help me pick out my first short board

[radripperaj]

hey thanks for all that info bethany. do you know of a website that i can look at used surfboards? is there something like an ebay of used surfboards or something like that? also which do you think is better for someone transitioning from long board to shorter board? a fish or a shortboard?

dlrouen i checked out that firewire addvanced. it actually seemed like something i would be interested in. now i will have to see if i can find one used.

Thanks for all yalls help
AJ

[wave1rider65]

Your instincts and budget are both giving you good advice: Dont spend a lot of money. You're experimenting with board lengths that are 2+ feet shorter than the longboard you've been riding. You really dont know what you wnat/need. Chances are you're going to be on a learning curve finding out whether your going to like...maybe a big guy shortboard, small funshape, fish, or some other hybrid shape.

My advice is DONT get a custom local shape (out of your budget, you dont know what you want), DONT rent (waste of $), and DONT shape (you dont have any idea what shape to make, and if you hate it you wont know whether you messed up shaping or the shape you made just isnt right)

visit some shops with used board racks and talk to a few of them before making a decision. You dont even need to spend $350. I'd be thinking closer $275 if I were you in this situation. Used boards hold their value better than ANY other option.

Pay $300 for a decent used board this summer, and when you decide you want something different next summer it will still be worth at least $200 assuming you didnt bust it up. NO other option gives you that much flexibility.

Why would you think a local shaper would be way out of his budget?????? I get boards under 7' all day long for $400 to $500 from my local shaper.....Much better than the $700+ Firewire someone referenced. When we say custom boards we arent talking about industry famous people who charge an arm and a leg for a stick that many times isnt even shaped by them but by an apprentice and just has their name on it. We are talking about area people who have been shaping and glassing just as long as most and just dont have the publicity of better known shapers. I guarantee any local custom made for his size will outlast a store bought stick that isnt made to handle his frame also. It's more practical to spend just a little more than to waste money on a used board that most likely wont even make it through the summer...............

[Dudicles]

hey thanks for all that info bethany. do you know of a website that i can look at used surfboards? is there something like an ebay of used surfboards or something like that? also which do you think is better for someone transitioning from long board to shorter board? a fish or a shortboard?

dlrouen i checked out that firewire addvanced. it actually seemed like something i would be interested in. now i will have to see if i can find one used.

Thanks for all yalls help
AJ

When I was looking I searched craigslist every day. Also every opportunity I had a popped in a surf shop to look at their used boards. I talked to a bunch of the guys that worked there and some of my friends and like I said settled on a nice 6'6" fish for $350. I think the fish still has some stability since it is wider and is a good transition from a longboard to a short board. I noticed boards under $300 in that size range usually had a bunch of repairs or seemed really old and yellowed. I think $350 will get you a real nice board.

[South Bethany]

Why would you think a local shaper would be way out of his budget??????...

Because he said he was looking to spend $350. I personally don't think $350 is an appropriate price for a well made locally shaped board, by someone experienced in shaping and glassing. Building a custom board is a craft, and involves exposure to hazardous materials. They shouldnt make like $10/hr for their work and at $350 they'd be lucky to make that. Just my 2 cents.

I agree a Firewire is an awful idea.

I've had good luck buying quality used boards , often good local shapes traded in after what looks like less than ten uses, and getting years out of them.

[radripperaj]

ok so no firewire, although i do think those dimensions are what im kind of looking for. so maybe i could talk to a local surfer and show him that is what im thinking might be good? or should i just go to the surfer tell him my abilities and where i surf and just let him do his thing? if they can do it for 400 i could probably do that without feeling too bad. i will check craigslist a lot as well.

Thanks for all your help guys. i really appreciate it.

[South Bethany]

If you decide to go the locally shaped direction, i know a couple of bigger guys up here in Maryland that ALWAYS get their boards custom shaped by Kelly Richards (Perfection Surfboards), who is from your area. These guys are in the 200+ lb. range and always seem to be riding something that is around 6'10" and maybe 21" wide and 2 7/8" thick.

[wave1rider65]

If you decide to go the locally shaped direction, i know a couple of bigger guys up here in Maryland that ALWAYS get their boards custom shaped by Kelly Richards (Perfection Surfboards), who is from your area. These guys are in the 200+ lb. range and always seem to be riding something that is around 6'10" and maybe 21" wide and 2 7/8" thick.

Now this I do agree on because Perfections are suited for bigger guys and they are a solid made stick. Good info. As for his $350 budget if he put that down he could most likely come up with another $100 by the time his board is completed, on average a 6 week period and have one made exactly for him. Sweetwater in Wrightsville sells new and used Perfections at a decent price but id contact Richards directly for the best deal.

[radripperaj]

ok i will look into perfection surfboards. im not stuck on 350 i can do a hair more. im just going to have to take a lil bit of a verbal lashing from my wife in order to spend a lil more lol

oh i was looking at mckelvins shop in folly, and i was looking at some of the brands they offer and browsing their websites. the bing puck looks kind of what im looking for. the 6'6" version

http://www.bingsurf.com/surfboards_puck

is that a good company/board?

once again guys thanks for all yalls help. also if any of yall surf in sc or souther nc let me know im always looking for some new people to surf with and take pointers from.

thanks AJ

[wave1rider65]

ok i will look into perfection surfboards. im not stuck on 350 i can do a hair more. im just going to have to take a lil bit of a verbal lashing from my wife in order to spend a lil more lol

oh i was looking at mckelvins shop in folly, and i was looking at some of the brands they offer and browsing their websites. the bing puck looks kind of what im looking for. the 6'6" version

http://www.bingsurf.com/surfboards_puck

is that a good company/board?

once again guys thanks for all yalls help. also if any of yall surf in sc or souther nc let me know im always looking for some new people to surf with and take pointers from.

thanks AJ

Very Good.............But Very Costly as well......Look at the Bing Quad Q2.....Get a 6'8 to 7' shaped like that and you'll be good to go. Id stay closer to the upper end of that scale. Take a pic of that shape to a shaper and see what he can do for ya.

[dlrouen]

ok i will look into perfection surfboards. im not stuck on 350 i can do a hair more. im just going to have to take a lil bit of a verbal lashing from my wife in order to spend a lil more lol

oh i was looking at mckelvins shop in folly, and i was looking at some of the brands they offer and browsing their websites. the bing puck looks kind of what im looking for. the 6'6" version

http://www.bingsurf.com/surfboards_puck

is that a good company/board?

once again guys thanks for all yalls help. also if any of yall surf in sc or souther nc let me know im always looking for some new people to surf with and take pointers from.

thanks AJ

The Addvance's beveled rails are awesome and Firewire boards hold up pretty nice - not "indestructible," but very strong. Also, I am not saying that every Firewire board is a sick ride and worth the price - I am saying that the Addvance's design is a fun shape for all surfers and great for surfers who are looking to downsize. It might be worth to play around with the Addvance's dimensions with your local shaper.

Bing boards are great, but expensive. The Puck is a lot of fun, but you need the surf to be on your side. If you are into that kind of board, check out their Speed Square. Looks like a lot of fun, but again, you need the waves.