First post. So go easy on me legends.
First board time. I've decided Im going to try and go custom. Reason being. 1, I'm a fat ass. 2, I have no idea what I'm looking at board condition wise with dings,repairs etc.
Im unfortunately not a money bags. So I imagine Mct are out my price range. But can anyone recommended anyone decent around the local area? ClearWater seems to get a good rap around here.
Whats your budget ?
Yes mc's are pricy, yes a few Clearwater fans in here, Steve is a super nice guy with a solid following.
My tip is contact Asea he is selling boards weekly.
Mac, I was hoping to spend around $1000.
I really have no idea what a custom goes for. So I could be wayyy of the mark with my budget.
Select to expand quotebeefys said..
Mac, I was hoping to spend around $1000.
I really have no idea what a custom goes for. So I could be wayyy of the mark with my budget.
1k is good coin but it won't get you a custom from a good shaper. Perhaps call mct or clearwater they may have a few good second hand boards in stock. Good to see you are chasing local and not the plastic rubbish
Phew. I was worried about calling Clearwater and lowballing the poor bugger. Hence asking here first. Glad I did.
Change of thread direction. I'm about 90kg, what sort of dims should I be looking for?
Select to expand quotebeefys said..
Mac, I was hoping to spend around $1000.
I really have no idea what a custom goes for. So I could be wayyy of the mark with my budget.
What's your experience level?
See most of the legends in here are die hard Aussie or nothin, and fair call on that.
But if like me you are tight on coin then you need to consider what is fit for purpose and make the choice to either go with something local that is recognised and will hold resale value.
Or go with a plastic fantastic that you are not afraid to get some knocks in and is fit for purpose.
If you go the plastic, I would suggest you check out Torq boards, they come up on seconds pages like Gumtree and Facebook marketplace used, in good nick and around 40% of your budget.
I had one for a week and was very impressed with it even though it didn't like hauling my lard around.
And whilst your finding your feet or fitness or whatever you can then scratch some pennies together to put towards the board of your dreams that wont end up bashed and beaten.
Still try Clear Water as well, that guy is more than a half decent human, he quite often has seconds go through his shop at really decent prices as well.
Best of luck with it mate.
Select to expand quotebeefys said..
Phew. I was worried about calling Clearwater and lowballing the poor bugger. Hence asking here first. Glad I did.
Change of thread direction. I'm about 90kg, what sort of dims should I be looking for?
I'm 85kg and target around 45L minimum, length for me between 6'10 and over. But that's me in midlength board land.
Lot's of guys here are long sticks and will be pushing around 65L or more which will float your boat easily.
If you're a bit wobbly go for some width which brings stability.
Then............ start rippin the crap outta it 
Select to expand quoteMacaha said..beefys said..
Mac, I was hoping to spend around $1000.
I really have no idea what a custom goes for. So I could be wayyy of the mark with my budget.
1k is good coin but it won't get you a custom from a good shaper. Perhaps call mct or clearwater they may have a few good second hand boards in stock. Good to see you are chasing local and not the plastic rubbish
Really Mac? I can get a good custom from a number of places for less than that?
Well I could if I had a lazy 1k.
Select to expand quotebeefys said..
Phew. I was worried about calling Clearwater and lowballing the poor bugger. Hence asking here first. Glad I did.
Change of thread direction. I'm about 90kg, what sort of dims should I be looking for?
No harm making a call and discuss pricing who knows,,also ask them the shapers or the experienced staff for dims/vol.
Select to expand quoteHydromann said..Macaha said..beefys said..
Mac, I was hoping to spend around $1000.
I really have no idea what a custom goes for. So I could be wayyy of the mark with my budget.
1k is good coin but it won't get you a custom from a good shaper. Perhaps call mct or clearwater they may have a few good second hand boards in stock. Good to see you are chasing local and not the plastic rubbish
Really Mac? I can get a good custom from a number of places for less than that?
Well I could if I had a lazy 1k.
Not here mate,,if you are talking the two brands mentioned and lets not forget if you fins are not included add 100 plus.
There are a couple of guys in here who have a close relationship with clearwater who may have more knowledge than me.
Hydro, I'm a complete beginner mate. Leaning more towards longboards. It's like a dance really. I don't think I'll ever be a ripper. But I'm happy to just be able to cruise.
Mac, have seen the creative army boards. I noticed surfstitch sells them. Are these considered pop outs?
Select to expand quotebeefys said..
Hydro, I'm a complete beginner mate. Leaning more towards longboards. It's like a dance really. I don't think I'll ever be a ripper. But I'm happy to just be able to cruise.
Mac, have seen the creative army boards. I noticed surfstitch sells them. Are these considered pop outs?
