Well Gents, Santa needs some help. I’m planning on having a board shaped for an 11Y/O, 85lb boy. He started surfin the soup this summer, is making some good progress (6’6" thruster, 8’ egg and 9’ noserider) and I think it’s time for him to have his own board. I’m thinking egg or perhaps mini-longboard, but I’m open to suggestions on shape and dimensions. BTW: He was given a Rusty shaped/Diamond glassing 5’3" thruster by a friend, but it’s a little tough for now. Thanks for any and all help on the matter. SevenTenths
Hey 7/10, If you can let him take out a few rentals it would make you decision a lot easier. He’ll tell you want he feels most comfortable on. If you have something shaped it should be of a managable size for him. You want it to be of a managable size for him. My call would be something with moderate rocker around 7’4"x12.0"x20.25"x14.0"x 2.75" with a rounded pin. Something like this will help steepen his learning curve. It’d float and paddle great for him he’d catch waves like crazy and he would be able to deal with the board when the wave get a little larger with out the board over powering him. I don’t know where you’re located but talk to a few shapers in you neck of the woods and see who you get the best hit from. Everyone will have a different take on things. Just weigh you options and take it from there. Mahalo, Rich
what area are you in and where does he usually surf? this will help you get better feedback http://www.paradoxdistribution.com
SevenTenths Sounds a lot like the experience I had with my son when he was 11 - he’s 14 now. I didn’t go for a custom shape though - I ended up buying him a 7-4 Hobie Peter Pan Slug. It’s an egg shape, it’s floaty, it’s forgiving, it tolerates all kinds of slop wave conditions. Because the board was so accomodating he picked up wave riding much quicker & easier and three years later it’s his favorite !! Hope this helps !!!
Thanks Rich, Surflab We live in Washington, on the Olympic Peninsula and primarily surf beachbreak on the north end. There are pros and cons of having a largly undeveloped coastline and while we don’t have to deal with big crowds typically, we don’t have much of a rental selection available. An Oregon or Washington shaper will get the final nod. We’ll also be buying a board for my 12Y/O daughter but she already has her heart set on a 7’6" egg by Russo (Oregon). I may ask him to decrease the width and thickness slightly depending on what I learn here. Thanks Again SevenTenths
Thanks EC I have thought about going that route, but putting money into the hands of a local/regional shaper won out( the PNW economy kinda stinks). I can think of NO investment that pays out the huge dividends that a surfboard does. Thank you very much for the input. SevenTenths
Fundamentally I agree with Rich, However at the same time hes young and may not want a board that big, we get parents with kids coming in for first time boards alot, parents kind of know what they want but the kids tend to overrule, parents want bigger bulkier and more float while kids want smaller fast and aggressive even if they are just learning, i think your best bet may be to just see what he has in mind, the reality is he has to ride it and even though its a generous gift he may not be truly happy with something that big. We all know how kids are. http://www.paradoxdistribution.com
Thanks Surflab I have a local guy shaping a LB for my wife and I talked to him about the issue yesterday. His suggestion made a lot of sense. Hook the boy up with a thruster in the mid to upper 6’ range and get 7’-7’6" egg for my daughter in the interest of adding diversity to the “family quiver”. Kinda a mix and match trade em around thing. I like it, but I will definitly heed your warning and talk it over with the kids… their wants/expectations may vary. SevenTenths