Longboard and my Weight/Skill?

Hey guys, just had a question.

Dimensions: 24.38"W x 113.50"H x 5.38"D

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=420487

Isn't the depth super thick? I thought most longboards thickness went up to about 3.5 inches max. Unfortunately the Costco one doesnt have dimensions so I have to go in-store to measure it.

Forget the soft top, that's what you use to learn, not to progress.

The board from sam's club seems to have the wrong dimmensions on it, there are no 5" thick longboards anywhere.

If you want to go new and cheap hit up solana surfboards, they import longboards for the price you want, and you can actually meet and talk to them.

You know, many of us start on used boards, not a bad idea for the investment.

Lastly, for your size I would go at least 9'6" x at leat 23" by at leat 3" thick, anything smaller will be harder to paddle for you as a begginer.

i'd say the foam boards are good for people on their first few times out or if they are afraid of getting hit in the head.
i've seen people that are good at surfing riding on the costco boards and doing well, but i've never seen someone that isn't good at surfing do good on a costco board.

So, lots of advice, let us know how it went...

I would also suggest not getting a foam board. I'm roughly the same height/weight as you and bought a soft top for my first board thinking it would be good for buoyancy. If you plan on going out with any type of regularity your going to outgrow that foam board super quick, then you'll be kicking yourself a month from now wishing you were on a normal board. At least that's how it worked out for me =|
 

Went to Costco today, apparently it's 8 feet long, sorry guys my bad. Not sure if they even ever had 9' ones.

jspears- I completely agree with your post.   A good surfer can surf anything!    You put a piece of wood in the water, and a good surfer will surf it.   What people fail to realize, its not a board that makes someone a great surfer, its the skill level of the surfer.    For example, take a person in these forums that is an advance surfer, and speaks down on the blue foamie boards, saying that it will hinder progress....blah blah blah.    If you put Andy Irons on a blue foamie in a head to head matchup with that surfer, AI will make surferboy look like an idiot.....on a blue foamie.     Which goes back to my original statement, a good surfer can surf anything, and surf it well.    Boards don't make people great surfers. 

Edited by redheadedsurfer - 23 October 2009 at 8:40am

Great, differing oppinions. Love it.

They do make and sell 9ft foam boards, they are dirtch cheap on craigslist, you just have to get luck. Also, Surf Hut in imperial beach sells their rentals every year so that they don't have to store them, you can get a great price on a used 9ft foamie there. Blue foamies are great for begginers, they are safe, they take drop-damage, they float, and make gerat hand-me-downs for kids and for your buddies when they want to try surfing, all you need for a great begginer surfing experience.

Lastly, the wavestorm only comes in 8ft, no problem if you are a smaller guy guy for a guy 228lbs there is no way he could comfortably learn on it. No one has a problem with foam boards, just get the right one.

Depends on skill too, I'm 200lbs alo have no problems surfing my nephews wavestorm, and I surf a 6'2" shortboard, but for a begginer a 9ft+ would be a better fit.

No, I agree. A 9 foot board would be better for him probably starting out for sure. I mistakenly lost focus on trey in my tangent about foam vs glass. But to answer your question I would've got a cheap 9'0" foamboard off craigslist.  The 8 foot board was good but the extra glide would have been nice and the 9'6 would've been good too but would probably been a little stiffer than desired... but a 9'0 would've been best for me personally.


Edited by jspears80 - 23 October 2009 at 2:45pm

All the 'good surfer can surf anything' stuff aside... the real points I was making are the two things we disagree on...1) foam hinders learning and 2) wavestorm board quality...

1) Speaking from personal experience, the turning ability is not all that bad if you simply learn how the board works (just like all boards). Its really no different than trying to ride a 9' longboard with thick rails...its all about understanding the board you ride, not so much the board itself. So in fact coming to that understanding of what needs to be done to surf it or other various shaped rails, outline, etc is what promotes good learning. Focusing on yourself in the water on a board (not what kind of board) is what is important.

2) I know they aren't solid gold but they do last a couple years, even if you beat the crap out of it... it did only cost $50-100... thats part of the beauty.



Edited by jspears80 - 24 October 2009 at 7:22pm

Originally posted by jspears80 As far as using foamboards because your are scared...well that is just a bunch of macho crap. Safety and experimentation are two primary reasons I still surf foam occasionally but not because I am scared to surf glass. Sometimes it makes sense to not put yourself in danger during certain conditions... its smart, not cowardly.

most beginners are afraid of getting hurt, i'm not talking about you and your macho crap. i'm talking about all the people i've taught to surf over the last 15 years.
do you wear a helmet when you surf? it's smart not cowardly.

if you feel more safe learning a floater or what ever on a foam board that's cool, more power to you. however wouldn't you say that you are on the foamie cause you are scared (worried, cautious, concerned with your safety)

it's kinda like bmx guys learning tricks into a foam pit. it's MUCH more safe, however the reason they use the foam pit is cause they are afraid of eating crap while learning a new trick.

fear is what keeps us alive, it doesn't make you less macho if you have fear. fear is what keeps me from driving up to mavericks tonight and riding 20' waves tomorrow. yeah i also know that i'm not ready for that and it wouldn't be safe, but the main thing is i'm afraid it's not safe.

about the quality of the wavestorm boards. i've held a few, never rode one though. they are the same quality as the boogie boards sold at walmart and costco. hardly high quality.
OMG the board will last a year or 2 and it only cost $100.
well my longboard cost me $500 (in '97) and it was built in 1995. it's still a great board in great shape and i could probably sell it for $350-$400 if i wanted to.
a quality surfboard will out last a wavestorm boogie board... er... um surfboard.

if it's all you can afford, by all means go buy one. it gets you out on the water and enjoying surfing, but if you can afford an extra hundred then you shouldn't be looking at any foam boards.

you should always buy the best you can afford. no matter what you are talking about. if you are buying a surfboard or if you are buying some tires for your car. no matter what, you should always get the best you can afford.
that doesn't mean the most expensive, that means the one that is the best for you.

Ok, we are going of tangent here. So, to recap to make it easier:

1) Foam boards are great for learning
2) Andy Irons can ride anything
3) A couple of us on this forum can ride an 8ft wavestorm magestically


Good luck Trey, have fun learning. Post up often, let us know how you are progressing

Here is my a-hole opinion, foam boards are for girls and little kids,If you buy your surfboard at costco you should feel real icky and uncomfortable ( like seeing your sister naked), If you dont theres somthing wrong with you