Surfing Waves

Hi guys! I have been surfing for one year already, but making big pauses. I surf only at weekends, so my surfing level isn't too high. I am 5'90ft tall and weight 154 lb. I am surfing with a 6'8 that is quite big.. I wanted to move to a shortboard, maybe a 6'3 - 6'1. I surfed yesterday with a 6'4 and I went more or less, standed up in the board but wasn't able to stay up there for long. I want to start surfing again, but my 6'8 doesn't motivate me alot since it's almost a boat and I can't maneuver it, so I was thinking in getting a smaller board. I know it will be rough in the beggining, but I believe I can get the hang of it.
You guys recommend me getting which board? Should I buy a used one? Thanks!

Naja wrote:but my 6'8 doesn't motivate me alot since it's almost a boat and I can't maneuver it, so I was thinking in getting a smaller board.

Ummmm....
Why can't you manoeuvre your 6'8? If you can't manoeuvre that, then I doubt a shorter board is going to help. Nail your technique on your current board first.

drowningbitbybit wrote:

Naja wrote:but my 6'8 doesn't motivate me alot since it's almost a boat and I can't maneuver it, so I was thinking in getting a smaller board.

Ummmm....
Why can't you manoeuvre your 6'8? If you can't manoeuvre that, then I doubt a shorter board is going to help. Nail your technique on your current board first.

I don't know, it is a big board and I find really difficult to manoeuvre it. My teacher said it will be very difficult for me to give cutbacks etc. with her, and it would be easier to do that with a shorter board, even though it would be harder to paddle and enter waves.
My board is a 7S Super Fish XL 6'8 http://maximum-surf.de/Surfboard-7S-Super-Fish-XL-68-Ral-Bottom-Blue

Doing a proper carving cutback is easier with a higher performance board, but until you've got the basics down, there's no point whatsoever in getting a shorter board.

Those superfish boards aren't the most agile things in the world, but I know people who can absolutely rip on them.
A board will never help you do a manoeuvre unless you can do that manoeuvre. Boards don't do manoeuvres, surfers do.

If you're surfing infrequently, then a smaller board will only add to your frustration.

Naja wrote:Hi guys! I have been surfing for one year already, but making big pauses. I surf only at weekends, so my surfing level isn't too high. I am 5'90ft tall and weight 154 lb. I am surfing with a 6'8 that is quite big.. I wanted to move to a shortboard, maybe a 6'3 - 6'1. I surfed yesterday with a 6'4 and I went more or less, standed up in the board but wasn't able to stay up there for long. I want to start surfing again, but my 6'8 doesn't motivate me alot since it's almost a boat and I can't maneuver it, so I was thinking in getting a smaller board. I know it will be rough in the beggining, but I believe I can get the hang of it.
You guys recommend me getting which board? Should I buy a used one? Thanks!

If you can't turn your 7S the problem is not the board but your level of skill . stay with the board you have. If you can't catch waves easily you can't do any sort of turn. People can do carving cutbacks on long boards 6'8" is not a big board. You will be able to go shorter but get your basics up first.

Here is a new direction: You own a 6'8 fish you can ride, you tried a 6'4 shortboard and couldn't, so try a 6'8 shortboard! Your fish is made to make it easier to catch waves, but not turn, so try a board that is made for turning and catching waves.

When I was learning I transitioned by using big buy shortboards even though I only weighed 160lbs, it makes it easy to catch waves and much easier to turn than your board.