Big guys (and gals)

[SpeedySharkY]

I've been surfing now for little over a year, I'm 6'2 weigh 85 kg and surf a 6'6 fish, its perfect for me. my question to all the fine people on this forum particularly if you are of bigger frame (smaller people welcome too no prejudices here) is what size do you ride. Sorry if this seems irrelevant it would just be interesting to me to get a scope on what the bigger guys are surfing with and just how low they will go... 6'3 guy on 5 foot board one can only dream

[oldmansurfer]

I am 6'2" and about 210 pounds and I currently ride 2 boards. My oldmanoverweightoutofshape board which is 8' x 23" x 3.75" and my newer 7'6" x 24" x 3.75" my oldmanoverweightboard (because I have gotten into better shape). I am 62 years old and on a slow learning curve because I can only surf about an hour a week (two 30 minute sessions). I haven't reached a point where either of these boards hinder my progression. Basically I can do what I want to with them so far which is a lot of power turns and riding a variety of waves that show up where I surf.

[drowningbitbybit]

I'm 6'0 and 85kg and my shortest board is 5'10 - however, it has a stack of volume. I could easily surf it at 5'8, but it's my small-wave board so I wanted to keep the volume.

My usual board is 6'2. It's not ultra-skinny but has fairly standard dimensions with a touch of extra volume under the chest to compensate for the 85kg of lardy incompetence on top of it

[drowningbitbybit]

Incidentally, my 'record' was a friend's old-skool fish. That was 5'2 and I surfed it very very badly

[Big H]

What are you trying to figure out? Seems like a lot of people are obsessed with surfing smaller and smaller boards.....equate it to a mark of their ability. Curious to why you aspire to be riding a smaller board when the one you have works well for you and for the conditions that you surf. Obsession with how low can you go around here means considerably less waves...competition is stiff here. Comparing notes between a rider & board with 20 years experience used in overhead+ barrelling conditions and a rider/board with a year or two of experience used in crumbly fat waves isn't going to yield much. Chats are chats and I get the curiosity angle but wouldn't put much on the answers you get, especially if you are happy on what you are on.

FWIW I am 87kg, 6'1", 45years old, two years experience, surf nearly daily here in Bali and for shorter boards like 36-39L in lengths from 6' - 6'7". I have bigger boards too (7'+) and surf those in all conditions.

On another front....I have a 6'7" that has less volume considerably than a 6' board I own....length and volume measurements are not everything by a long shot....other factors, rocker being a major one, weigh heavily into how the board is going to perform under paddle and under foot.

Having a board that can be duck dived helps on heavier days on obstinate breaks, but means little if you can't catch waves or ride the board because it is too small for you. Surfing bigger days also means a higher level of competition in the lineup; if you are struggling to catch or bog out because you are on a too small board around here you'll lose respect and will be lucky to get a wave cleanly after that, and will most likely get dropped in on because no one expects you to actually take the wave and aren't going to be patient with someone struggling on a board not suited for them.

My 2cents......