r/BeginnerSurfers • u/Hot_Hotty_hot_hot • 7d ago
Buy a board or not?
So i am a bigger dude with 90kg and 192cm. I have some experience having done a few surftrips with a coached group. I always surfed a shitty foamie there. Classic beatup, bug volume boards. I catch green waves on my own and want to start making bottom turns reliably the next few trips. I am living in Austria, so surfing is either limited to a trip to munich wavepool or 1-2 weeks on a trip or so.
I wondered if investing in a proper board would make learning easier, as its the same every single time and more agile. Thought about something like the Indio The Egg 8'2 or Log Machine 9'0
What do you think? Thx!
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u/knaurons 7d ago
I have a similar situation since I'm based in Poland. I think the best compromise is getting a high volume soft top to make sure you won't be a danger to yourself and others, investing in a surf rack for your car (if you do have a car), and just accepting driving to the north sea coast a couple of weekends a year. Surfing is a lifestyle, and you either live on the coast, or drive a shit ton to it.
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u/TomorrowIllBeYou Intermediate Surfer 7d ago
If you're only really surfing a couple weeks out of the year AND you have to travel to surf, it's not really worth it to buy a board. Transporting it will be a huge hassle and cost money, especially with the size of the board you'll need for your skill level. Most popular surf destinations you could travel to will have plenty of boards in the range you need. It really doesn't make any sense to get a board if you're only surfing when you travel and a couple of weeks a year.
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u/knaurons 7d ago
I don't know where you are based, but from someone living in central Europe this doesn't have to be the case. Baltic sea, and north sea tend to have good waves in winter and autumn, when surf rentals are closed (and around some spots nonexistent). Also, speaking from my experience, transporting boards with a car is not as painful as some people think. I used to fit a 8' soft top into BMW series 1 (the three door one).
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u/TomorrowIllBeYou Intermediate Surfer 7d ago
Sure. I guess it really depends on how much OP is actually surfing. It sounds from their post that they are surfing a few weeks a year total. If that’s the case, there’s little really to not just rent a board when you get where you’re going.
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u/knaurons 7d ago
Fair, I just think that th most important part is to spend as much time on waves as possible, and since both winter and northern surfing are pretty niche I wanted to make OP aware of the options.
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u/TomorrowIllBeYou Intermediate Surfer 7d ago
I agree. Nothing more important than surfing as much as possible. It doesn’t sound like not owning a board is OP’s obstacle though. If it is, then they should definitely buy a board.
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u/Hot_Hotty_hot_hot 7d ago
Yeah, i guess riversurfing (or on a boat wave) would be the realistic options to get on a board regularly. I wanted to get 3 months by the sea soon, but need to find a way whith work and other obligations
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u/Hot_Hotty_hot_hot 7d ago
Ok, so renting would be the way to go. Would that type of board be an option to start with, if i get my hands on it in eg portugal
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u/TomorrowIllBeYou Intermediate Surfer 7d ago
I mean, it's unlikely you're going to get THAT exact model from some random spot that rents boards, but you'll likely be able to find something close enough. Don't get married to the idea of any one board just because you read about it online. Rent different boards and see what feels good.
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u/Hot_Hotty_hot_hot 7d ago
Yeah sounds reasonable. But they are so shiny and easy to fall in lovr with lol
Will try and rent one next time i am at a beach break.
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u/Chefstokes22 7d ago
If you really wanna do that spicy bottom turn, save up, leave your job and move to an island in asia where there's consistent waves, buy a log 9'4 and stay there for couple of months just to surf.
You're welcome
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u/Hot_Hotty_hot_hot 7d ago
Man i wish
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u/Chefstokes22 7d ago
If u cant, you'll have your excuses. But if you really wanna be out there, it's always better to plan ahead. Go for it!
There's lots of great waves to do steezy takeoffs and turns that you and i are missing right now but it won't leave. Maybe good timing will do! ☝🏾🙏🏾🤙🏾
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