Surfing Waves

hey im finally gona go get my first board within a week just having some last minute board ideas and i wanted to know whats the hardest thing about beginner shortboarding is it paddling, balance or what and also would a fish be something to get instead of a short board because it catches waves easier let me know soon

socal46 wrote: whats the hardest thing about beginner shortboarding is it paddling, balance or what

Everything
But if I have to pick one thing, its probably catching waves. MUCH harder than on a mal.

socal46 wrote:also would a fish be something to get instead of a short board because it catches waves easier let me know soon

Not really. A proper fish isnt a suitable board for a beginner either.

so what if i get a thicker and longer shortboard like 6'8 or something would that be easier also how hard is it to get up on a shortboard compared to a longboard

Yes, if you get a longer and thicker board it will be easier to learn to surf. Instead of 6'8", think 9' long board. Long boards provide a lot of floatation which is something that beginners need lots of. They also work very well in smaller waves, which is where a beginner needs to spend a lot of time.

To answer your second question, it is a lot harder to get up on a short board than a long board. Likewise, it is a lot harder to get up on an 8' funboard or hybrid than it is a long board.

You should rent a few boards and find out for yourself.

drowningbitbybit wrote:

socal46 wrote: whats the hardest thing about beginner shortboarding is it paddling, balance or what

Timing - catch the waves that you think are going to break on your head - look at the pros taking off in the feathering peaks - that is what you need to catch the waves as a beginner (don't got too big in surf size either !).

by the sounds of it you are trying to convince yourself that you want be able to learn on a shortboard. it is possible, but it will take a lot of time in the water and patience, you probably wont enjoy surfing for a while and youll be frustrated with a nose full of water, which is why a lot of people who try to learn on shortboards just give up and forget about surfing.

my first board was a shortboard, i took it out a handful of times and couldnt come close to catching anything and could barely even paddle out. i realized my stupidity and bought a 9' longboard and caught every wave i went for in my first session with almost no effort. then after getting used to being in the water and having a feel for the waves i went back to my shortboard and got it down after a few sessions.

its much easier and fun to start long and work your way down, and you will have tons of fun surfing instead of being frustrated every time you pearl on a shortboard. you can try to learn on a shortboard but most likely youll be wishing you wouldve got something longer in the first place. good luck bro

Bravo, RobG814!

Get both a log and a shortie and ride them each for the same amount of water time - sorted