First question you have to answer buddy is can your son catch waves easily and is starting to trim across the waves and maybe even turning the board.
If yes, then you can consider getting him a bigger short board/ fish/ smaller mal ensuring that you've got lots of volume to make it easier to catch waves because that's essentially how you learn. You could consider getting him something in the 7ft range and fibreglass. Gumtree has a regular turnover of these.

If not, it's time for some dad tough love and buy him something cheap/ throwaway and similiar to what you've currently got and to only get him a proper board when he improves. I see so many beginners and even those who know what they are doing struggling in the surf regularly because they're riding the wrong equipment i.e. even today the number of thinned out high performance shortboards and the number who struggle, catch waves late and just bum wobble in a poo man stance.

Something cheap & second hand in good condition like this...not a lot of good deals on Gumtree atm, guess its the time of year.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/south-fremantle/surfing/matt-manners-6-3-thruster-surfboard/1070499472 Probably go $150

This is a high volume lengthy short board for a 12 yo to grow into. Anything larger will make it difficult to duck dive waves to get out the back of Perth beachies...

mitchbat said..
I'd have to agree with Glasssy. High volume will be the key. I reckon steer clear of that NSP thing, it looks like a pig and won't leave him much room for progression. Have a look at the 7s fish around the same size. They're made in the same factory in Thailand and by all reports are pretty strong boards and surf pretty well

Agree on the NSP. It's a sideways step, not progression. I saw a 7'2"ish tuflite at Soul last week. I forget how much. Would be an ideal step up, and gun for when you're ready.

Been looking at 7s but they are a bit expensive. Anyone got an experience of Torq boards. Any good? What about Bic?

PS thanks for the advice

Looks like it'd be good to learn/progress on.

Would probably be a bitch to duck dive when he weighs 60kgs though! Can't really have the best of both worlds...

To me the NSP just looks horrible. It's a full barge and will be very hard for your son to handle in the surf. ie duckdiving will be impossible and he will be getting dragged back a mile every time he tries to swim under a wave (mind you the 7s at that size will still present the same problems). That elcheapo thing above would probably do the job fine until he can surf properly. Never heard of them though so couldn't vouch for the (most likely poor) quality but for $200 who'd complain

flashman1207 said..
Thanks guys.... might just check the cheapo one out and then get another one during winter when the sales are on

Im not sure what area your in and what budget you're working on, but have a look at Alkimos Surf in Clarkson. He has some good value boards new all the time

You'll find him on Face Book, or just look him up on the net..