Hi guys,

i have already spent quite some time reading this forum and finally it is time to get some advice from you guys.

I am 28 years old, from Germany, 5?11? & 160lbs. After taking some lessons on a Fanatic Fly 11?0? i am in love with this sport and i am ready to invest some money to buy my own gear.

What is my purpose? I am searching for a board that is mainly suitable for two things:
a) riding on waves (dutch/french coast mainly)
b) doing workout on flat water, e.g. practicing, learning, having fun

The ratio will be around 50/50, since i am currently located approx. 100 miles away from the next coast, meaning that i will get to it every couple of weeks if i am lucky ? maybe even in favour for flat water. Touring is currently not on my wishlist when i am on flat water.

Like so many others, i am starting with searching for *one* board to fullfill my needs as described above. I know that once being affected, I will end up with multiple boards but for now, I want to start with one to check out if i really like it on the long term. After checking out some small waves with the Fanatic Fly, I found it quite challenging to maneuver it quickly (might also be due to lack of skills). So with reading this forum and various other ressources, i am currently looking for a Fanatic Allwave 8?11?, although i am totally not attached to any brand at all. I am hoping that this board gives me decent abilities for waves without getting a board that is too short to get comfortable with next to also having some fun on flat waters. Like i said above, i do not expect to have a comparable speed like a 11?0? board (and bigger), but i mainly want to use it on flat water for workout, relaxing, after-work riding, etc.

After doing some research I think that such a board might be a good compromise for my aims and will suit my needs. What do you guys think? Is the Allwave the right choice for me? Should I even have a look at the 8?6? version? I definitely dont want a board that is too short for me to begin with to avoid frustration. On the other hand I also want something for waves and my feeling is that I should stay below 9?0? if i want to... Am i wrong?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Kind regards,
Jan