Fish has too much volume to sit on?

[oldmansurfer]

we'll see how that goes

[Lebowski]

This is a bizarre thread.

Please just trust that sitting on a board is a skill, and once you've learned it properly, you can sit on any surfboard easily and immediately.

It sounds like you're trying to surf boards waaaaay too small for your ability level. The old excuse of car size is a common one but you can fit a 7'6 inside pretty much any car unless you drive a 2 seater. Very short foamies are, in my experience, not very good for anything other than decent surfers or children. Even with decent surfers aboard, they don't ride very nicely compared to a 'proper' board.

I'm sure you'll ignore me but I'd suggest you get a larger board and start actually enjoying surfing more as well as picking up some decent skills. There is nothing more entertaining for seasoned surfers than watching someone struggling with a tiny board that's way beyond their skills. I don't say that to make fun of you, it's just a realistic assessment.

[jaffa1949]

I really agree this thread is bizarre and surf917says he can really paddle it well but can‘t because he has injured ribs.

When I consider that I have worked with disabled surfers missing limbs , from shark attack, to combat injuries and limbs removed to beat cancer.
I can sympathize with the desire to sit peace in the ocean.
So a win win solution, a genuine Kneeboard, there are some great makers around most coastlines, suitable and sitable, 6ft fits nicely, duckdiveable and when surf917 has a high performance board, The Cove Pad guy in America can do wonders.

I really think this could answer much for you!

[waikikikichan]

[surf917]

Wow.... what's with the passive disrespect? Complete turn from what I was experiencing here a couple posts before...

surf917says he can really paddle it well but can‘t because he has injured ribs.

I really meant when I said I appreciated your other posts where you actually tried to help instead of trying to put me on the spot with skepticism, pointing out that I'm stating contradicting statements, and with the predefined notion that you are 100% right and I'm 100% wrong. You go from that quote about me and then to talking about your battle with cancer and I think it's a pretty low from someone who've been through a lot (I'm talking about how you went through a lot, which was inspirational, but now I went from inspiration to ...)

...

No, lebowski, I didn't and will never take people's advice for granted, but it doesn't mean everyone should follow your advice every time. I never said it wasn't a skill and that was what the other posts implied, not mine. Some people take my request so personally that they think im saying one thing when I'm not. I have my own needs and preferences so please don't make presumptions.

Anyways this seems to be a theme here and a place to poke fun at amateurs, so obviously I'm not gonna want to stress myself with it. So if I don't respond don't take it personally and think about the fact that it's exhausting enough already to deal with other things in life, and surfing is an outlet for me to have a good time in my time and methods. Again, I appreciate the good advice here despite some of the repetitive posts and I never have stated otherwise and just have requested some good info to be shared.

Bye now

[jaffa1949]

I do understand that you might think we are disrespecting you, and far from it, much of what the old hands are doing is trying to point you to decisions that might be helpful, in this we seem to have failed, , nothing I have seen on this forum pleases me more than someone succeeding because of or in spite of what I suggest. and success is not measured by what I achieve, but rather your achievements!

Like you I can only make assumptions based on what you write to us and advise accordingly.
All the surfers i mentioned were meant to be inspirational, it is that simple!
Me , my cancer story and recovery is about moving on , how you choose to move on with what we have offered, is the right you have.
It is also appropriate to call us on what you think, it does offer a review on our approach.
Stay in the conversation , you will have a different insight to offer!
jaffa

[oldmansurfer]

Everyone is different but from what I can see here on the forum there are certain themes or regular occurring problems that beginners have in learning to surf. Much of that was not what I experienced and I would be clueless except for reading this forum here . One of the repeated themes we see is I want to learn on a shortboard for X , Y , or Z reason so they get a shortboard and can't catch any waves and don't learn to surf. If you don't catch waves you aren't learning how to surf. I figure this is where you are headed but I learned on a shortboard, a barely duckdiveable shortboard. I didn't use a longboard much till much later after I had quit surfing for 12 years and restarted. So there's hope for you. It's possible to learn on a much shorter board than most people can. Just that from the forum here it seems the odds aren't good. I guess you need persistence and hopefully won't develop bad habits from trying to make it work for you. In my case I was an avid bodysurfer and body boarder for years before learning how to surf. Hopefully you will find your way through all this information to find enjoyment in the ocean and surfing.

[waikikikichan]

I'm the only one with booties and a hoodie out there since I'm out doing 4 hour sessions and helps with sunburn. Thinking about wearing a helmet too.

I hope you are not using WEBBED paddling gloves for your 4 hour sessions. Those can really mess up you shoulders. Some beginners think webbed paddling gloves will help them paddle stronger/faster, but not true.

Some people take my request so personally that they think im saying one thing when I'm not. I have my own needs and preferences so please don't make presumptions.

I can 100% assure you that everyone who has contributed advise is genuine and looking out for YOUR best interest. Without actually seeing you surf, looking at your actual photo or a video of you................ WE HAVE TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS / PRESUMPTIONS. They are not insinuating anything bad when they give their advice, ask even more questions to clarify things or input their own past experiences.

YOU asked us for advice. Maybe the advice given isn't what you wanted to hear, but good or bad, it's up to you to filter that advice and put it to use in the future. WE want to help ( but you on assuming differently )

[SaltWaterHeart]

Hey, I realize this is a slightly dated thread and it’s been a few months since then but I thought I’d share a bit. I’m 6’ and honestly fluctuate depending on how much swell we get between 180-190lbs. I have a classic log, midlength egg, shortboard, long keel fish, and quad fish.

My shortboard is 6’2” and felt like a good compromise on length settling down from bigger boards but feels big now. My fish is a Bing Quad fish and is also 6’2”. They both have comparable volume to what you mentioned as the short is a CI Rocket Wide. For the first session or two on a 6’2” board coming down from a 6’8”, it felt awkward and I would see people comfortably sitting on boards and when sets started rolling through I felt like I was straddling a barrel, lol, and though I never fell off I felt pretty unsteady. However, it only took a session or two to be comfortable. I still feel at times especially if it’s windy and there are short period waves like I’m on a mechanical bull or something, but it’s fine. I’m a bigger surfer compared to a lot of guys I surf with who are like 5’ something and closer to 100lbs than me.

In learning how to surf different types of boards, it’s really made me a better surfer overall but I’ve had to learn the basics with each one. Where I sit on each board isn’t quite the same just like where you position yourself when paddling isn’t the same based on the length/size of board. It’s going to feel different and awkward at first, but generally with a smaller board you can’t expect to sit flat on the board and have the board support you completely like a longer board. You also use the water to help stabilize you a bit with your arms in the water rather than on your board typically. If your legs are tucked in tight, it can be difficultly to balance, I think you want to sort of hold the board with your thighs but turn your legs out a bit like two kickstands on a bike and use your arms in the water for added control just like you would if you were treading water like in a lifeguard swim test, for example, except you don’t need to move your arms constantly as it’s more for balance.

Anyway, the volume and length shouldn’t be an issue for you. Each board has a sort of balance equilibrium spot, just a matter of finding it. Maybe experiment with how far forward or back you sit. You will have to think about how and where you sit once you find that spot for a bit but once you get used to it you won’t have to think about it at all and can just focus on dropping in and maneuvers.

Hope this helps.