One of the boys in here had a custom made nice board mate, no idea about the surfstitch boards
$1000 for a "first board", absolute crazy talk, no way...your in Qld man. Boards are a dime a dozen in the longboard department.
If your a beginner, look at a softop longboard, they do less damage to themselves, you & others.
Customs are for people who know their abilities & have some idea on how a board change will improve their waveriding in the waves they ride.
If your really keen on a fibreglass board, look in gumtree for a board about 9 to 10 foot up to about $500.
You should be looking at a softop, 8'5 to 9'0 for your first board mate. An 8'5 softop will paddle & catch waves better than a 9'5 firebreglass longboard. And at the end of the day when your ready to step up to a fibreglass board your likely to get a better return on your first board provided you didn't leave it in the sun or car. If you go the softop, just make sure it does not have "bubbles" from being left in the sun.
You can get a hand shape from dick van for 1k- drop by the board room in Miami Ricky and Antonio will get you sorted
Select to expand quoteMickPC said..
$1000 for a "first board", absolute crazy talk, no way...your in Qld man. Boards are a dime a dozen in the longboard department.
If your a beginner, look at a softop longboard, they do less damage to themselves, you & others.
Customs are for people who know their abilities & have some idea on how a board change will improve their waveriding in the waves they ride.
If your really keen on a fibreglass board, look in gumtree for a board about 9 to 10 foot up to about $500.
You should be looking at a softop, 8'5 to 9'0 for your first board mate. An 8'5 softop will paddle & catch waves better than a 9'5 firebreglass longboard. And at the end of the day when your ready to step up to a fibreglass board your likely to get a better return on your first board provided you didn't leave it in the sun or car. If you go the softop, just make sure it does not have "bubbles" from being left in the sun.
Good advice from MickPC.
Hence why I was asking about experience, really go for fit for purpose over style as your first board brother.
Thanks legends!
My thinking with the custom was just knowing that it would actually do what a larger beginner needs the board to do. No doubt I would have cried everytime I marked/dinged the bloody thing.
Haven't considered a foam board. I will look into them.
Select to expand quotebeefys said..
Thanks legends!
My thinking with the custom was just knowing that it would actually do what a larger beginner needs the board to do. No doubt I would have cried everytime I marked/dinged the bloody thing.
Haven't considered a foam board. I will look into them.
Just a suggestion.
Not everyone's cuppa tea, but why not have a crack through a reputable surf school?
They've got the softies and a wealth of good tips to not just get you to your feet but to do so with the right gear.
Also they will teach you surf safety, how to read the beach, waves and rips.
Yeah it's gonna be a few lessons and a few Bob but money well spent, and the good Lord knows that the coaches will be egar for the work and coin.
You should have plenty left over for a half decent board as well.
Good luck matey.
Lets face it foam boards are pigs to ride unless you are a good surfer,I would skip this step and go straight to a good second hand board.I've seen near new for 700 bucks on gumtree or get on the phone and call the store to check available stock.
Unless your a real clumsy person your not going to break the thing, as learning you will want to be out of the way from the pack in the line up so this lessons the chance of impact with others anyway.
Go for volume it will help you with many many aspects of learning and although I am heavier than you my shaper who I use keeps drumming that into me good luck
Still reckon go the surf school option.
They will put you on a foam board to begin, so you can see and feel exactly what they are like.
Coaches will know what will suit your skill level and likely make good recommendations.
If you are dead set wanting to jump on a hard shell from the get go at a budget check out Sanctum Surf on line
I've only ever bought find off them but wished they did a specific board in a bigger size for me.
Not 100 % sure where made but the talk clearly about each boards construction and using Australian surf blanks for the foam.
Good luck
This is like Hot seat millionaire which one you going to choose. Foam board from a surf school or a real surfboard from Clearwater I know which button I'd press CW please lock it in Eddie
Select to expand quotebeefys said..
Hydro, I'm a complete beginner mate. Leaning more towards longboards. It's like a dance really. I don't think I'll ever be a ripper. But I'm happy to just be able to cruise.
Mac, have seen the creative army boards. I noticed surfstitch sells them. Are these considered pop outs?
Hey mate .... so the creative army boards on sirfstitch are GSI .. yes made in China but also yes a great shape and user friendly.
Go the 9'6 five sugars if you are in that size range.
Select to expand quoteMacaha said..
This is like Hot seat millionaire which one you going to choose. Foam board from a surf school or a real surfboard from Clearwater I know which button I'd press CW please lock it in Eddie
Sorry Mac but the correct answer was.....
D. Try before you buy.
Crashed out on the million dollar question buddy 
That does not mean buy a softie from a surf school, it just means small steps, get a feel for what you want and have a crack before you spend hard earned coin.
