Shortboard advice needed!

[NikoSocal]

Hey im looking to buy my first shortboard. Ive been riding a 9ft longboard for a while but i'm dieing to start shortboarding. They just look like a lot more fun and versatile. Im 6'2" and 165 pounds. Can you guys give me some advice as to what dimensions of a board i should try? I dont have the money to buy a step-up board in between so i would like to just try and take the leap to shortboarding haha. What do you dudes think? Thanks

[Jimi]

Welcome Niko, I'm glad to hear you've been riding a 9ft log to start with. Now that you've made the decision to go short, the question is how well you paddle, and how quickly you pop up. Second to that, what type of waves do you get?

If you're good at paddling, and quick and stable at popping up, then a board around 6'6 is a reasonable board to aim for. You're about the same build as me, and I'm usually riding a 6'1 pod/fish style board (it's wide and thick) most days, but in a conventional shortboard, I need 6'4 or longer.

Since you don't want buy a step down, you could get a 6'6 and it will be versatile enough if you practice lots. Keep the longboard too!

[NikoSocal]

Thanks for the reply jimi! I live in the Northern San Diego area. The waves are anywhere from 1.5-4ft on an average day but can get pretty big. I pop up pretty well on a longboard but when i tried shortboarding for the first time this morning on my buddy's 6'2" board it was a lottttttt harder than i anticipated. I wasnt used to my legs being in the water when i go to pop up, unlike when im longboarding. I'd say im decent at paddling my 9ft, and OK(struggled but i managed haha) with the 6'2" i tried. 6'6" shortboard or fish?

[Jimi]

If you got to your feet and rode a few faces on the 6'2, then you know what you're in for. A 6'6 will feel quite similar to ride, but just not quite as extreme. Easier to paddle and catch waves, but a little less skittish. Also it's less likely to bog down on fat sections than the 6'2.

A fish is a different kettle of.. erm... fish. Shorter, but with plenty of volume. For your weight, around 6'2x20 would be ok with practice. The key thing about fish is they are slower to turn, and you need to be exactly in the sweet spot of the board both when paddling and riding. Great for the size surf you described, but the traditional style fish aren't for everybody.

A hybrid fish (i.e. a fat shortboard) is a great option though! The shorter you go, the more maneuverable, but also the more critical the front/back foot weighting becomes.

[garbarrage]

At your size and weight I'd be aiming at a 6'8 fatboy/hybrid or similar. A year or so on that should get you in the short-board mindset. Waves look a lot different on a shortboard. There'll be sections you'll need to look at differently etc.

[NikoSocal]

Ill start looking for something along the lines of a fish or hybrid fish then. A friend of mine actually told me he wants to give me a 6'4 shortboard he has. Even though thats a lot shorter than a 6'8 or 6'6.. i dont have to buy a board so ill see how that goes. Depending on how that goes ill invest in a longer board or fish. The 6'4 is worth a shot dont you think?

[Jimi]

hmmm... If it's free, it's hard to pass up, and you will eventually be able to surf it. Depends really on how wide and thick it is as to whether it's a good idea or not.

Have a go and see if it floats you ok when paddling. If so, then probably persevere with it until you're ripping!