Surfboard sizing

[enkeivette]

Just bought a surfboard for the GF. The owner claimed it was 7'2 but I mesured it at 7'1, 2 1/2"X18 1/2". It's a gun shaped board. She's 5'3 and 130lbs, will it float her? Will it be difficult for her to stand up on as a beginner?

I found another one that is fatter, 7' long, but it's so fat it looks ugly IMO. And although I want it to be easy for her to learn I'm painting this one with her name and title on it, so I want it to look pretty and be a good board after she learns how to do it.

So what do the surfers in here think? Will the one I bought be a decent one to learn on for a 130lb girl? Or would the fatter one be a lot better?

[Vettezuki]

Just bought a surfboard for the GF. The owner claimed it was 7'2 but I mesured it at 7'1, 2 1/2"X18 1/2". It's a gun shaped board. She's 5'3 and 130lbs, will it float her? Will it be difficult for her to stand up on as a beginner?

I found another one that is fatter, 7' long, but it's so fat it looks ugly IMO. And although I want it to be easy for her to learn I'm painting this one with her name and title on it, so I want it to look pretty and be a good board after she learns how to do it.

So what do the surfers in here think? Will the one I bought be a decent one to learn on for a 130lb girl? Or would the fatter one be a lot better?

Steve Hoffstetter (sp?) is the only surfer who has been on here that I know of. I can fire off this question to my cousin, he made surf boards as a business for years and years.

[enkeivette]

Steve Hoffstetter (sp?) is the only surfer who has been on here that I know of. I can fire off this question to my cousin, he made surf boards as a business for years and years.

Would you send him the link? I would appreciate it.

[94cobra69ss396]

I'll ask my wife's uncle. He's a retired pro surfer (Billabong).

[Vettezuki]

Would you send him the link? I would appreciate it.

Here's what he said:

For her size and weight and level of experience, a wider board would be best. I think 7'0'' is good on the length, but it would be nice if she had close to 20 inches at the wide point. Maybe 2' 1/2" thickness or more...

But at the end of the day, if you already purchased the board and you are going to make it look pretty, I'm sure she will like it. It will float her and she will probably have a great time on it. What I gave you was the best fit, but she will be fine with what you got her-


Sounds like a tiny wider and thicker would be a bit easier to handle, but basically you're fine.

[enkeivette]

Awesome, thanks Ben. I feel better.

The wider one that I found was an older one, so it would probably be a mostly wooden core instead of foam so it would be heavier. Also it was a single fin instead of the three fin, so there would be less stability.

If I can find a 20"er for around the same price I might buy it and just flip this one. Maybe even paint it with the leftover boat paint and make a profit. Haha.


Thanks Ron, but I think I have the answer already. I sort of knew it from reading online, I just wanted to know whether 18 1/2" would be so difficult as to not make it fun.

[enkeivette]

Wow, the wide one is 23" wide. :shock: It's an old lifeguard board.

[enkeivette]

I might even buy a foam funboard for myself and let her learn on that, just to learn how to get up.

[Vettezuki]

. . . just to learn how to get up.

Must.Resist.Temptation.

[enkeivette]

Must.Resist.Temptation.

I thought about throwing a that's what she said in there too.

[enkeivette]

Board has been cleaned and scuffed, I'm sure it will have it's own paint thread in the near future. If you guys aren't sick of my projects by now.

Ben, can I bring it over tomorrow to spray out some primer on it? I'll bring my own primer. Do you think Aaron will care if I use his gun or should I bring my own? Who is spraying the car btw, me or Aaron? Or are we going to do it in sync like that 1st gen Mustang video?