I've got so many solid reasons NOT to buy a mid-length - but I just can't shake the idea at the moment.
Early in the new year, we were up at Noosa. I took a 7'6" foamie that I'd bought years ago for the kids, for the wife to try and surf on.
I gave it a shot myself, couldn't believe I was up and surfing it - I've literally never surfed a board shorter than 9', until this. But I'm now also lighter than I was when I started surfing.
So, this 'New Me' has got me thinking about a mid-length... a long mid-length. 7'6" to 8'. Something I can take out when it's not quite suitable for a longboard.....
To be honest, I think it's much more about the weight I've lost. Being overweight, for so long, I didn't imagine myself on anything shorter than 10'. Hell, I 'benched' my 9'6" NL Tea Tree years ago, in favour of all my 10'+ boards (I have been enjoying my 9'3" Munoz, but that's a 'big' 9'3"). I'm still overweight, but 20kgs lighter than I was 6 months ago - and the thought of a mid-length is kinda more like a celebration than anything else.
So, if you're primarily a longboarder with a mid-length in your quiver, when do you chose to surf it? Or, perhaps more importantly, when/why do you take out a longboard instead?
If I do decide to add one to the quiver, do I buy something cheap and nasty to see if it's a viable option for me, and upgrade later if it is? or buy something decent, so that if it's not viable for me, it's got better resale? I'd be buying used either way.
Am I just being foolish even thinking about this?
Damned your not being foolish, mid lengths are great to ride especially when it's bigger.
Mid 90s I got a great board shapped for me, polyester but glassed in S glass a 7'6".
Early 2000 I got a 8'4" and that became my go to and still in the garage. I'm too heavy for that board now.
These days there is so much choice and even get a high volume 8' board like Walden mega majic. But plenty of options if you work with a local shapper to get you quiver fully dialed 
Does it spark joy?
That, IMHO, is the question when buying a board. So, no to the cheap and nasty (or just testing), yes to something that makes you happy just knowing it's under the house (maybe even not being used) 
. The one you run your hand over and say "hello, beautiful" every time you walk past.
I am too old and fat and my pop up's popped off... but in days of yore I've had a 6'8 Classic Malibu egg that had all it's width under the chest. A 2+1 set up with a thin foily (is that a word?) flexy centre fin. Great for junky beachbreaks (about all i surf). Fun board for fun waves.
I also had a 7'2 Classic Malibu, also a 2+1, a classic pin tail shape that was a lovely board in good waves with a bit of push. The better the waves the better it went. (Until my 'better' went 
).
But the great love of my surfing life was an old 8'1 McTavish Carver. Shaped in Byron by Bob, glassed on the Sunny Coast at the old Beach Beat factory. Think it was 2 7/8 thick. And it had the PERFECT rail and rocker and sparked joy in anything from junk to serious size. The great all rounder (before I became all rounder ).
Go for it, Damned67.
Greeney, you're like a poet.
The idea of maybe, one day, being able to surf a decent board as 'short' as 7'6"-8", does spark joy.
The idea of said board being something I'm proud to have in my quiver, also sparks joy. Even if it's something just to look at.
Speaking of nice to look at, I do have a nice 6' fish downstairs, it's a Kona Brewing Big Wave board, never waxed, that I got ridiculously cheap as a wall hanger for over the bar.... when I have one. Interestingly, it was so cheap on Gumtree that I assume everyone thought it was a scam.
Google "CJ Nelson outlier"- there are a few videos and reviews etc available on the web. Great midlength, beautiful trim speed and the thunderbolt tech is a solid build. A few pop up on market place every now and then.
Thanks for that - I've already spent countless hours on google, trying to research 'mid-lengths' and read up on the Outlier. I'm currently leading towards a 2+1 fin set-up, as that's what I prefer on most of my longboards.
Right now, I'm kinda leaning towards the Creative Army Huevo. Somewhat thinking that if a mid-length is somewhat of a reward for my weight loss, then maybe I should splurge on a custom? Josh has built two longboards for me, and was excellent to work with. Both CA Customs have a matching theme, in terms of colour, so thought it might be cool to have a third that 'matches'?
