shortboard or funboard?

[aleksís]

I'm a Finnish dude about 5'11 maybe 130-140lbs (179cm and 65kg), just came back from hawaii where i surfed for the first time, but also for two weeks straight (feeling quite comfortable with my progressing skills...). the season in Finland is very, very short (like 10-20 days of moderate/shitty waves per YEAR) but i'd still be interested in buying my own board. i learned on a 9' long, then progressed to a 7'4 funboard, now i'm wondering whether to buy a 6'6 short or maybe a 6'8-6'9 funboard... any recommendations? thanks.

[drowningbitbybit]

If you're rarely getting into the water, then a shortboard will be no good to you at all. To progress on a shortboard, you need to be in the water several times a week for months on end - not once every now and then.

So go for a funboard. If you're only surfing 10-20 days a year, then you need something thats only a small step up from your present skill level.
I'd probably be recommending a funboard for someone of your experience even if they were going to be surfing quality breaks daily. There's nothing more frustrating than being on a board thats too small.

But well done for being the only Finnish surfer we have on the forum!

[Pornstar]

yep little surf time is a no no for learning in a shortboard.
Besides you said that there aint that much good waves where you live at.

If that was the case i would even recomend a long board instead. That way you can have a board to use on the small days even when you are more experienced and a shortboard for the few good days.

a funboard is in between the two (longboard/shortboard) and its performance is kind of "not fun" or user friendly if you ask me on the good days (dificult to duckdive, slow at gathering speed when paddling, tiring to manhandle, dificult to catch steep hollow waves.... and nowhere near the glide, stability and wave catching capacity of a longboard on small or mushy days.

do as you please, but i hope that the advice i gave you might help you get a better board for your skill and suited for the conditions youll be surfing the most.

[aleksís]

thank you for the replies, every bit of information is helping me out.