Surfing Waves

i get the basic idea.. I know that guns are for big waves, i know longboards , shortboards.. and all that

However, Ive heard from local shops that the best board to learn on is a funboard.. then on here it says a mini-mal.. whats the difference between a minimal and a funboard? Im pretty sure a mini-mal is a mini longboard (beacuse another name for the longbaord is a malibu) so if someone could confirm that , that would be nice. and i think a fun board is also called a hybrid? mix between a shortboard and a longboard? anyway whats a better beginner board and the difference (although i think the funboard has a pointed nose and the mal has a rounded one.. am i right?)

as for the fish shape ... i know its for like 2 foot waves..c an it be surfed on like 6 foot wave? and about the tail, ive seen some where it reeeally comes in or just a V.. are they both fishs? idk

sry for so many questions.. but if anyone could answer anything, i would greatly appreciate it.. thanx in advance..

You should search before posting questions, these topics have been well covered here & elsewhere.

A fish is (strictly) defined as having a tail wider than 6 inches (that's measured from tip to tip of the swallowtail) usually under 6'4" or so,and wide (more than 20") and a twin fin, traditionally made with varnished marine-ply wooden fins. Look up www.swaylocks.com to get a good overall of fish (they talk about them endlessly).
A hybrid or "modern" fish usually takes the basic design principles of real fish and combines them with modern fin systems i.e. a thruster arrangement, sometimes with two larger outside fins and a small fin in the middle.
These two different fish types are good at specific things, a real fish is blindingly fast but abit weird to ride. Hybrid fish are a nice compromise between these and a normal shortboard.
A Mini-Mal is just that. A mini-mal. Usually 7'-8' in length and very popular with the ladies or those who surf less often as they're easy to catch waves on. A Funboard, well they're a Frankenstein really, a mixture of a mini-mal and a shortboard. Frankly a Mini-Mal and a funboard are essentually the same thing to me...

Go to the swaylocks site & search under each type. You'll get plently of photo's and deep discussions about the merits of them all. Cheers.
Brent
(and I forgot to log-in, sorry)

a TRUE fish is normally under 6' and really wide, no rocker, and thick with a big ol swallow tail. I'm having one shaped right now

Brent..

Are us ure hyrbrids are modern fish? because ive been searching sites about boards they make (murphysurfboard.com) and all the hybrids are like a minimal and a funboard... The way i look at it... hyrbids are funboards or a minimal , a fun board is more of a mix between a longboard and a shortboard while a minimal is just a smaller longboard u can noseride.. i dont really know about the fishes but i gotta question for ya.. when u said how fast the real fishes are, are the faster than shortboards? and what is the maximum height of waves they can ride? like if im gonna buy a fish, i wanna also be able to surf in like 5 foot waves... is this possible?? thanx for ur help..
(really rusty44, i forgot to log in too)

rusty4 wrote:Brent..

Are us ure hyrbrids are modern fish? because ive been searching sites about boards they make (murphysurfboard.com) and all the hybrids are like a minimal and a funboard... The way i look at it... hyrbids are funboards or a minimal , a fun board is more of a mix between a longboard and a shortboard while a minimal is just a smaller longboard u can noseride.. i dont really know about the fishes but i gotta question for ya.. when u said how fast the real fishes are, are the faster than shortboards? and what is the maximum height of waves they can ride? like if im gonna buy a fish, i wanna also be able to surf in like 5 foot waves... is this possible?? thanx for ur help..
(really rusty44, i forgot to log in too)

Hybrids are not a true fish. You will be able to ride a fish in 5 foot waves for sure, ive surfed my fish in a little overhead and it was still awesome. If you get one, you will love it. Theyre really fast in small waves, way faster then a thruster, and theyll catch any wave in sight.