It then aligns with Greeney's proposal of 'does it spark joy?', and even if it doesn't get ridden much, it's a pleasure to look at.
Plus, there's that extra 'joy' from having a custom that was made for me, as opposed to either an 'off the shelf' or used board. So, all about the 'joy'.
But I'm clearly still undecided - mostly around 'will I even be able to ride it?' That's my real hesitation. I know how stoked I was to get to my feet on that 7'6" foamie, something I didn't really consider possible. It really did bring me 'joy'. So I know I'd be smiling for months if I managed to surf a mid-length..... but then there's the fear of failure. What if I drop the coin on a decent mid-length board, and am still too fat (and unskilled) to surf it?
And I certainly don't need any more boards.....
Great topic boys. I had a couple of mids way back, both were eightballs from McTAVISH I also did the same spray as my 9.1 9.6 fireballs, indeed there's a place in your quiver for a mid. I went from shortboarding to longboarding, well I was mistaken, I paddled out at snapper on my 8.3 fireball and said how good is this longboarding, the guy said mate your not a longboarder until your on a 9.6. So off I go and get a 9.6. Long story but , get the custom CA mate and go the same colour ways. You will be stoked, don't waist your money on anything less. Looking forward to the build thread.
Select to expand quoteMacaha said..
Long story but , get the custom CA mate and go the same colour ways. You will be stoked, don't waist your money on anything less. Looking forward to the build thread.
I'm pretty much convinced that this is the way to go - I've even decided what I want to do with the color! Was even planning on calling Josh over the last couple of days, but with the Noosa Festival now running, I'll give it a couple of weeks.
I've got to think about size. Like I said above, while I've lost 20kgs, I'm still heavy. Weight has plateaued for the last few months, but determined to try and drop another 5kgs over then next couple of months. That'll put me at 90kgs. So, yeah, doing the math, I started at 115kg. Certainly explains my love for boards over 10'! FYI - even getting down to 95kg has been amazing. So much more energy, my previously somewhat uncontrolled blood pressure (despite meds) is now entirely normal, and my total cholesterol has dropped from 5.7 to 4.6. And I've dropped from a 36" waist (where shorts/pants were getting tight) to a comfy 34". Even if I don't drop from 95kg, all of this is still a massive win!
Right, so let's assume I get down to 90kg. Josh makes the CA Huevo up to 8'8".
Should I just play it safe and go for the 8'8"?
I kinda feel that at 8'8", its really just a 'short' longboard, but my confidence that I'll be able to surf it is higher.
I'm really keen on some input re: length.
From the replies above, I'm seeing some love for a 8'4", a 8'1" and an 8'3" - so maybe an 8'6", isn't such a bad idea?
As I've been thinking through this, while writing this post (and editing, over and over), I'm liking the idea of something around 8'3" or 8'4" - what are peoples thoughts on this for someone sitting around 90-95kg? or should I just suck it up and go for the 8'8"?
I can get Josh to leave some extra volume in it, which ever way I go, if the Brains Trust recommend that approach.
Cheers!
Board is ordered and deposit is paid.
But it's not a mid-length.
As with my other two customs from Josh, we were on the phone for close to an hour, sorting it out. And as with the past two customs where I called about something I thought I wanted, he sent me in a different direction.
He's such a great builder to work with. I don't know if he has a file on me, or an exceptional memory, but he dug into the archives with some info re how, when, where I surf (and live). Great chat about goals and constraints etc. He was psyched that I've lost a bunch of weight, and given that he's also lost a bunch himself, could certainly understand where I was coming from.
As an aside, last weekend I pulled out my 9'6" Noosa Longboards Tea Tree (that Josh had a hand in the design of) that I haven't surfed in probably 7 years (due to ever expanding weight), and had a fun session in 1ft waves.
Long story short, for a variety of reasons the mid-length wasn't the right choice for 'right now' - So we settled on a 9'6" Jive. Will be lower volume than the Tea Tree, more versatile, covers a bunch of the features I enjoy in my other boards etc.
Despite not being the mid-length I was originally hoping for, I'm super psyched for it to arrive..... in 6-8 weeks.
I'm excited.
Firstly Congratulations on losing weight ??
Great benefit of working with local shaper dialing your quiver.
