Surfing Waves

hi, im looking to buy a shortboard and ive looked on the sticky to help me.
Apparently, i should get a 6'4 inch shortboard, but that sounds a bit long for me.
I weigh 116 lbs (!) and i can catch green waves, but i cant do any tricks.
I want to learn cutbacks, floaters, carving turns, trimming etc....
Which type of board would be the best choice for me?
I have always had difficulties catching waves because i cant paddle enough (i am very weak at 116 lbs) so maybe a fishy would be a good choice?

thanks

You are a begginer, yes a board for your size should be smaller, but you have to take your ability in mind. A fish would be a great choice if you aren't that experienced, for sure over 6ft if you are still learning, smaller if not. A good jump from begginer to intermediate would be about a 6'2, or like you where recommended, a 6'4 shortboard. Once you are really good you will use a 5'8 or so, but not until you get much better than barely being able to get to green water.

OK, thanks man!
My next buy will be a carveboard, i think it'll really help me to do floaters, carving turns and cutbacks.

http://www.newsurfproject.com/shortboard-64.html

would this be a good choice?

wenen wrote:http://www.newsurfproject.com/shortboard-64.html

would this be a good choice?

NSP's are way durable, you'll never break it, I bought one for my kids and they used to drop it all the time and nothing happened to it other than some chipped paint.

Truth be said, they are not performance board, but for a begginer it will work fine.

I hear a lot of people slag off NSP's and Bics, but it think they are ideal for what they are.

surf patrol wrote:I hear a lot of people slag off NSP's and Bics, but it think they are ideal for what they are.

what he sais...
just was in fuerte and on a smaller day, took out the 6.8 funboard and its a wave machine.
just for a session of simple and effortless fun...

surf patrol wrote:I hear a lot of people slag off NSP's and Bics, but it think they are ideal for what they are.

Totally, they got a bad rap from the heavier bulkier earlier models, but they aren't that bad at all. I would not pick one over, say, a Rusty, but I would not pass one up if I needed to go surfing.

Hi, I am beginner and planning to buy used 6'3 surfboard. I am 5'3 height, and 105 lbs. my friend who used to surf suggested me 6'0 because it fits for skinny people. I have tried longboard maybe 8ft with instructor but he said its too easy for me to ride because i'm light. do you think 6'3 is good enough for me?

fashionistaqueen wrote:Hi, I am beginner and planning to buy used 6'3 surfboard. I am 5'3 height, and 105 lbs. my friend who used to surf suggested me 6'0 because it fits for skinny people. I have tried longboard maybe 8ft with instructor but he said its too easy for me to ride because i'm light. do you think 6'3 is good enough for me?

DDD: No, too small. It is more about width than length but try to aim for a 7-7.5ft minimal.

Since you are only 105lbs you have some options. If you already tried an 8ft board and seemed to easy then smaller it is. Be careful though, too small and what will happen is that you will get frustrated and not have fun.

6'0 is too small for a begginer board, probably good once you get better, but not now. If you get a 6'3 it should have some volume since you are a begginer, at least 2 1/2 inches thick and at least 19 1/4 wide, just as a starter board.

By the way, you friend is right, eventually you'll be riding a 5'10 shortboard if you surf 3 times a week for the next couple of years, but for now go with something bigger so you can have fun right away