Surfing Waves

My boyfriend currently surfs a 7 foot Turtle Bay short board. He's recently been making noises about getting a Tufflite, but I wanted to know whether it's advisable to get him one for christmas (as a suprise) or whether it's something he needs to look at beforehand. Also, I've heard that you can go a couple of inches shorter than normal on a Tufflite - if this is the case then would I be better of getting a 6'10" or a 6'8"?

Any advice is much appreciated.

how long has he been surfing, how good is he, what are the waves like tell us that sort of stuff

is it really adviseable to have your login name as your email address? you'll be getting lots of unwanted emails!

I think its something he needs to look at before.

he surfs the Gower, wales. we've been away to Portugal and Morocco a couple of times in the last year in order to get into bigger waves. He's been surfiing consistently for 10 years and intermitantly for the last 15 or so years, so he's pretty good. I know he's after a more responsive board and one that's much thinner than his current short board.

The waves in the Gower are pretty consistent during the winter, although they can be messy. We were surfing Pria Grande, west of Lisbon in October and that was barelling. It was then he first mentioned about getting a new board. The waves then were big (for me) - around 7-8 foot, although that's his sort of wave.

Hadow, good point. I know it's risky getting him a new board without him choosing it - it's alot of money to spend on a board that may be the wrong one entirely! I do however believe it to be an awesome suprise. I'm very torn hence the request for help.

Shortboard 7ft!!! Just how big is your boyfriend if 7ft is a shortboard to him? Erm from the way you've desribed his surfing both waves, skill and time on the water i would be expecting him to be riding something around 6ft 2"- 6ft 4" in length.
Still anyway, depends where you get the board from. If you get it from a shop you can always take it back if your boyfriend decides he don't like that one.
But remember a surfboard is for life not just for xmas.

KS

When your out and about suggest going into a shop. Then check out boards with him, and just keep some mental notes on what he really wants. Hit up a couple different places if you can (they don't all have to be in the same day). Then you can go back by yourself and pick up the board you know he wants.