Surfing Waves

I was wondering if I should actually move down from my 6"6 to something smaller? My friends say I should since I'm only 5"6 or so and it looks like a gun for my size. The board is getting pretty dinged up and just tonight I made a major ding repair to the tail .

I'm able to pop up and working on cutbacks and what not but am wondering if I should take his advice and get a 5"10 or so? He gets his boards from HIC and they seem like a good brand. Does anyone have their reviews on HIC boards?

Anyone?

dude i dojnt know that much about surfboards and that as there are loads more dudes hu no what they are talkin about but i fink u shud go for that size ure m8 told u 2 get as it will make it harder for yourself and therefore hightening your ability on the board, mainly balance which is a major part in surfing. just dont go 4 a board smaller than you rele, maybe a few inches smaller but thats it. keep surfin dude peace

if I'm around 5'6" would a 5'10" board be too small for myself? I would like to try one out and I have been looking on an awesome site for boards, used and new.

Anyone use this site as well since I may try to visit some of the places to check out the boards.http://honolulu.craigslist.org/

im about ur height and ride a 5'11 i find its perfect for me.

Surfersam118 wrote:im about ur height and ride a 5'11 i find its perfect for me.

Really? Thanks for telling me since I'm worried that I'll be unable to ride the board. How is it the first day? Would I be having a hard time popping up on a shorter board?

Anything over 6"-7" taller than you is going to act more and more like a longboard - but without the right design qualities.

If you're comfortable with what you have right now with the 6-6 (catching waves, popping up, balance, etc) you should try cutting off about 6 inches (at least).

I'm 6'1" and used to ride a 6'2", 6'6" and 6'8". The 6-8 is a Lost Mayhem hybrid and designed to ride a bit bigger than usual for the wave conditions I typically have.

(I say used to because I usually go out on my longboard nowadays, though still toy with the shortboards now and again).

As you get better and you are really performance surfing, that's when you start dropping a couple inches shorter than your height on the standard shortboard (ignoring fish style boards - typically fish-style boards will be shorter than you because of the width/thickness compensation).

Really? Thanks for telling me since I'm worried that I'll be unable to ride the board. How is it the first day? Would I be having a hard time popping up on a shorter board?

Well i spose it depends on ur ability..but wen i first went out on it ..it felt really different and it took me time to get used to it..probaly the same with any board

How long does it take to get used to a new board? Would it be like a session or after a couple of waves? I really want a new board but I'm not sure if to ask my parents now, if we could half the cost or Christmas .

Dunno its different for every1 depends on ur ability..how many times you will be surfing..maybe you could rent a similar sized board out and see how it is??? before you buy it

Yeah I would say it depends on:
natural ability
current skill level/experience
how many boards you are already riding
and how drastic of a change

I have been surfing for like 1 1/2 - 2 years, its been on an off while surfing. I really into it now though and I try to go every weekend. Boards I currently have are a 7'4" (learned on dont really ride it anymore), 6'6" and now I feel like moving down to a 5'10". I guess I'm around intermediate skill level since I"m able to bottom turn and working on cutbacks down the wave.

Would this be a drastic change from a 6'6"?

Hey Beachbum, i think a 5'10" wont be a bad choice for you..im around your height, im 5'7", and i ride a 5'11" and a 6'0"...and im also thinking of getting a 5'10" for smaller mushy waves..goodluck!!

Is a 5'10" only good for small mushy waves? I want to ride some bigger waves with it since I'm getting better.

Aye? A 5'10 shoudn't be for smaller mushy waves. It should be used as a mid sized wave board. Something that requires a bit of power and speed. Also, it will be veyr manuverable and snappy.

Surely it depends entirely on size! Saying a 5'10 doesn't really tell you much. A 5'10 performance board and a 5'10 retro fish are going to be completley different and suit different conditions.

Ya I'm not sure why type of 5'10" shortboard I may purchase but probably not a fish. I gotta visit that surfshop to get an idea on which board I would like to purchase.