I think this board would be great for a beginner, as long as you had some fairly deep fins on there (like 2.0" on the tail would be ideal). My wife rides the 138, and it is such a better ride than the O'Brien she used to have. One of the good features of the Five-O is that the rails are bevelled (softened), so a beginner will have less chance of catching an edge and taking a brutal fall. I have taught beginners for many years, and in my opinion, there is nothing about this board that would make it too advanced for a beginner. It has a nice continuous rocker, and the cut and pop are very smooth and predictable. I have another friend who is looking to sell a 2001 model 138, which is identical to the one that my wife rides. It is in excellent condition, and she would make you a very good deal on it. Send me an email back-channel if you would like to know more about it.
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