Trying to figure out good board size for my kid

[skategoat]

My 12 year old finally wants to carve. After three seasons of jibbing, he has seen the light.

I just picked up a nice set of AF600s for him. Now I'm looking for a board.

He's 5ft, 100lbs but he has big feet for his age - mondo 26.5. I'm thinking about soft boards in the 145-150cm range. Have I got the right size? I see a lot of Burton FPs in that size range. Is this board soft enough for a kid?

BTW, the kid wants a custom Coiler. He has good taste but a poor grip on reality.

Thanks in advance.

Henry

[Rob-CanCarve]

Henry:

You might want to talk with Chris Houghton. I know he had a Prior carving board that his son used over the past few seasons.

I do not know if it is available, but well worth a call.

All the best,

Rob

[Jack Michaud]

I wouldn't go less than 150. I would think an FP would be fine if he is athletic.

[b1boarder4]

my brothers the same age, 12. hes 5ft and 90 lbs, very athletic. i just got him a oxygen proton 147. seems to handle it fine. it will last him for at least this season. he just started carving this year.

Barret.

[Hagen]

Check out Chris Klug's website (https://www.klugriding.com) he is selling some short Burton Alps and Ultra primes for cheap ($150-$160). Those might be good boards to start on...

Hagen.

[Todd Stewart]

An ultra prime or factory prime should be fine, I started on a ultra prime 168 when I was 13 and 120 pounds, can't remeber how tall I was at the time though. A good board to look at would be the burton alps series or e-decks, they are more all mountain oriented and should be easier for him to flex. Hot also makes some decent boards that are easy to flex. As far as lenght goes I probally wouldn't advise anything over 155. If you are still interested in coilers after a couple of years you might want to check out some of the other custom templates that Bruce has made in the past.

[philfell]

A 164 factory prime (or speed) would be great for him. This board was designed for a person with similar deminsions. Don't buy a carving board based on size, think about turn size and flex. Also remember a board made for Sl might be harder to learn on than a forgiving G.S. board.

[skategoat]

164 or 168 seems like a lot of board. I hear you on buying a board based on flex, but there is no accurate flex measurement other than a mfg's subjective description.

I'll look up the prime and speed. I was thinking of something in a 11m radius would be easy for him to control and still give him decent GS turning characteristics.

Henry

[b1boarder4]

when i was looking for board for my brother, i was trying to stay under 155, specially for a kid of that size.

anything over that would be to much for him to handle. when i was 14, when i started riding a race board, i learned on a 162 ultra prime.

so i would think something flexible between 145 and 160 would probly be the best.

Barret.

[Jack Michaud]

FP164 radius is 11.74m. Prior's 175 is 11.9m, Donek's 171 is 11.2m.

[Zone]

Hi Skategoat,
I've got 2 used F2 Roadsters and Protec bindings if you are interested.
I am not sure of the listed length (both the same lengths), my brother bought them back then. I went to measure them tonite and looks like 151cm tip to toe on a flat surface, probably 153 or if I recall 154cm listed. The side cut is around 8m or something like that.
The boards worked fine until we moved on to Wild Ducks and Swoards!!
I live in Ajax, just let me know.

[skategoat]

Thanks for all the comments guys. I've had a lot of offers for boards. I have a deal pending on a custom 152 Prior.