Board advice

[blizzard944]

Hi everyone.

I know this has probably been covered a bunch of times but i need some advice on buying a board. I've been hiring boards for about 2 years whenever i could, last year I bought a 8 foot minimal in thruster config. I've been surfing about 2 - 3 times a week since and have gotten heaps better. Its a great board but i'm having a little trouble turning it and ducking it, which limits the size i can surf. Anyway I know i'm probably not ready to move on just yet, but once i figure out what i should buy i was thinking i'd keep an eye out over the next few months.

So, i'm 6ft tall and 110kg, the minimal holds me just fine. So what should i be looking at for a second board? I basically want to be able to surf more size (3ft ~) and start turning quickly, but arent confident in my ability to paddle a short board. Should i go for a super fish? Should i just buy a more conventional short board and just practice? If so how long? how thick? (6ft, 20in, 2 & 5/8?). Should i buy a fish? What did you guys get as your second boards?

Thanks in advance guys.

[jaffa1949]

Hey Blizzard, the minimal should be giving you a bit more in the turns to start with try changing if you can the centre fin position move it slightly more forward to about 15mm behind the bases of the side fins see if that loosens the board up.

I'm about the same weight and I think you could probably go to an 8ft in the 7S type boards or and my favourite "short" board is a Surftech Gordon and Smith Magic fish. It's epoxy and very zippy.
I think it is likely you haven't taken the minimal to its full capability ( unless of course it's a dog).
BTW Epoxy boards are harder to duck dive as they are more buoyant, but a skill or bigger guys bigger boards is the eskimo roll or stateside turning turtle