Surfing Waves

hey everyone i have been surfing for about 8 months now and i only get to surf about twice a week. I am still pretty xxxxx and only just started to get my bottom turn working. i have a 6'1 atm and its very thin and i think its affecting my paddle speed. i normal surf around 2-3ft beachies and i seem to only catch them very late. i am having to drop down every wave and i thinks its affecting my take off angle becuase i am always catched by the white wash. i know its probably me and i am just catching the wrong waves and at the wrong angles but i cant seem to get any speed before the wave gets to me and its only gravity giving me the speed i need to get going. should i try a thicker borad or just persist with his for a while?

thanks everyone

Unless you are built like a child (or are a child), a 6'1 shortboard is far too small for a beginner. You need something much bigger.

Yeah, Getty a 6'1.5

How much do you weigh and what fins do you have on your board?

Hey I weigh about 60kg. The board is kinda growing on me. Its only a cheap generic thruster but I can carve now and having tonnes of fun. Just wondering if I should move up and get a board shapped to fit me better.
Cheers

Honestly, if you've only been surfing for 8 months, and you only get out twice a week, riding a thruster, at this point, is beyond your skill level.

Try to up your surfing to 4 times per week. If you want to learn how to ride a thruster, need to log time in the water. If more sessions is not an option, maybe get on a fish or something with more volume.

Yer its not balance or standing up that is the problem the physical side of surfing is fine. Its know which wave to pick and what to do on the wave once I am up is the hard thing. But maybe I should go a fish board or maybe hybrid? Any suggestions?