First shortboard

[SA_Chick92]

Hi

Sooo I bet this question gets asked a lot on here..but I'm completely clueless on these things and need some advice.

I'm looking to buy my first shortboard..I have no idea what im looking for though! I'll be honest I only started surfing not so long ago and can barely just about pop up on the 7'9 BIC minimal I have. I know its all down to practice..I seriously would if i could but here where i live (Bournemouth, England) there only seems to be waves like once every 2 weeks. So I'm planning on doing a couple of trips down to Cornwall soon where it looks like theres more regular waves to practice on

In the summer I'm also going to be travelling a lot..going to Newquay for a solid week, France, South Africa and possibly Portugual. I wanna try surf all these places and dont want to do it on a minimal..I've learnt with surfing its good to keep pushing yourself to new levels or you'll always be stuck on the same one. Never progessing.

Which is why im looking into buying a shortboard early! im determined to get this right.. I was recommended a fish board..What is the difference between a fishboard and a shortboard? Also, I'm about 5'10 and 12st if that helps I need something that wont break easily..so ive written off any fibreglass boards. and my budget is also not the biggest thing ever

any info/advice would be good thanks

[jaffa1949]

SA chick92. You're right that question does get asked a lot here. Have a read around the posts of "should I get a short board?" type there are lots of answers for.
Lets start with a couple of thoughts you can consider. BIC Minimals are relative barges in the learning world they are virtually indestructible but they are stable and provide a good learning platform and believe me if you are challenged popping up on one of these then a short board is going to be even more frustrating. You need to have a lot of time almost continuously at this stage for progress in one session to carry through to the next so the Newquay might just start your real surfing journey.
You height and weight are important but your level of skill is not yet ready for a shorter board, when you can do some stuff on the BIC then go and look at another board. There is so much difference between a fish board and short board but that won't even be noticeable until you are riding the face of the wave and can do basic turns.
Now about fibreglass 90% of all boards have fibreglass just different resins laminating the cloth onto the board put simply.
Even the current BIC has fibreglass and you will be hard working to damage any board in your current surfs. So I wouldn't write them off
At this stage of learning I'd even suggest you travel without a board and hire one at any of those destinations that way you can try a number of types without buying the wrong thing.
If you don't want to go the route suggested BIC has a board called the super frog and a 6'8" in that might cover the bases but I don't know what the prices are. The board is not a full skatey fish and I would not recommend one of these or a specialist shortboard.
Hope the advice helps>
Read the posts and at the end you know a lot more which will help you understand what you are asking about

[SA_Chick92]

Ah thanks that did help a lot i mean like i said I'm completely clueless about these things haha! If I do end up buying a shorter board now I don't plan on using it straight away..I want to perfect the minimal fist But it gives me an incentive to keep pushing myself to the next level . Although I didn't consider hiring boards instead of travelling with them..its definitively something to consider!

thanks again!