New Board - What do I get?

[chappo]

Want to buy my first new board - need some tips guys!

I started surfing about 5-6 years ago (with a 2 year break in UK)...and am at beginner/intermediate level. Can stand up & wiggle a bit!!

Have been using a 6’4” 18 1/2” 21/4” for the last 4 years.
I’m approx. 175cm & 67kg.

I don’t know anything about boards….is it worth me getting one shaped for myself when I am so clueless?? – or just go for an off the rack recommended by a decent surf shop?

Any tips highly appreciated.

[bumfluff]

I'm looking your way Pridmore....

[crabmeat thompson]

A 7'6" mini mal is useless for intents and purposes. Unless of course there is a sizable frangipani decal on it. Then it becomes one lean, mean, wave fighting machine.

[steve shearer]

Buy a gimp mask.

Stake out Maroubra.

When you see a slightly chubby guy with really long arms paddle out on a mini-mal follow him and stick to him like glue.
If he paddles you paddle.

Got it?

Report back with your progress.

[chappo]

Maybe I undersold myself a bit...I can do a bit more than wiggle...I can do turns...

I have done the whole min-mal thing...I prefer the smaller board because it's a lot easier to manoeuvre...

Thanks for the Maroubra tip - haha

[Cpt.Caveman]

Buy a gimp mask.

Stake out Maroubra.

When you see a slightly chubby guy with really long arms paddle out on a mini-mal follow him and stick to him like glue.
If he paddles you paddle.

Got it?

Report back with your progress.

Careful, he may turn around and make a large "mkawwwwwwww!" noise while sticking his chin out at you and dropping his head lower....

[Grooter]

Buy a gimp mask.

Stake out Maroubra.

When you see a slightly chubby guy with really long arms paddle out on a mini-mal follow him and stick to him like glue.
If he paddles you paddle.

Got it?

Report back with your progress.

Careful, he may turn around and make a large "mkawwwwwwww!" noise while sticking his chin out at you and dropping his head lower....

[JET01]

If it's the same guy i've seen Iggy, he's on a Dartboard with a yellow rail band. Not only is it a minimal, but a shitbox chinese pop up at that.
I've never seen anyone shred on a minimal like this guy.
I can't remember the last time i was at Maroubra, could've been the day Salty, Oldman, you and I met up at the bra to test the fat bat.

Mate just go to a shaper. Most people in surfshops will bum-steer you just to make a sale.
Check out Miller, More, Pure, or Mark Rabbidge, or if you've got some $$$ to spare, go big and give Josh Dowling a buzz, you'll be stoked on one of his fancy sticks.
I'd be going for something like 6'4 Miller Waterskate if i was you. Paddles like a minimal but goes like a shorter board. I used a 6'8 to come down from Minimals and still surf it 2 years later. Great board in mush and clean waves.

[JET01]

That's him...

He absolutely shreds.

[alakaboo]

I think anyone who surfs north maroubra knows that bloke.I think he's a swimming coach from chatting to him? he said he only started to turn harder to show people not to drop in on him just because he has a minimal, then he liked the speed so he stuck with it.

okay, so now we've established that a big guy from Maroubra can surf a shit board well, perhaps we should return to the original question?
i know it's not in the spirit of RS, but maybe Chappo could use some help.

chappo, your board is too long. your other dimensions seem okay, though it depends on shape and foil. you could have heaps of volume or not much at all. try going shorter, i.e. 6' might be a good start, 6'2" if you want to take it slowly. though you could end up on something sub 6 foot because you aren't all that heavy.
it depends where you live, and what sort of waves you ride, how well you paddle, and how much volume you like (etc. etc.), but generally your shortboard is around the same as your height.

in my opinion, buying new off the rack is a waste of money. you can always get 'as new' boards for hundreds less if you're patient and go to a decent shop. if you're going to pay the extra for the newy, then at least talk to a shaper to make it worthwhile, especially if you are truly clueless. plenty of suggestions on here, and if you aren't close to any of them then find someone local.

[steve shearer]

[quote="iggy"]found some ok footage of him surfing some smallish fat soupy junk but you get the gist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y77foka1r7s


I've never used this before but LMAO.

A Brazzo flapping and arse wiggling his way to shore on a one foot day at the Bra on some chinese popout mini-mal sure seals the argument.
The highlight was definitely the bunny hop over the little shorey; but where was the claim?
The guy disrespects his countrymen.

Can't wait now for the IT geek who rips to show up doing his alley oop in the shorey during a club round for NN boardriders.

Holy fcuk Iggs, whatever you're on I'll have a double dose. It must be unreal.

[steve shearer]

Fcuk, you've shattered my whole world Iggs.
I'm quaking in my slightly used maroon XXXX Gold thongs.

Horror of horror's a Brazzo on a mini-mal and an IT geek surf better than me.

I don't know how I can go on.

PLease post some footy of the IT Geek so I can jump off a tall building with a clear conscience.

[steve shearer]

Yeah, I know that footage has devvoed me.
Why isn't that guy on tour?

Please don't tell me now that you swung a sideways glance in the NN dunnies and the IT geek has a ten inch ckock.
I can only stomach so much humiliation in one day.

[crabmeat thompson]

This whole seagull shtick is actually effecting Iggy. He is now spotting surf talent, as you would expect a seagull to. It's incredible and worrisome all at once.

I'm suspicious he is taking the piss with the flailing brazillian kook surfing an oversized egg in a mushy shore dump and pronouncing him an all world talent. If not, it's pure entertainment.

Post another video Iggy ... Maybe you could run some of your own commentary over the top of it and really blow my mind?

[crabmeat thompson]

If I were to imagine Pauline Menczer having both legs amputated and taping two mannequin legs to her torso with cellotape, paddling out into 1 foot slop and surfing an over sized egg in a shorey, I would arrive at your video.

You could always manage him and send this footage to the big three in search of sponsorship dollars and endorsement deals.

Report back here with your progress.

[Grooter]

Praying to jesus to make you a better surfer than mini-mal mush-man won't save you now god boy



The seagull is coming....

[alakaboo]

fuel for the fire...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_VX6QoV ... re=related

and for iggy's mancrush!

[Skipper]

I'm quaking in my slightly used maroon XXXX Gold thongs.