Please post a photo when you get it
Select to expand quote515 said..
Firstly Congratulations on losing weight ??
Great benefit of working with local shaper dialing your quiver.
Please post a photo when you get it
Nah surely we can see a board built thread bring it on
Select to expand quoteBender said..
My mid length 7'4, goes unreal
I know nothing about surfboard design but I love all the channels!
Select to expand quoteNozza said..
I know nothing about surfboard design but I love all the channels!
I bet the sander didn't!
Select to expand quote515 said
My Mrs has implemented the one in one out policy ??
If you can keep that to yourself, that'd be great. I'd prefer my Mrs to remain unaware of such policies.
Select to expand quotedamned67 said..Nozza said..
I know nothing about surfboard design but I love all the channels!
I bet the sander didn't!
Or the glasserSelect to expand quotedamned67 said..515 said
My Mrs has implemented the one in one out policy ??
If you can keep that to yourself, that'd be great. I'd prefer my Mrs to remain unaware of such policies.
All good
Select to expand quoteMacaha said..515 said..
Firstly Congratulations on losing weight ??
Great benefit of working with local shaper dialing your quiver.
Please post a photo when you get it
Nah surely we can see a board built thread bring it on
I miss Macahas new board posts - what a quiver of beautiful boards
Select to expand quotejustaddwater said..
I've been on a new board ..new dress policy..for the wife that is
Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say.
Select to expand quote515 said..
All good
I miss Macahas new board posts - what a quiver of beautiful boards
Ol' mate's game - that stick is awfully short!
And agreed, Macaha really has an eye for those colour configurations, they were/are always stunning boards.
Got a couple though my favourite is a 7'0 cosmic twin by Joel Fitzgerald, surfed it in 6-8 ft T land last year and it handled it like a dream and its surfs great in the small stuff as well.Ill never sell it!
Select to expand quotedamned67 said..
Board is ordered and deposit is paid.
But it's not a mid-length.
As with my other two customs from Josh, we were on the phone for close to an hour, sorting it out. And as with the past two customs where I called about something I thought I wanted, he sent me in a different direction.
He's such a great builder to work with. I don't know if he has a file on me, or an exceptional memory, but he dug into the archives with some info re how, when, where I surf (and live). Great chat about goals and constraints etc. He was psyched that I've lost a bunch of weight, and given that he's also lost a bunch himself, could certainly understand where I was coming from.
As an aside, last weekend I pulled out my 9'6" Noosa Longboards Tea Tree (that Josh had a hand in the design of) that I haven't surfed in probably 7 years (due to ever expanding weight), and had a fun session in 1ft waves.
Long story short, for a variety of reasons the mid-length wasn't the right choice for 'right now' - So we settled on a 9'6" Jive. Will be lower volume than the Tea Tree, more versatile, covers a bunch of the features I enjoy in my other boards etc.
Despite not being the mid-length I was originally hoping for, I'm super psyched for it to arrive..... in 6-8 weeks.
I'm excited.
Hi Damned,
I've been absent for a while on the forum but read your post with great interest.
I'm a big fella too, at my worst I got to 125kg. I'm still too big but these days I'm hovering about 109kg, My goal is still to get down where you are at 90 to 95kg range.
Anyway I've been down the exact mid lengths rabbit hole you have and I now have several in my quiver. I get that you ordered a full size one but I'd encourage you to look for a good second hand mid lengths and really give it a go.
For me it comes down to thickness and rocker to make mid lengths work best for my weight. I had Craig Gillespie build me an 8'4" long copy of a McCoy Nugget after seeing another he had made and it's proven to be a great board especially in beach break surf. I also had a Jye Byrnes Crossbreed in 8'6" size as my first mid sized one which ripped and I got Pieter Surfboards to do a copy of my first 8'6" from the 1980's but upsized in width and thickness.
All these boards have helped improve my surfing and fun factor experience in the surf.
I reckon a good second hand 8ft x 22" x 3" size would be ideal for you so don't give up on the idea.
All the best,
Jeff
I will add a mid-length to the quiver...... one day.
As per past advice, I need to be living closer to the beach and surfing more - which is on the cards to happen sometime soon(ish)
