How long before I can ride a 6'6''?

[cornishsurfer]

I am currently learning how to surf on a 7'2'' NSP Funboard. My dad has a custom made 6'6'' shortboard in the garage which he doesn't use anymore.
How long before I can make the transition from my NSP to my dad's Fluid Juice?
I'd rather it be sooner than later as I am a female 13 year old, I weigh 87lbs, and I'm 4'11. I think it would be easier as I don't weigh very much and I am quite short. Also, as I am quite small, I find it hard carrying my NSP around. My arm is not 22'' long, so I cannot carry my 22'' wide board under my arm. Walking up and down from the beach in windy conditions is almost harder than actually surfing. I also find it hard lugging my board around in the shallow whitewater.
My surfing ability consists of; 5 unbroken waves, lots of whitewater, some nice long rides, but mostly wipeouts after a short ride.
Do you think I could make the transistion now, or would this hold back my surfing? I get in once every weekend, usually.
Thank you for your time.

[zangpakto]

Hmm tough one, but I'd say try it out, see how it goes and handles.

The fact you don't weight much and are short might mean your better suited to that board anyway at present.

8" difference will give you a shock at first but you'll learn to like the board

Once advice someone gave me here I think is carry the board around, sleep with it, only go on it, and treat it as your life. And you'll eventually get used to it!

If you can stand up on a board, you can transition down if you are determined, and hell I'm almost that height just like 2/3" bigger... Weigh a LOT more, and surfing a 5'10" at moment and I transitioned down from a 7'8" minimal from which I think I caught only 1 maybe 2 unbroken waves? That was mostly though the main break I surfed with it was xxxxx though... And surfed with it for a year and paddle strength etc was good.

So yea, I took about 2/3 weeks to get fully used to the board, but my jump was a LOT more than you, so I honestly say to give it a week maybe two in the water and see how it goes.

Best of luck and hope to see ya ripping on a shorty sometime soon

[esonscar]

I can get you riding a 6'6" in one session. Go surf and enjoy.

[cornishsurfer]

I can get you riding a 6'6" in one session.

As in you can imagine me riding the surfboard? Or you can give me help in riding it? Thank you

[esonscar]

I have taught all my friends of all shapes. sizes, ability and commitment to actually stand up on their surfboards in a very short amount of time - you should be no different.

[Kaaimans]

That is already to big. Go for it. For someone who is 4'11", I'd give a 6'2" to learn on. That is like a 7'4" to me. I'm 6'2" (I was 5'11" at the time.) and I learnt on a 6'6". I actually had a 7'2", hated it, to big, bulky, and I couldn't duckdive. The 6'6" helped a lot. My 6'3" I got after a year of surfing, I was 6'1" at the time. Now I'm getting a 6'5" rounded pin for the bigger days.