Surfing Waves

Wanting to move down in size to a shortboard from my 7'9" Bic that i started on.

Was thinking of going down to a 7' Epoxy but the board im looking at is a rounded pintail.

The aim is to learn to surf bigger waves and get the general shortboard skills dialled.
Ive been reading conflicted views on the rounded pin Vs the squash and am wondering will i be left flapping around like an idiot on smaller surf having wasted my money on a rounded pin,due to the fact that people are saying they are suited to larger surf.
My local surf would be medium sized,sometimes big,not always the best conditions but good often and im 6' and 10.5-11 stone.

Any info appreciated

This is the board i was looking at but they dont come in a squash but im liking the specs on it as is:
7' Epoxy
20 1/2" wide
2 5/8" thick
Single concave
looks to have a nice rocker on it aswell.

This board has been the staple of the Tiki range for over 10 years. The long rail line of the round pin tail make it a solid step up board for those looking to ride bigger waves. For the intermediate or heavier surfer, it offers performance from a board with plenty of float.

In My Honest Opinion Squash Tail is the one for you at this time:

Tiki rocks but I'd really go for a squash as you are changing size – if you want to turn harder, get bigger leg muscles – worked for me in all surf and then some (see my sways avatar !)

Pin is looser and to me seems to lack the ‘grab’ of the squash – the turn is what we feel and so we should try to achieve this feeling until we get to the pro style slash back madness !

What does everyone else think ?

This is where we will differ. A squash is actually looser on turns than a rounded thumb, at least my shortboards are. I use my thumbs and pin tail boards in big waves for control, use my squash in chest to head high for ripping it up. Maybe other could chime in, but I think the rounded pin or even better a thumb tail would be better for a begginer.

I agree with temathteacher that the squash is looser, easier to throw about. I don't know which would favour a beginner more though. A swallow is supposed to be best of both worlds but I haven't surfed on one since I started (except for a fish which you can't compare to standard boards), and back then I couldn't turn very well.

I prefer short and loose in smaller waves. The beach breaks I surf break fast and section lots, so you want to be able to turn quick and stay one step ahead of the wave. Do a slow turn and the section will have passed you by.

If the board is designed for big/ger waves in mind, then it will be shaped for control and not for generating speed. You need speed generating characteristics for small waves but for big waves you don't need speed, that comes automatically with the drop.

Only get a board like this if you have one for regular days as well. You should be able to take your everyday board out on bigger days it just won't perform as well.

Yeah, I had a pin tail for a while that seemed pretty stable in small and mid range surf.. I wasn't good enough to get into bigger stuff at the time, so Im not sure how it did.. but now I ride a thumbnail style and it holds awesome in EVERYTHING I've taken it in.. from ankle biters, to head-high+. It's great stuff.

I haven't yet ridden a squash, so I can't really compare it. But figured I'd give my 2 cents on the pin/thumb board. Good luck.

themathteacher wrote:This is where we will differ. A squash is actually looser on turns than a rounded thumb, at least my shortboards are. I use my thumbs and pin tail boards in big waves for control, use my squash in chest to head high for ripping it up. Maybe other could chime in, but I think the rounded pin or even better a thumb tail would be better for a begginer.

You said it - 'squash for ripping it up = more positive turning - rounded for control in big surf because they are looser on the face and follow the fall line.