help choosing board

[syeite]

hey just a bit unsure about choosing my next board. im a beginner/intermediate level surfer. i have two boards at the moment a BIC 8ft minimal and a 7'4 nsp shortboard and im now looking into gettin my first serious properly crafter board. something like black/white or al merrick. im just at a loss on what size or specifications to look for...
im looking for something that excels in small to medium surf that i can progress with and that gives a bit more freedom to move. im 17, 6ft and around 12st.
so i just thought id ask some of you guys who have maybe encountered this problem before so any advice of feedback would be awsum.

thanks!

[drowningbitbybit]

Why are you asking us? You should be talking to your local shaper!

Seriously, forget about Al Merricks bla bla, go and talk to your local and well-respected shaper (or local to your normal break if you dont live near the sea) and tell him your thoughts and get him to guide you.
Be ruthlessly honest - there's no point telling the shaper that you're really great when what you need is a good transition board, and he'll know the local breaks and what boards work for the conditions.

Custom all the way now. You've done your pop-out phase - time to step up to a real board

For what its worth, you're about the same size as me (a lot younger though! ) and Ive been through this. Your first shortboard after pop-outs will need to be a big shortboard/transition board so something like...

6'8x 20 x2 1/2
Not too radical an outline, and a rounded square tail.
Thruster set up.

You could probably go a touch shorter, but it would only prolong your learning curve.

Also depends on where you surf - if, for instance, you're in the UK then you'll want to keep the length and the volume to get you into the waves, but if you're surfing somewhere a bit more powerful then you might want to drop the length and volume a tad.

[syeite]

ahhh cheers! i was gunna leave it untill i was next down anyway because i surf around cornwall, mostly polzeath area and sometimes newquay. but i live a few hours away so i only get down there every few months or so. i just wanted to know what sort of stuff i needed to be looking for when i do go lookin for a proper board, which will be in around a month.
cheers dude! thanks for the help

[esonscar]

I agree with drowningbitbybit - I like the sound of that.

Also, as your fist real board ask about the deck patch too - too light in this area and it will get all dented by your knees and feet !

(If you are gonna fork out some moolah, you want the board to last).

Post up a pic if you get sommit .

[syeite]

will do! thanks guys