Surfing Waves

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!

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.

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

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 .

will do! thanks guys