I’m planning to order my 5 years old nephew his first surfboard. What would suggest? Is it realistic to go surfboard straight or think about a boogie first?
Shape & size wise, what would you expert shaping guys suggest?
Pictures of similar board would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Hi Baize, I take it this will be your boys first time surfing, because he’s so yong he’ll feel more confortable if your close by and he can see to. If he’s relaxed he’ll have more fun and the more fun he has the fast he will progress.
Before you buy him a board, if you ride a longer board why not take him out with you on a few tandum session or get him up on your shoulders in some small waves. See how he does, when he’s confiedent in the water get him his first board go for something small but boyant, 5ft or less sould be fine and he can still ride it like a boggy board for fun.
He’ll Grow fast so I’d go second hand over custom to start with. The important thing is to get him in the water and start having fun then play it by ear once hes into it he’ll have his own ideas about what he wants to ride.
My kids started on a Circle One 7’3" X 20" epoxy funboard, a thinner(2.5") overall board with a flat deck is preferable as its less tippy. They had a 8’ X 3" foam surflife and the deck was too rolled and too much buoyancy made it unstable.
I’ve seen all kinds of 5yearold and under on a variety of different boards, even some ripping on 5ft 15 1.9’ thrustersat snapper being pushed in and getting 100m rides…
but I think the best would be something 5ft’ 17’ 2 3/16’ shaped like a mccoy nugget with a wider tail and narrow nose…
Josh.
Thanks for your answers, advices.
if you are going to push him into waves then it does not really matter,
but if he is going to paddle in…
consider width with respect to what he can tuck under his arm/paddle on.
you can get some cardboard and bend it to the thickness/width you are thinking and see if it fits under his arm to carry and between his arms/shoulders to paddle.
I know you said 5yr old so you are probable just going to be pushing him into waves.
I have been contemplating the same question. My boy, 5 in April, will get a 5-6’ mini-mal shape (with no sharp edges and with surfco safety fins) for his 5th bday. It will be in push in board, but he will want to paddle and play on it at the lake so I am tossed on the dimensions.
here are 2 APS3000 templates I have for his board.
(these are template only; not rocker, thickness nor foil)
no fins , up rails , broad nose…
user friendly .skim cross over
compatible after a period indeterminate can add on fin …
surfable on wall to wall carpet in the house & or garage
for dry land training … astro turf outdoor yard slope afterschool hours o’ fun
…ambrose… paddle friendly trainer