When do you think is someone ready to get a shortboard?

[The Fafanator]

I ride a 7.2 hybrid, and I know I am not redy yet to get me a shortboard, but I want to know when do you think is someone ready to move up (or down for that matter) to a shortboard? (and how long does it useually take to get there if you surf a 7.2 hybrid.)

[Sillysausage]

changes with every person, how often you surf etc...but until you can ride the open face of the wave easily, completeing bottom turns and feel confident that you will progress from downsizing

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

Why don't you feel you're ready to downsize now? Dialing in the right dimensions, tail rocker, rails, tail, etc might take some trial and error, but if you're dtermined, fit enough to paddle, have a stable stance, and are quick to your feet on take off, you should be ready to shortboard.

[crepuscular]

if you surf like at least 3-4 times a day, you can start off with a shortboard, assuming you already comfortable with longboard, but it will take some time to get to use because longboard and shortboard techniques are different, but you get the joy of the performance of shotboards

[niallhills]

i started at 11 on a short board, never came off it

[pkbum]

if you surf like at least 3-4 times a day

[RJD]

if you surf like at least 3-4 times a day

You a lightweight then?

[The Fafanator]

Why don't you feel you're ready to downsize now? Dialing in the right dimensions, tail rocker, rails, tail, etc might take some trial and error, but if you're dtermined, fit enough to paddle, have a stable stance, and are quick to your feet on take off, you should be ready to shortboard.

A: I don't catch waves often enough.
B: I am quite big, so a 7.2 to me is like a 6.8 to someone else.
C: I am broke.
Anyway, I just want to learn to catch waves more consistantly and then I will move on, on the wave I can perform quite well, but the tricky part is getting on it and staying infront of the whitewater (I might want to try and catching it further down the line on days that it breaks faster, but when it breaks nice and slow I'll be good.)