Second board recommendations

[RinkyDink]

It's all a matter of finding the right spot for what you want to do. I want to paddle my shorter boards as little as possible so I need a break that accommodates me. That's actually not that hard to do around here. Maybe you just need to find your shortboard spot.

It's all about fitness for me, at the moment my paddling is, after some moths off, too weak to even consider it.

Oh yeah, I'd just stick to the longboard then. That's what I'm doing. Using longboarding to get into shortboard shape. The problem for me is that I surf with a lot of other longboarders so taking out a shorter board can be a little tricky if you have to surf further inside. My other reason for seeking a new spot is that I'm tired of surfing in kelp. I'm looking to reduce the kelp factor by at least half. Bring on sharks

[surferbee]

I'm all for trying out smaller boards. Without fail it makes surfing larger boards that much easier. My own progression looks like something like a damped sine wave: longboard => shortboard => mal => shortboard => funboard => shortboard => hybrid => shortboard => fish/groveller => shortboard => a fun quiver w/ lots of experimentation in between!

[RinkyDink]

I'm all for trying out smaller boards. Without fail it makes surfing larger boards that much easier. My own progression looks like something like a damped sine wave: longboard => shortboard => mal => shortboard => funboard => shortboard => hybrid => shortboard => fish/groveller => shortboard => a fun quiver w/ lots of experimentation in between!

That sounds like a fun quiver. I'm finding that I mostly switch between my longboard and my mal because those two boards are so familiar to me. There are days I want to take my fish out and get familiar with it, but I end up going with my longboard--I don't want to lose time in the water on a board that might not really work in the conditions. I do the same thing with my surf spots. I know those spots so I keep going to them even though I want to find a spot with a steeper wave that's easier to paddle into. Lately though, I've been eyeing my other boards and seeing their potential in steeper gnarlier waves. I've had to get my takeoffs worked out so I haven't spent as much time experimenting, but I'm feeling my takeoff is strong these days so I'm ready to start putting my other boards to work.

[surferbee]

I almost always bring at least 2 boards to the beach - something low-rocker/high-volume and something short/performance-y. Basically, it's a question of more waves vs. more exciting rides, plus what the conditions require. If the conditions are good, I'll start on the shorter board. If I'm having a good session, I'll stick with it. If not, I'll switch up after about an hour. Like I said before, the bigger boards always feel like I'm cheating after spending time on a shorter board.

[RinkyDink]

I almost always bring at least 2 boards to the beach - something low-rocker/high-volume and something short/performance-y. Basically, it's a question of more waves vs. more exciting rides, plus what the conditions require. If the conditions are good, I'll start on the shorter board.

Sometimes I feel the beach is like an amusement park where your board choice determines your experience (e.g. a longboard is like making out with your lover on a ferris wheel and a shortboard is like taking a ride on a roller coaster). Anyway, I might try bringing a couple of boards with me next time. That's a good idea.

[tomthetreeman]

The beach is an amusement park where ‘if you make it out’ with your longboard ‘it’ll be like making out with your lover.’

[RinkyDink]

The beach is an amusement park where ‘if you make it out’ with your longboard ‘it’ll be like making out with your lover.’

That's true during the first five months (for me a year+). Nothing wrong with a lot of heavy petting, though. Okay, I'm stopping this metaphor now before it gets X rated or worse . . . poetic