What size surfboard would suit me best...?

Question

i've never surfed b4, live in nyc with no car so starting at rockaway beach. seen enough people on the train with their boards and it's about time i join them. i'm 5'10 150 lbs, athletic. don't typically like to take structured instruction, would prefer to learn on own with helpful hints from fellow experienced friendly boarders i may encounter. since i've never boarded before, i'm not certain of this but think that i would prefer the shortboard, however have read some saying that the longboard is easier to learn on. is this true? particularly of learning the waves at rockaway beach? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks

Answer 1

what up im from huntington, so i pretty much surf montauk to 84th. just starting, you could get a long board, but they get pricey. or, you could go with a funboard (sometimes called a foamboard, im not sure of its real name). its basically just foam, not glassed over or anything, its pretty thick, long and wide. a lot of people learn on them and progress to a longboard or shortboard. ive been surfing for about 7 years, and when the surf sucks you can still catch pretty much anything on a funboard. i never learned on one, but a lot of surf camps use them. they're also pretty cheap, like 250 to 350, so you dont spend 1000-1200 on a longboard and find out you dont want to do it anymore. or just go to a surf shop, no, not the billabong and quiksilver stores in nyc, those are clothing stores. off the top of my head, idk where the shops are, just check by 84th or 34th.

EDIT

Its summer now, yeah, Rockaway is going to suck. But also, the entire east coast is pretty much going to as well. the waves are way better in the winter. SOFTTOP was the name of the board I was thinking of, its a good beginner board, lets you get a feel for surfing. I guess if youre prepared to take the A train all the way over jamaica you might as well drive out to jones beach, which is a little more consistent and a bit better. As for the guy who said NY is dirty, HAH, and suggested going to  the dirty jerz, dont trust that. i go surf jersey sometimes, yeah, its ok, but theres pretty much turds floating in the line up. i was there last week and there was a gnarly peice of wood with nails just floating around. id take NY over jerz any day.

Answer 2

Start on a longboard mate.

Before you go out for every surf, lay on the sand or your board like your doing a push up. Push yourself up to standing position (with your legs apart) Do this 3-5 times (or more if your fit)

If its cold I suggest you stretch.

Start small. White wash really. Get the feel of laying on a board and getting pushed along. Standing up while moving forward can be a difficult task when your learning.

Stand up in one swift movement (liked you practiced on the beach)

Compose your stance + GO!

Find your natural centre of balance and as you progressively get it balanced you can move to shorter more responsive boards.

NEVER GIVE UP!!!

Answer 3

First I would recommend getting into shape because surfing uses very specific muscles you may not be using now.

You need to do push-ups and bench presses to build your chest muscles, (pecs), so you can push yourself up to stand.

Next you need to do pull-ups or lat pull-downs to work the muscles along your sides, (lats), that you will use to paddle.

A little running will build your cardio and legs muscles.

Then I would take a couple of lessons to get the basics down.

After that it's just going to take time in the water.

I always recommend that beginners get a longboard, (at least 9' long), as these are the easiest to catch waves with and balance on to stand up.

And finally this site has a great article called 'Learn How to Surf in One Day' that I think is terrific:

http://www.BeachTrading.com

Good luck and have fun!!  :-)

Answer 4

My son lives on Staten island (in the USCG) and I believe him when he tells me not to surf at Brooklyn or Rockaway Beach (eventhough there are some ride-able waves there) I don't need to catch any new diseases. I have heard that some guys actually take the subway with their sticks, but that's not for me.

Long island, especially eastern LI, has some GREAT surfing. When Montauk Point is on, you have world class surf. I think you might be happier taking a bus to New Jersey and renting a board when you get there.

There are no RULES for learning how to surf. Go to a good local surf shop and talk to the surfers there. They will give you good advice for what works in the local breaks you will be riding.

Learning to surf is more than just standing up on a surfboard. If you are going to surf, you should be a competent ocean swimmer. Not just good in a pool, but able to swim in the surf, and when the undertow and rips are strong. I have seen lots of good pool swimmers get rescued.

Once you get that far, I would recommend some surf lessons. Go to a REAL surf shop (not a bathing suit store that sells some surfboards). The folks there will rent you a board and hook you up with some lessons. If you are fairly athletic with okay balance, you will learn how to stand up fairly easily. If you don't have pals who already surf and are willing to help you learn, don't count on any 'friendly strangers' helping you in the line up. Much more important, is for you to learn surf etiquette. A good instructor will make sure you understand the "rules" so that everybody else in the water doesn't want to kill you before you get good at surfing.

You need a board that will float you well enough for you to take off (paddle and catch a wave). Your weight and the bouyancy of the board (based on thickness and width) are more important considerations than your height and the length of the board. Most people learn best on long boards, although I have seen lots of surfers start on a short board and master it. Long boards are ideal for learners. There are also good internediate length boards to learn on, funshapes, mini-mals and some hybrids. You can always trade in a board and by a new one when you are ready for a change (or keep your long board. I bought a new long board about 6/7 years ago, and there are some days that it's the perfect board for the conditions).

I started surfing in '66 on a 9'6", but that's what we all rode back then. Like most of the guys I surfed with during the 'short board revolution' we traded in for shorter boards every summer. At your weight, on typical east coast surf, you could easily start on a 8'00" to 8'6" fun shape, or even a softop. Softops are great for beginners, because they don't hurt as much when you get smacked on the noggin, as beginners are inclined to do.

I suggest you go to a local surf shop (a real surf shop, not a bathing suit store that sells some surfboards). The folks there will help you pick a beginner board that is right for your weight, skill level (beginner) and the type of surf you have at you local break.

It is really great t see people who want to surf. But there is nothing more annoying than people who aren't competent ocean swimmers, or capable surfers getting in the way of experienced surfers. I have been surfing for 42 years, and I ride both long and short boards, once you learn (properly) you will have fun for life.

Answer 5

longbord pink

Answer 6

First of all, I started on a shortboard, a very bad idea.  Second of all, I'm glad you've decided to begin surfing =D always good to see some more people starting.  Well, for the 1st board.  Sounds like you need a 9'0 longboard, that'd be your best bet.  I'd go with a custom shaper in your case because I really don't know exactly what waves on Rockaway beach are like, I could imagine they are on the smaller side.  So, for the tips to start surfing, first of all, do not start off by getting up on your knees and standing up.  This is a very bad habit and is hard to break.  On the beach dig a small hole for your fin to be put in and than jump up on your board by pushing up from the rails and onto the top of your board with no other motion in between.  This is something that you can practice anywhere.  I've been surfing 5 years and still do it on my indo-board.  And by the way, I'd suggest getting an indo-board for in home practice.  I use one and it is great =D.  I think they are around $100 or so, not bad.  And back to the standing part.  When you start surfing go and surf the white-wash or "white-waters" which I call it.  It's the break of the wave and the white foamy water that is left after the wave crashes.  Do this for about 10 hours of overall being out in the water.  Than move onto getting on the wave.  To get on a wave don't grab your rail and pull into it, start out with your board facing diagnolly from the breaking wave and going to the left or right.  It takes almost no time at all to catch onto which way to go, just look down each side of the wave as you are paddling and take whichever one looks like it'll last the longest.  Than put your standing up motion that you practiced in action.  Gradually you will learn tricks and than become a great surfer, good luck  and I hope this helped =D