Old mates not surfed before, let alone sure of the type of surfing he wants to do, and based on his description of fitness, age and ability it would be unwise to jump in the deep end for him, and also others in the line up if he's trundling around in the wave zone obstructing everyone.
Surf school should hopefully not just give him the fundamentals of actual surfing but should explain some surf etiquette to him as well as safety.
However, I do agree go the CW option once he's sure of wanting to keep at it and knows his skill and limits.
Select to expand quoteHydromann said..
Still reckon go the surf school option.
They will put you on a foam board to begin, so you can see and feel exactly what they are like.
Coaches will know what will suit your skill level and likely make good recommendations.
If you are dead set wanting to jump on a hard shell from the get go at a budget check out Sanctum Surf on line
I've only ever bought find off them but wished they did a specific board in a bigger size for me.
Not 100 % sure where made but the talk clearly about each boards construction and using Australian surf blanks for the foam.
Good luck
Made in China. They are good designs, but soft glass jobs. Theyll will dent if you look at them sideways. There's another option, Sideways surf. They are mostly made in Indo I think.
I'll also throw dealing with diverse direct in there as an option. Think he is up that way and the JB model I have is a great board.
Mick's post nails it though start of on something cheap and even soft. A few lessons is a good idea too. No point spending a grand to start with.
The only difference between a beginner on a softie and a beginner on a top end board is the price they paid to get in the way
Select to expand quoteSP said..Hydromann said..
Still reckon go the surf school option.
They will put you on a foam board to begin, so you can see and feel exactly what they are like.
Coaches will know what will suit your skill level and likely make good recommendations.
If you are dead set wanting to jump on a hard shell from the get go at a budget check out Sanctum Surf on line
I've only ever bought find off them but wished they did a specific board in a bigger size for me.
Not 100 % sure where made but the talk clearly about each boards construction and using Australian surf blanks for the foam.
Good luck
Made in China. They are good designs, but soft glass jobs. Theyll will dent if you look at them sideways. There's another option, Sideways surf. They are mostly made in Indo I think.
I'll also throw dealing with diverse direct in there as an option. Think he is up that way and the JB model I have is a great board.
Mick's post nails it though start of on something cheap and even soft. A few lessons is a good idea too. No point spending a grand to start with.
The only difference between a beginner on a softie and a beginner on a top end board is the price they paid to get in the way
Wow they give the allusion of being Aussie made. I guess at that price point it's a dead give away.
As for Indo boards.............. Meh.
My Webber Diamond was an indo job and it dented if I looked sideways at it and then folded under minimal pressure.
I would take a Carbon Jet for build quality over the Webber any day, but a Webber for performance over the Carbon Jet every other day.
The Torq I had for a week was tough as nuts though, it copped (or should I say we copped) a hiding and a bashing on a heavy bank break the other week. I nearly drowned but the board came through with flying colours.
So when I eventually get around to being rich enough for even a cheap board I'm hitting the Torq 6'10 TET-CS Fish.
And yes I can hear the hissing and screaming already. Feel free to enlighten me with options that offer the same build quality, performance, fin layouts and value that are Aussie made. I searched and searched and can not find anything. BTW I'm scrounging for a used one.
Your Webber was Thai.
Im Sure it explains it on Sanctum site somewhere that they are made in China with Aussie material.
As for the Indo boards at sideways heard afew good reports about them they are made in Indo by a NZer.
Select to expand quoteSP said..
Your Webber was Thai.
Im Sure it explains it on Sanctum site somewhere that they are made in China with Aussie material.
As for the Indo boards at sideways heard afew good reports about them they are made in Indo by a NZer.
Sorry Webber was Indo, moment of madness.
The Torq is Tiawan and an absolute pop out from a blow mold.
Still they did a really good job on the shape before commencing the aluminium mold. Big $ in alloy moods, I've had a few made for parts and n my line of work.
Anyhow off topic... Again.
Select to expand quoteSP said..
Your Webber was Thai.
Im Sure it explains it on Sanctum site somewhere that they are made in China with Aussie material.
As for the Indo boards at sideways heard afew good reports about them they are made in Indo by a NZer.
Hit them up for a check and all FCS.
I'm futures equipped.
And again off topic
Soft birds for beginners. Easy to ride. More stable than fibreglass boards. More volume than fibreglass boards. Cheaper than fibreglass boards. They ride absolutely fine. Four foot barrels at my local today - Young ripper on a foamie, old guy on a foamie. The old guy was in our shop last week ordering a custom of the foamie he likes it so much but is sick of being given crap for riding a foamie. Not dangerous to themselves or anyone else.
And I don't know about Queensland, but foamies have excellent resale value here and sell quickly.
Go the foamie. Then get a secondhand fibreglass bord, then get a custom if you are that way inclined.
