Surfing Waves

Hey

I've been learning on a 7'6" minimal for nearly a year now and am thinking of getting my first shortboard. Question is: when is the right time to do this? I'm finding my Bic (eek!) heavy and hard/slow to turn once I'm on the wave... Should I keep battling with it for a bit longer and get more experience, or start thinking about getting a shorter board? How did you guys know when the time was right?

cheers
ga

i don't think there is a right time just when u feel ready to move down as long as u can get on the face and turn your bic u should be ok

i would ride it for another half a year, then think of moving down to either a long shortboard or a thick egg

I rode a 7'2'' Mal for a couple of years before i moved down to a shortboard. As your making turns i don't see why you can't drop down a bit, but make sure that the board you get is still quite long and wide with plenty of volume.

its time to drop down when you find you cant do the things you want to on your current board. for example tighter turns etc are more difficult on a longer board.

Thanks for the info guys. Think I'll stick with my board until the end of the summer and have another think then.

I just went through the exact same thing as you... my 7'8 was big, slow and heavy to turn, so I got a 6'6 short board, which I love very much. I just decided to move down as small as I thought I could handle, so I borrowed a few mates' short boards, and decided 6'6 should be around the right size for me.

Funny thing is, now that I've ridden a performance board, when the waves are small and mushy I take out my 7'8 and a lot of what I've learnt on the shortboard translates back to the mini-mal (ie a cutback can be done!).

I guess you should try a short board, and see how you go. If you can surf it, your skills will improve heaps faster than if you continue on your bic.

my veiw is go down where ever you want, i had a 7'6" for less than 6 months. if you want it go for it.

jman6194 wrote:I just went through the exact same thing as you... my 7'8 was big, slow and heavy to turn, so I got a 6'6 short board, which I love very much. I just decided to move down as small as I thought I could handle, so I borrowed a few mates' short boards, and decided 6'6 should be around the right size for me.

Funny thing is, now that I've ridden a performance board, when the waves are small and mushy I take out my 7'8 and a lot of what I've learnt on the shortboard translates back to the mini-mal (ie a cutback can be done!).

I guess you should try a short board, and see how you go. If you can surf it, your skills will improve heaps faster than if you continue on your bic.

couldnt agree more. I mix it up a little though part of the fun is picking which board to take. I just need a lonboard to complete my quiver

i bought one when i wanted new toys

surferdude_scarborough wrote:its time to drop down when you find you cant do the things you want to on your current board. for example tighter turns etc are more difficult on a longer board.

well said

I couldn't wait another 6 months.... compromised and went for a 6'10" funboard after some really good advice from the shop owner - he's been surfing for 28 years

Can't wait to get in tomorrow but I know I'm gonna be totally crap trying to ride a board 8" shorter than my old one...

Sounds like a good move .
The sooner people get onto custom boards the better. There is a time and place for foamys, pop outs, bics and NSPs, but they are all xxxxx compared to a proper fibreglass board when you get to start doing turns and stuff. Whilst you can turn on all boards its much easier on a custom. No need to jump staight on a short board, just as long as its a custom/fibre glass board.

if you want to get a fibreglass board it often is cheaper to get a custom these days anyway. just depends on your local shaper really

Surfhobbit,

The time is right when you can feel you're not turning quick enough for your preference. Honestly, there is no right time. When you make the transition as everyone does, it becomes instinctual that you will adjust everything about your surfing. Good luck.