THis is my first post here. I have done alot of research here and at another forum, and I want to buy my first surfboard. I’ve never surfed before, but i think i’ll pick it up quickly, as i have been longboard (skatboarding) for many years and I also wakeboard and wakestae regularly. So i’d like to keep my budget around 200 for a used board. I am thinking of a couple boards, and I would like to know which one is best. ( I am 5’9" 150 lbs)
They are the Al Merrick flyer 1 in 6’2"
A Rusty Piranha, 6’
Both of those board I have found for decent prices used. I have also seen a 6’6" flyer with bag and leash for cheap, would this be way too big? I’m going to be surfing around socal and would like to learn to do cutbacks and such eventually. Iv’e also seen a Becker 6’2" shortboard for only 125$, would this be better for a first board?
One more thing, there is also a guy who has a Merrick that is supposedly 5 years old and was only made for one season. It is a tri plane four channel hull board. I have never heard of it, but it is in fair condition and going for 200$.
hmm alright. I have seen that most people do start on longer boards, so I will definetely try to get one borrowed. My friend has a funboard, and assuming I can get it and learn to ride it, then which of the board would i want?
Just trying to avoid buying a funboard or something and growing out of it.
one thing to keep in mind: surfboards tend to sell for about what you bought them for. Not that I think this makes sense, but it’s the way it is. If you wanted to start on a larger board, you could sell it when you’re ready and pick up another second hand board without spending too much. Might be worth it.
hmm…okay. Not to be stubborn lol, but I think I have my heart set on a shortboard. but I will definetely try and get out first on a longer board. I know I will struggle for awhile learning on such a shortboard, but it’s cool since I live semi close to the beach and will just ride bike there every morning.
learning on a shortboard sucks. My first rides were on a 9’6" log, then learned to stand and actually trim on a 7’6" and 9 ft longboard . . .
go with other’s advice . . . learn to ride the white water (broken waves), just get the feel of standing and riding across moving water. Then do turns and trim across the the white water. Once you can do this pretty good, start to try and catch green (unbroken waves) waves.
shortboards barely catch whitewater, which was key for my surfing improvement. In my humble opinion, I feel learning on a thruster it is possible, but the learning time is increased alot . . .
That said, the Flyer is the best small wave thruster for an intermediate surfer. It can catch 1 footers and go. It is forgiving, and just great in small waves. You can pull maneuvers on small waves. But once waves get OH (over head) high, the flyer is too squirrelly (can’t hold etc), and you have to nurse the turns.
If you do want to learn on a thruster, I have a 6’2 Flyer (ridden only twice) that I’ll let go for $280 (sways special), local San Diego pickup (I can go up to Oceanside) only. No dings / delaminations on it. The reason why I’m letting it go is because it isn’t responsive (I like the MBM better) enough for me and if the waves are too small for the mbm I’ll be snorkling or something . . .
get the flyer . . . thats has a lot of volume. The Piranha is like my CJ fishy I just sold . . . its geared for back footed surfing … . it will be loose and feel more unstable than the Flyer. I started out on longboards, hence I tend to trim w/ front, and turn with back foot . . . The becker has a balanced out thruster in terms of wide point . . . .but it looks like your average thruster, less volume than a flyer . . . harder to catch waves.
You want a board easier to surf, the flyer seems like the easiest . . .
THis is my first post here. I have done alot of research here and at another forum, and I want to buy my first surfboard. I’ve never surfed before, but i think i’ll pick it up quickly, as i have been longboard (skatboarding) for many years and I also wakeboard and wakestae regularly. So i’d like to keep my budget around 200 for a used board. I am thinking of a couple boards, and I would like to know which one is best. ( I am 5’9" 150 lbs)
They are the Al Merrick flyer 1 in 6’2"
A Rusty Piranha, 6’
Both of those board I have found for decent prices used. I have also seen a 6’6" flyer with bag and leash for cheap, would this be way too big? I’m going to be surfing around socal and would like to learn to do cutbacks and such eventually. Iv’e also seen a Becker 6’2" shortboard for only 125$, would this be better for a first board?
Thanks!
yea sorry i am here late but what plus one said about surfing being really difficult to pick up as opposed to skateboarding and other board sports. I know a skater in my school was was very talented by 5th grade and told me before we went off to different middle schools he was going to learn to surf. when we went to highschool i asked him if he ever took surfing up “nah man, i got this 9’6” board with my dad in northcarolina for a month and i never gotanywhere with it."
my advice to you is go with a nice fat ugly wide retro well beaten used board. the stability and the weight of the board make it a ton easier. I remember when i was like 10 i could definetly get up and turn, set a line on his old g&s magic but he picked up this 6’2" late80’s thruster at a garage sale with a light glass job. i never rode a wave to unstable and the weight of that old glass really helped me get going down the face.
Just like everyone else has said, AVOID the curse of the short board. Learning on them is incredibly hard, and you will get much better, and enjoy yourself alot more on a bigger board. Its a huge mistake to think you can get a 6’6’’ thruster type ride and get out and use it. First of all there is the paddling factor, catching waves, getting your pop up dialed, and thats tjust the beginning. Go Bigger, get use to the ocean, and learn how to read it. Use the stability of a bigger board to figure out your pop up. And, one day if you still think you need a short board get one then.