I’ve been surfing for a number or years so it has been a while since I’ve learned. Now my son, who turns 12, is getting serious about surfing. A few years ago i got him surfing on a Hot Groms foam board. It was 5’4" X 20 X 3". Worked great for him then, but I stopped surfing for a bit and as a result wasn’t taking my son surfing. Now that he wants to go again, that board is too small for him and I picked up a 6’0"X18.5"X 2 1/8" thruster thinking he would learn quickly since he could surf before. Unfortunately with the time thats passed and getting bigger he is really struggling with that board. So fast forward to today. I picked up a 6’8" X 20.5" X 2 7/8" Al Merrick flyer that is pretty new for rediculously cheap. So cheap that I could earily sell it for more or trade it for something else. So my question is this. Would the Flyer make a good board for my son to learn with (at places like San O or Doheny)? Or should I try to trade it/sell and get something different? If so, then what?
He’s probably about 5’3" and a 110 pounds. I realize this is a lot of board, but I’m thinking of using this board to build up his confidence at soft breaks and small days. Then transition him down from there to the 6’0" he has. Really, getting back out again after 3 or 4 years has been like starting over for him.
So the idea with this board is as a starting point and then trade down in size as he progresses.
can he already turn and set a line? if so then it should be a fine board for him. I was similar though taller at the begining of last summer and had been riding a 6 2 original MR as my shortboard, i hopped on a merrick sashimi and by the end of the summer the board as easy to ride.
If you are just surfing at San O & Doheny that board is a bit small for catching waves in those crowds. You need to get him in waves with a bit more push and a little less crowd. Try Hunington or Bolsa and that board should do ok. He prob needs to build up his upper body strenth too.
Another thing to look at is his technique. He could be doing something wrong after being out of the water for a while. Check out his feet when he paddles for a wave. If they aren’t over the tail of the board he is dragging them and slowing himself down right at the critical time. Also, doing this causes the tail to rise up the wave and drop the nose too much. Its a common beginner mistake a lot of people don’t think about.
If you are going to be surfing south OC a lot, I would get him a longboard more suited to those breaks. A large board will get him into waves early and get him more waves per session. The best way to improve your surfing is surf more! I hope this helps and tell him to keep it up and pretty soon he will be out surfing dad! My son now kicks my butt in the water all the time!
it was actualy a friends, the guy has 2boards for whatever the conditons are, so i often used the beat up sashimi with no nose. i don’t know the numbers exactly but like 6’0"(before the last 6 nose was broken off) 18 3/4 and 2 3/8
get down to Dog Patch this weekend, or the Trails (away from the crowd). There’s gunna be waves, see how he does. Go from there. If he’s not making it with some waves to get that board going, then definitly more float and stability.
I’ll definitely take him out some place this weekend and see how he does with the flyer. If he has a tough time on this, a buddy of mine has an 8’0" foamer that I can probably get on loan.
The important thing is that we’re having fun and spending time together. Thanks for all the advice.