properly and ride waves but It was worth it.

Couple of things, they are faster and scarier when your on top of a wave instead of being slowly pushed along on a float/foamie.

They hurt more when you get hit in the face with one.

Also next winter I will buy a winter suit and some boots. I lasted about 2.5 hours in early April. That was apparently good. on the 3rd day I rented a winter suit was out there all day.

[ANCIENTWILLIAM]

Originally Posted by Deap

(these were all shops on the top above GW beach)

That will be the ones like BOARDWALK etc. who are now very sales orientated this year I noticed. I only wanted a bleedin magazine the other day & how many times was I approached - in a sales way
Whether this is recession bound or not) is the staff always seem to be on edge & trying to engage you every couple minutes 'to see if your alright' which is a known sales technique. Especially when they use the 'are you looking for any particular size?'.

Originally Posted by Deap

the other was not, the attitude on the woman behind the till was awful and told us her stuff was the best and that EPC boards are cheap shite (I assumed it was because she didn't have any in stock) and by this point I was discusted with her attitude so I left and rented an EPC board across the road.

OMG That sounds like STORMY's favourite of SUNSET SURF who normally have a very good reputation


Nice post though fella & glad you had a good time. Being home currently for the first time this year I'm shocked at the further changes in town. The infamous Tunnel Vision has gone & is now RIPCURL - complete with new decor which is very sad as it was one of the most chilled out & relaxed surf shops ... Full of memories for some us too ...

GONE

Its sad to say but most of the surf shops in Newquay now are now full of pushy salespeople who seem to have one fearful eye turned to their managers who are obviously pushing hard.

[Sid's Surf Shack]

Yeahhh, turning up to a shop when its clear your on the hunt for valuable info and advice can quickly turn into high pressure sales and ultimately leave you feeling like they dont give a toss helping you, but more interested in fleecing you! Sounds like you have a bit a knowledge of what your after and your level of surfing so i reckon you'll be fine. As long as you dont try and jump to a ultra cool looking surfboard to soon, you should advance quickly judging by what you say. Take yer time choosing coz there are millions of boards out there. If you can hire something that you think you may like first and you can ride the *****....then you'll have a good idea of what your gonna buy and less chance of being stung!

P.s check out our site.....lol...no boards yet...but loads of quality gear!!!

[nixon]

I'd been hiring every time I'd surfed anything between a 6'10-7'10" and wanted to get a board to progress on. I bought a 6'6"x 21"x 2.5" Rusty Piranha, it has the width & thickness to match a friend's mini-mal but a shortboard profile.

The first couple of sessions I surfed it, I wasn't sure it was the right choice, wave count wasn't great - but I found my balance, sussedf it out and the next weekend down at Fistral was ace!

Maybe try the same, I've seen my Rusty get classed as a 'performace fish' - a shortboard shape with a lot more float - for me it's been the ideal progression board.