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Surfer? I need your advice please.

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The Captain
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Surfer? I need your advice please.

Postby The Captain » Thu Sep 01, 2011 1:30 pm

My 10 year old, 75lb. daughter is insisiting on learning to surf, so I need a board.
Size, shape, weight, expected price. I know next to nothing about surfing.

Any help appreciated!

waterhead
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Re: Surfer? I need your advice please.

Postby waterhead » Thu Sep 01, 2011 2:15 pm

think safety when it comes to kids and surfing.....they will surely get beat up by the board so any soft board designed for a surf school or beginner will do, make sure it has the flimsy plastic fins that will not cut if she gets raked by them. something real floaty, in the 7'0 - 7'5 range. this will have her up and on her feet on her first day and insure that she is having fun from the start. :thumb:

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Re: Surfer? I need your advice please.

Postby TommyDuotone » Thu Sep 01, 2011 2:33 pm

I used to always start my students on a soft top(6-8 ft, depending on size).
1. Inexpensive(100 complete at Costco)
2. It will give your daughter more confidence since less dangerous
3. Very floaty and easy to catch waves.
4. Very stable. Also makes it hard to turn, which is not a bad thing when you are first learning.

I also noticed that the younger they started, the easier they picked it up, especially the girls. Maybe better balance and lighter.
Within a a few days, most all the younger ones(under 15) were all standing riding whitewash. And by the end of the 3 week class, all were able to drop in and actually ride left or right. Again, not much turning yet, especially with those boards. Most purchased regular, smaller boards after the class was over. My niece, who is about your daughters age, is in the process of learning on a soft top my brother got her and doing great. One final note, the kids definitely had more fun and gained more confidence when they learned with buddies or a small group with similar ages. :D

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Re: Surfer? I need your advice please.

Postby JerseyPride » Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:47 pm

all good advice. +1 on the 7'ish soft top

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Re: Surfer? I need your advice please.

Postby kitecozumel » Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:02 pm

Whatever you'll do with kids keep it , light and friendly, they're constantly changing their minds.
If they're having FUN, then is good, if they ask you to stop, DO SO. :thumb:

p.s. I taught my kids water sports, they still love the ocean and me, now they're in their 20s. :lol:

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Re: Surfer? I need your advice please.

Postby behindThePeak » Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:22 pm

+1 for teaching your daughter to surf

+1 for a 7' foam board.

the costco ones are great but only available in certain areas. you could rent boards from most surf shops. she'll need pointers, if you don't surf i'd suggest taking some kind of intro class from a shop, maybe even take one with her and learn together. she'll be stoked, you'll discover what you've been missing :D

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Re: Surfer? I need your advice please.

Postby The Captain » Fri Sep 02, 2011 3:34 am

Thanks folks. I'll be on the right track now.


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