Surfing Waves

i am brand new to surfing. i went 2 times over the summer with my friends. i used a 6'8 nsp funboard, a exotic 5'6 fish and a 7'0 bunger shortboard. out of them i liked the fish and the nsp the best. i was wondering if i should get a fish or a funboard for my fist surfboard? if it helps im 5'0 110lbs.

FISH ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS!!!!!!!

^x2...BUT, if you were shredding on the fish already, it may be a viable option. i'd still go with a funboard to start out with. my first board i bought was a retro fish, but that was after a long time of using the businesses' longboards to get better on. i still use the longboards when it's really small, or i just don't feel like riding the fish. i'm gonna get a longboard in the spring. a fish is NOT a replacement for a long/funboard, it's just something else to use to mix it up a bit

Surfing 2 times =/= up to buying a fish.

You dont shred after 2 sessions.

7-8ft funboard.

FUNNNNNN BOARDDDDD

RJD wrote:Surfing 2 times =/= up to buying a fish.

You dont shred after 2 sessions.

7-8ft funboard.

i don't know man, i've seen people after two 2 hour lessons that are dropping in lefts and rights, grabbing rail, turns, and so on...very rare, but it happens. i still say funboard, not fish

twerked wrote:

RJD wrote:Surfing 2 times =/= up to buying a fish.

You dont shred after 2 sessions.

7-8ft funboard.

i don't know man, i've seen people after two 2 hour lessons that are dropping in lefts and rights, grabbing rail, turns, and so on...very rare, but it happens. i still say funboard, not fish

!! thats nuts! i wish i had been one of them.. hahaha

twerked wrote: i've seen people after two 2 hour lessons that are dropping in lefts and rights, grabbing rail, turns, and so on...

Allow me to raise one sceptical eyebrow.

drowningbitbybit wrote:FISH ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS!!!!!!!

LOL its been a while since we saw smiley headbangy person!

KS

TReMoR wrote:

twerked wrote:

RJD wrote:Surfing 2 times =/= up to buying a fish.

You dont shred after 2 sessions.

7-8ft funboard.

i don't know man, i've seen people after two 2 hour lessons that are dropping in lefts and rights, grabbing rail, turns, and so on...very rare, but it happens. i still say funboard, not fish

!! thats nuts! i wish i had been one of them.. hahaha

granted, they are usually kids, about ages between 8-12. there was one kid from wisconsin that we seriously told the mom to move to the beach, or sheboygan, because this kid just had a knack for it. she gave us a weird look, but i had seen nothing like that before. there are others that can bottom turn, go down the line, and do small turns after the 3 day lessons, so it's not completely out of the realm of possibilities. i knew a kid in high school who learned how to kickflip, heelflip, 360 flip, and ollie higher than most people in about 1 week i think. some people just have it in them

Maybe you are the exception to the rule. However a fun board is good to have in most any "quiver" for mushy or small days etc.. You'll still progress the fastest on this board. Meanwhile you could experiment with other shorter boards Before you lock yourself in to a certain shape and size.

kitesurfer wrote:

drowningbitbybit wrote:FISH ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS!!!!!!!

LOL its been a while since we saw smiley headbangy person!

KS

its been a while since we got one of these threads in fairness

okthanks guys ill try diffrent boards too

Most recommend a longboard or funboard for learning.

However, I would recommend a longer big retro fish, though I'm in the minority.

Reason 1: Letro thick fish will paddle about the same as an 8ft board so you will be able to catch waves easily yet not as squirley as a shortboard.

Reason 2: Once you get better, the fish will be your choice board for ankle slappers during the summer.

I own a longboard, but I don't really use it, if it's waist high or higer I only use my shorties. For small days, however, I asked my shaper to make me a big 6'10" epoxy fish. During the small summer mush I catch as much as any longboarder on my big fish. So, with a big fish you get a board that paddles like a longboard but performs like a big shortboard.

A fish (even a fat one) is much harder to surf than a funboard. Unless you will be spending 10+ hours a week in the surf, or are naturally gifted, you will be learning more slowly on a fish. Slow learning means less fun, less motivation, more frustration, less waves, less succes, etc.

If you are uber-confident, fit and motivated, take the fish. In every other case take the funboard. It'll just end up being a lot more ... fun? Besides, funboards are real easy to sell so if you outgrow it, you can get a good part of your cash back and then buy a fish.

The bigger fishes aren't that squirley, super stable. I have mostly shortboards, but have owned small fishes and liked them, but liked shortboarding way better. The big/thick/wide fishes, however, are wave hogs and uber stable.

But, like I posted before, the common thought is a funboard or longboard, super stable and easy to paddle. I am in the minority of the oppinion, but if you have a friend that has a thick/wide/long fish, 6'8" x 20" x 2 3/4"or bigger, give it a try. And Thibb is right, the market for big fishes is not as big as the market for funboards, so it will be a keeper if you get a fish.

themathteacher wrote:long fish, 6'8"

That aint a fish.

cjhootie, if you liked the fish and you can ride it, GO FOR IT! I have to disagree with most people here. I've been surfing for just 2 months (and not every day as swell is god damn killing us right now) but man... I'm riding a 6'3" fish without a problem, it's just beautiful!

drowningbitbybit wrote:

themathteacher wrote:long fish, 6'8"

That aint a fish.

Nope, it's my longboard LOL, I paddle along with longboarders no problem with it when it's small.

You are right, not the intended purpose or dimmensions, you usually use a small fish in mush waves, not a big one, they where not invented with the purpose of being begginer boards or longboard replacements, nor stable for that matter. Like I posted before, not the intended use, but great for begginers.

Here, check her out, a big fish for fun days.