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As much as i wanted a mini-mal to not look like such a dork i went for a 7'6" foamy as that was the advice literally every shop gave me even though it was half the price. The great thing is that when i'm ready i can do a trade in as good foamies hold there value very well. When i was in the shop i bought mine they gave an existing customer 75% of the original price when trading against a mini-mal.
Difference between biking and surfing for me atm is exactly as @Stonehedge says, a walk/paddle or sitting on a beach with a bear is a pretty good backup for de-stressing if the weather shit/surf's crap. I really enjoy MTB's but driving from London the Wales to get pissed on and spend longer cleaning my bike after just wasn't working for me. I also love the simplicity of it, mountain biking is a nightmare for someone like me who can't stop messing around with things.
It also seems like a great bonus for travelling as my partner is giving it a go as well. Northern Spain, Portugal, Japanese islands are on the list and even Ireland seems a whole lot more appealing now!
jono84-
Oh we have great surf here in Ireland! The only downside for me is that it's all on the West coast and I'm on the East. I'd definitely recommend a trip to the Northwest though.
Foamies do make a lot of sense too but I'd like to think I'm just about capable enough to warrant going for a mini-mal (hopefully :)
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sitting on a beach with a bear
Snigger
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Portugal
I refuse to believe there is anywhere in Europe more laid back, with better food and with nicer beaches than the west coast of Portugal. Idyllic.
Nahguavkire
Stonehedge
I've literally spent the last week trawling the internet for a nice mini-mal, something between 7'6" and 8'6", either new or secondhand. I'm an admittedly rubbish surfer but I couldn't agree more on the feeling of joy to be taken from floating on a board in the sea! I can't wait to get to the end of this annus horribilis of work stress and make some time to surf again.
Oddly I always compare mountain biking to surfing for people who haven't mountain biked but who do surf. I get the same feeling being in the mountains on a bike as on a board in the sea.