Hello everyone, I just picked up a Shane Smith surf board. The dimensions are 6'7", 14 3/4", 20 1/2", 16 5/8", 2 3/8". I payed 50 bucks for it and it seems likes its in good shape. Needs a minor repair on the bottom of the tail though as it looks like someone rested it on concrete too much. I'm new to surfing but not new to board sports. I skateboarded my whole life and became pretty good. I'm in decent shape. I'm 5'11" and weigh 195lbs (mostly muscle). I just ordered a Hyperflex 4/3 amp wetsuit for 125 on amazon. Its blue/silver but cost half the price of the black ones so whatever I'm not making a fashion statement. I ordered a body glove hoodie too. All I should need now is booties and gloves. What do you guys think? Will this setup work for me? I'm eager to get out there. Here are some pics of the board. I will be surfing Southern Maine area. Thanks, Joe
The board seems on the small side to learn on but you should be fine.the 4/3 won't work in the middle of winter,you need atleast a 5/4..you will need 5m gloves and 7m boots..
Yea I just gotta get out there and try it out. I feel pretty confident in this board when I stand next to it. Seems like its on the thicker side. I didn't want a long board. I believe this is an egg? When the air temp gets above freezing and we have some waves, I'm gonna try it out.
it should work fine but will take lots of effort. learning to surf is no joke and takes a lot of practice. Definetly be on the thicker side with your wetsuits boots and gloves for winter. you can never be too warm in the winter.
Def. will put a lot of effort in. Thanks for the input guys. I'm gonna get some 5m gloves and 7m booties like surfislife said.
4/3 will be daaamn cold on days like today...6 degrees here in MA. No waves but kinda happy about that since I would probably be out there freezing my face off. But yea, you will probably be able to get out there for at least and hour or so when you get a day in the 40's. Just keep moving around to stay warm.
Looks like a pretty decent begginner stick to me. Just keep paddling out bro. Its gonna be 3 or 4 months of lookin like a total douche out there. Your not going to have fun. We will laugh at you. We'll call you a kook, a poser, and drop in on you every chance we get. Get used to it. Its the price of admission. Trust me, its worth it.
I think, for your weight this board is too short for you. There are more to the surfing than just balancing on a board. Like idsmashh said you are not going to have fun for a very long time. If you want more pleasant experience then get at least 9' soft board and learn how to catch waves and just how to be in the ocean. And then ease into shorter boards...
Layer up, with a rash guard. I surfed with a 4/3 all winter 2 or 3 years ago. If you go a lot and are as stubborn as I am you'll be standing up within two weeks. I learned on a skinny 6'2" but I'm a lot smaller than you (5'6" 150lbs). Good luck
I knew I didn't want a long board. Just seemed kinda limiting. This board seems good. I know surfing isnt just balancing on a board. The hard part for me will be to catch a wave and get into stance position. Once I get that dialed I'll be fine.
I think you'll have a blast. Get ready to be humbled though. If your determined you can learn on anything. That board looks pretty fun to me and for 50 bucks its a steal. Your suits a little thin though. I would go 7 mil on the boots and gloves. Lobsters or mittens.
Yea bro I am stoked for ya board looks good! Dont need a longboard to learn a shorter egg is good! I would be more concerned about your suit. A 4/3 in Maine in the Winter must be cold up there most of us in Jersey are in 5/4's but once you get into it and have a year under your belt you will know what you need part of the fun of learning something new is learning what kind of gear you need etc.. I started surfing with half a wet suit and my buddy wore the other half haha looking back we must have looked like idiots but we didnt care!!! Anyway if you get too cold then wait for warmer water and learn then next year you will have bought a thicker suit. Seems like your stoked so you shouldn have any issues you love it!!
Agree. Surfing is one of the toughest things to pick up. You will spend months getting pounded by waves, never riding anything. Once it all clicks you though will be happy you suffered through the beginning months, there is no feeling like riding a wave. The main difference between surfing and other board spots like skateboarding or snowboarding is the ground under you board is in constant motion. You cant just stand on a surfboard and ride a wave like you can just stand on a skateboard and push, you need to learn to catch the wave which is much harder than it may seem. Stick with it no matter how many times you get pounded by a set or thrown over the falls its all worth it.
Honestly, i hate how everyone always says to start with a 9 foot soft board then keep moving down to shorter boards until you eventually hit a short board because no one has that kind of money. Like every one, im guessing your on a budget and $50 for that board looks like a great deal and it should be a perfect starter board. I started with my sister's 7'2 surf better and like other people have stated, yeah i got laughed at. But, now barely a year later i am on a 6'1 short board and having little to no trouble. Just stick to it and don't give up.
soft board no, but 9ft board yes. everyone says to use one because it is a lot more stable to learn to pop up on.
Yea budget is tight and $50 sounded right. I know I'll look like a fool but I don't care. I've got some local friends who surf and I'll just tag along with them. It's been so cold here lately. I'm gonna wait for it to warm up a bit.
You will be cold, you will get frustrated, but I have lots of respect for you trying it out in winter. Keep in mind that once the water temp drops below 40, it generally does not return to over 40 until mid april.... One thing I would recommend, if you really don't care about looking like an idiot, put your board down on the sand and practice popping up several times before you hit the water. Avoid getting up onto one knee.
Cool thanks fisurf I was wondering when the water will start to warm up. I know beginning of may when the water hits 52 degrees the stripers start running around here.
Yea tell that to my friend who learned on a 6'0 flyer and was bottom turning in waist to chest high surf in one month of learning. You obv don't know anything about skating if you can skate a bowls, QPs, HPs, than you should have no problem what so ever learning on a HPS. The only thing that would be hard is just the knowledge you need to surf like where to paddle out ETC etc. You can also tell that to my dad, and experienced surfer who dropped into a QP first try considering hes never touched a skateboard in his life. Take this from someone who skates and surfs well: take away the fact that you need knowledge on how to paddle out, wave selection, etc.. and THEY ARE sooooooooooooooo similar its not even funny. theres more to skating then just pushing down the street you have never seen someone skate a pool or bowl so don't act like you know what your talking about no offence... P.S. to the guy who made this thread.. dont listen to them you can learn on a HPS if you are experienced with boardsports
