Most folk tend to start out on a mini mal or some sort or another but I wondered how many folk actually stick with a mini and just go down in size or move from a longboard to a mini? I've primarily been a longboarder but wondered about downsizing, but since I'm not that great at surfing and still need help with catching waves, thought a mini mal might be a good option. I'd just like a bit more chance to throw a board around with more ease. If I was going down from a 9 2 longboard to a mini do you reckon I could easy take on a 7 6? I'm about 90kgs.

7'6" is more in the fun board thruster size 8' to an 8'6" is mal/mini mal size.

If your on a log now then he11 ya a mal is a perfect board to add into any quiver. Log,mal,fun,short and your set for just about anything. I just started my buddy into surfing and within about 10 sesions have him now getting up on a mall/mini mal so ther is no reason that you can't do it.

Besides they are the perfect addition to any quiver and fill the bill for surf days that fit between a short and long board.

Probablly the fastest way to progress in surfing is as follows: Longboard, Midrange board (minimal, or just a wider and fatter shortboard with an extra few inches), 6'2" ish shortboard, then from there pods, quads, and other crazy shiz.

I'm not saying there are other ways to learn, this is just the fastest way to progress for most people.

Its kinda like motorcycle roadracing. You can start on a 1000cc bike, but you will get better faster on a 600cc (not to mention 250cc gp bikes). Most people that try to start racing on a 1000cc never learn how to ride it properly so they never become fast. If they do progress, it is often slow and often painful.

Also another thing to note is that I grew up riding shortboards. Currently the only board I have is a 9'0" Stewart. Its great in everything. Its not the best in knee high surf, but anything bigger and its game. My point is that alot of it has to do with personal preference and style. When I afford it I will buy a shortboard again, but for now, the longboard is great for most surf.

I'm 5'6" 79kg (yeah I know f*t b*ast*rd) with an 8' minimal, it's my only board as I'm stilling learning. I tried someone's 7' this weekend and it was way too big a drop in size for me (although it was also not so wide so the loss of float was huge). So yeah if you can afford to do it in small stages till you get to the short board, take your time.

Thanks for all the advice folks ....sounds like a gradual step down is the best way but that is quite pricey. Would I notice a big difference in a 8ft mini mal from a 9 2 longboard?

Was also going to ask - is 4 oz bottom and 6 +4 about standard for an 8ft mini mal?

hi Greypump,

an 8' + 9.2' is exactly my quiver at the mo.

went for the 8ft first cos i thougth anything bigger would be too heavy,

was progressing okish but then tried a longboard and the diferane was great, I had this wonderful sesh..

so bought the 9.2 and it has been my main board since,

but Im really glad I kept the 8' cos what i find now is i can progess to a sticking point such as...being able to pop up and ride toshore fine on the 9.2.........then I can move over to the 8'ft and it will be slightly harder, but not as hard as it would have been to initially learn it on the 8ft...so then the honing of the technique on the 8'ft makes me feel even sharper when I go back to the .2 ready "for my next trick"

(angled take offs and more down the line rides next...eek)

so in summary I would say there are differances, but they are very complimentary.

For sure you'll notice a diff in a 1 foot+ size change I just started my buddy about 4 months ago and he was addiment on taking a mal at like month 2 ha ha ha (kicked his azz), he could not believe the float/paddle difference. He's back on my 9'6" and a 9' log and becoming a surfer plus he's much better. Just Last Sat took him out again and he was able to paddle a mal killer even got up on a couple of waves.

Yes that would be a basic standard for cloth resin on a board. I like (2-4oz on belly with a 4oz deck patch followed by two 4 oz deck or a 4 oz-6oz deck is a super strong board with minimal wieght added it then becomes a non disposable board much like the use and toss industry is making now.

Like I said build a quiver of boards start on a log move to a mal then a funboard or the likes onward to a short board. Easyest, fastest to learn on and you'll posses a quiver able to handle any surf any conditions and any type of surfin you wanna do. No it's not cheap,,,, but when does anything worth the damn cost little??? Even if all I ever wanted to do is rip on short boards I'd still always have some logs/mals/funboards in my quiver. They are boards that one should never get rid of,,, only add to.

greypump wrote:Would I notice a big difference in a 8ft mini mal from a 9 2 longboard?

I have both, my 9'2" isnt all that floaty, yet there is a vast difference between the two.

i would never sell my mal even though i may only take it out 1 or 2 times a year its just nice to know i got it if the conditions wont work for my shortboards.

^^^^ ,,, And that's what I'm talking about. Build not delete.

Heck ya,,, What if your hitting places like San Onofre (old man's) you could do it on a short but it's nowhere as fun or easy as if your on a mal or log.

All kinds of boards ='s all kinds of surf conditions which ='s surfing all the time in those conditions.

