Surf board suggestions

[texasgator]

We are getting back into a boat after a few years of not having one. After our demo, I can see that surfing is going to be our go to activity. I need to purchase some boards but I have no idea what to look for or what I need. Any suggestions you all have on boards and where to purchase would be much appreciated. Here's what I think I need:
- 1 high quality board for my son and I (each around 6'1", 215), hopefully we will advance quickly so want one with performance we can grow in to.
- 1 good board for wife and daughter (5'5" and 5'7"), I doubt they will try to get too fancy
- a good learner board for guests who will likely be first timers

Thanks for the help.

[gdhall]

I'm 6'2" and 205 and I don't surf as much as I wakeboard but I'm certainly not terrible. I cannot do any spins or airs on a surfer though. I recently rode a phase 5 "model x" 53in and I was really surprised at how fast it was and also how stable it felt. I immediately could ride further back and move on the wave better. It's not my board but he told me he'd had beginners learn on this same board and I believe him. It really is crazy how it can be fast and not get squirrelly on you. I don't remember what his fin setup was. This is around $700 but it's a heck of a surfer in my opinion get this one board instead of two different ones. It's your boat, if someone else wants to learn they should be the ones to suffer a little bit the guy who bought the boat and the board! 🚤🏄🌊 I have a liquid force fish (the middle sized one) and it's slow as Christmas compared to the model x.

[swatguy]

I am far from a pro level surfer. I ride have a 3 and some good surf cuts and just barely leave the lip on airs. So you come from a skateboard background? Want to do board tricks and stuff( skim style) or do you just want to rip carves, go for airs and enjoy a few spins? (Surf style). I am way more surf style.

Surf style
There are going to be a ton of hardcore surfers that are going to come on here and say go for true "surf"'made board in the realm of 800. While awesome for those hard core guys that is truly the right step. For someone lookin for a high performance board that's pretty good at lot of things and very customizable not breaking the bank it's hard to beat the 2015 Hyperlite Shim. At a fraction of the cost of the big boys and custom stuff it's really performance oriented. It gives you the lightweight construction and nimbleness of a skim board , but rides like a higher end surfboard. You can leave all 3 fins in for a more locked in surf feel, or pull the center fin and loosen it up real good for surface tricks. It's really fast so works on a variety of wakes. I am 6ft 185lbs. The 5'4" is great. I think it's still predictable enough for the Wife and Daughter to rise too. I have surfed the following ( inland surfer swallow, Hyperlite Broadcast, Hyperlite Shim, Byerly Buzz, Walker Project F-18 , Soulcraft Fangtail, Parks Carbon Thruster, Ronix Power Tail, Phase 5 Daniello Carbon, Phase 5 Prop, Phase 5 Trident , Liquid Force Sixxer 2014, Shred Stixx Piranha , Shredd Stixx Thresher, Shred Stixx Ringer). I loved the Ringer but just didn't have the cash. Yea I tried a lot of boards thinking it would get me to like surfing more. Some buddies are hard core into it. So of all these boards I still really like the Shim for the money. It's a great performance crossover and will help you advance, but again keep in mind I am a Surf Style Guy. Phase 5 is probably a one stop shop for a skin board.

On the beginner side
The Hyperlite Broadcast and CWB Ride are about the two most popular models. I really like the Broadcast. Stable and predictable and an option to set up fins a couple different ways to change the way it rides. It's little on the heavy side tho.

[texasgator]

I am far from a pro level surfer. I ride have a 3 and some good surf cuts and just barely leave the lip on airs. So you come from a skateboard background? Want to do board tricks and stuff( skim style) or do you just want to rip carves, go for airs and enjoy a few spins? (Surf style). I am way more surf style.

Surf style
There are going to be a ton of hardcore surfers that are going to come on here and say go for true "surf"'made board in the realm of 800. While awesome for those hard core guys that is truly the right step. For someone lookin for a high performance board that's pretty good at lot of things and very customizable not breaking the bank it's hard to beat the 2015 Hyperlite Shim. At a fraction of the cost of the big boys and custom stuff it's really performance oriented. It gives you the lightweight construction and nimbleness of a skim board , but rides like a higher end surfboard. You can leave all 3 fins in for a more locked in surf feel, or pull the center fin and loosen it up real good for surface tricks. It's really fast so works on a variety of wakes. I am 6ft 185lbs. The 5'4" is great. I think it's still predictable enough for the Wife and Daughter to rise too. I have surfed the following ( inland surfer swallow, Hyperlite Broadcast, Hyperlite Shim, Byerly Buzz, Walker Project F-18 , Soulcraft Fangtail, Parks Carbon Thruster, Ronix Power Tail, Phase 5 Daniello Carbon, Phase 5 Prop, Phase 5 Trident , Liquid Force Sixxer 2014, Shred Stixx Piranha , Shredd Stixx Thresher, Shred Stixx Ringer). I loved the Ringer but just didn't have the cash. Yea I tried a lot of boards thinking it would get me to like surfing more. Some buddies are hard core into it. So of all these boards I still really like the Shim for the money. It's a great performance crossover and will help you advance, but again keep in mind I am a Surf Style Guy. Phase 5 is probably a one stop shop for a skin board.

On the beginner side
The Hyperlite Broadcast and CWB Ride are about the two most popular models. I really like the Broadcast. Stable and predictable and an option to set up fins a couple different ways to change the way it rides. It's little on the heavy side tho.

Thanks for the help. After reading your descriptions, I would say that we would be more of the surf style.

[swatguy]

I think I may have confused the CWB Ride and Tsunami. The Tsunami being more of a boat board. Sorry.

[JoeA]

Texasgator

I have a bought a new board each year for the past three years. This is due to us getting better each year and wanting a faster board. May favorite board for myself and the son is a Phase5 Model X 53". We're both about 5" 11" and up to 180 lbs. You can also get the Model X in a 58" version of you feel the 53 is too small for you and your son. I did ride a Phase 5 Wire this Summer and almost bought it but decide to wait for the 2016 models to be released. We're going to get a 2016 Phase 5 Race since it's basically a lower cost version of the Wire plus it has the colors we planned to use if we custom ordered a Wire. The blunt nose on the Wire and Race ought to help prevent dipping nose to deep and falling down plus it is more buoyant than the Model X.

I also have a CWB Tsunami and a Ronix Parks Thruster which I think would be fine for the wife, daughter and others that ride on your boat as they learn to ride then I think they'll progress up to a faster board. There are so many great boards out there it's tough to decide on what is "BEST" for you. If you can demo any boards take that opportunity. I will say that all of the boards I have bought never disappointed me but yes I am always looking to improve my capabilities.

[trip33]

+1 for Phase 5 boards. I am currently riding the 53" Matrix. 5'11" 195lbs.