RJD wrote:

greypump wrote:Would I notice a big difference in a 8ft mini mal from a 9 2 longboard?

I have both, my 9'2" isnt all that floaty, yet there is a vast difference between the two.

So what are the big differences you find RJD?

less floaty, the 1'2" of foam is from the middle rather than the ends so is quite a volume.

Slower to paddle, harder to get on a wave, espeicaly when learning. Harder to get to and stay on your feet because its looser & needs more balance ( as less board is further away).

Once your on your feet its quicker to move round etc.

Its also not small enough to duck dive but not as quick to paddle out etc. Though I havnt taken it out in ages so will have soon I think.

greypump wrote:If I was going down from a 9 2 longboard to a mini do you reckon I could easy take on a 7 6? I'm about 90kgs.

I weigh 82 kilos and started off on a 7'6'' without too many problems. It took me about three months to get semi-confident and after six months I could surf most waves at my break and do simple surf down the face stuff.

I also tried a 7'2'' which did not make much of a difference, although it does paddle quite a bit more difficult. Eventually (after a year) I moved to a 6'8'' fish, which was a bit of a shocker. It took me two weeks to even get back to the point where I could ride the thing.

It's resolved itself by now, but I still use the minimals quite a bit. When the waves are small and sloppy, when I feel lazy or just when the crowds are big. My break tends to get that way and riding the minimal makes taking off deeper possible, so I can be up and surfing by the time all the 'too cool for minimals surfers' start paddling their fishes and shortboards into the wave.

Mini mal = cross dresser IMO.

Either do it right and ride a longboard, or do it right and ride a shortboard.

Why ride a compromise, it's not that rewarding.

I'd love to try a mal one day, but saying that a minimal is no good because it is neither a short nor a long board, does not make sense. It's all about having fun while developig your surfing skills, which minimals will let you do very well.

Obviously a statement from one who don't own one. A Gun is nothing more than a mix of a mal and a short board so being that a gun is used in big waves and is nothing more than a high performance mal/funboard are they cross dressers too?? It sound like you have never riped down surf on a mal or you would be saying a different story. Unwise addvise or hell there must be a hella lot more cross dressers in the water your not seeing.

I've ridden plenty of decent waves on longboards, not really sure what that's got to do with it. I just have a hard time seeing the point of mini mals,why use it as a step to something else, you will just have to re learn how to ride a new type of board, might as well just jump on the right equipment in the first place.

And who say's a mal is not the right equiptment??
Were not talkin about traditional logs ie 9' and up. But since your on the kick of only short sticks and logs are what should be used and a mal is just a waist of time then, by your own reasoning then one should only learn on a short stick till they get it due to anything larger is a hella lot easyer to surf. Dude to rule out mals and fun boards is Piss poor advice,, to transition from a mal/fun board to a short is easyer and it inturn makes a larger quiver. Hmmm,,,, mal= ability to catch waves easyer like a traditional log of 9' or greater but has 10 fold the manuverability of a traditional log but less than a short board. Sound like a perfect stick to have on the days it's a mush weak drive but works under a log, not enough drive for a short but a mal/funboard fills the middle ground and performs where a short stick is not gonna cut it and a log is just to much length needed for the surf conditions. Definition of a mal, a shorter longboard. mimi mal a smaller mal but still a smaller longboard. I allso never questioned if you have ridden waves on logs, or short boards,,,, I'd hope so. I own a large a very very large quiver and have seen more times than I care to, the same mentality your blurbin out. But in the line up see the same like minded people like you get burnned from people like me who chose to leave the short boards and the logs at home show up and own the waves on a mal or fun board.

Allso under the same mentality that your blurbin it would be simalar to be a pilot of a large cargo/passenger jet to just step into a fighter jet and make it work. Anything in the middle is a waste.

If there was not a need/want or use aplication for them they would have died off allready. Dude I'm happy you can rip on a log and a short stick but were not just talkin about you. I to could easly say the same sentiment but since I own em all know there is an application for them all.

I have unusual advise, you can take my word for it or not but you normally won't get this kind of advice:

A couple of years back I got into the fish craze like everyone else. Well, I bought and sold at least a dozen fishes and have come to realize that I don't really like them better than a shortboard, but they where fun to ride.

However, I did get a 7ft fish made, thick wide and flat. Although not the intended purpose, I use mine as a longboard on small and mushy days, because of the glide I surf longboard spots with no problems, usually catching as many or more waves than when I used to use my longboard.

Anyway, a minimall would probably do, but I like my fish a lot, just something to consider. The dims are 7ft x 2 3/4" x 21 1/2"

However,

Yea Math the dims on that fish are close to a mini mal/fun board, your just gettin a lil more ability to move/steer. But to a noob a mal is a good choice or somthing in the likes of what your floatin on to progress further.