Surfing Waves

Hey beach bums,

Long time lurker, first time poster. I need help deciding on my first board purchase, and was hoping some experienced guys here would help

I've been tackling the weak Florida surf for two months (2-3x/week) borrowing my roomie's 6'8 board, and am now hooked on surfing. I can catch the wave most of the time now I'm looking to buy my own board and want suggestions.

I'd like to preface this query by saying that despite the aversion to suggesting newbies buy a shortboard, I'll be at the beach three times a week and am adamantly, vehemently, ardently dedicated to getting shortboarding down. Having a lot of skating experience, and some fair body boarding experience, I feel that I'm up to the challenge. Besides, I've done well with a 6'8 board, how bad can a slightly shorter board be?


I'm 18 y/o, 5'10 (177 cm), 130 lbs (59 kg), lanky build.

I seek one thing from the short board: versatility; rather than specialize in any single type of wave, I'd like to be able to go from knee high white wash to way overhead waves sacrificing the least amount of performance.

I already know I want a thruster, standard polyester, shortboard (6'-6'4 height). I'd like to support a local shaper and these are the model galleries of two noted local shapers.

http://www.fluidsurfboards.com/boards/index.html
http://www.tomneilsonshapes.com/boards.php

I'm leaning on the dimensions: 6'2"x19.5"x2.5", with either a Ray (fluid), Amphibian (fluid), Roundo (Neilson), or Superfly (Neilson).

My question:
1. Do I have the right idea regarding the dimensions?
2. Which model would you feel provides the most versatility for covering the everyday Florida surf, the not infrequent trip to more hectic waters in the Caribbean, and visiting my extended family in Cali nearly every vacation.

Don't be lonely stoner! The aversion to advising newbies to take up shortboards is well written in the post on the forums, so you won't get that advice here!
You want a short board, you have had some experience on a 6'8" so your selection for your first board is well served by the boards posted, and there won't much difference.

The only difficulty is getting a board for all conditions, the only way to make a board universal is to get your skills high.
Consider this, does anyone play golf with just one club?

At 18 you will be more adaptable physically than other ages so go for it.
I'd look at the amphibian around 6'4" or the Roundo similar length

I had 7 months experience surfing a 6"3 hybrid (shortboard/fish) and bought myself a 5"9 shortboard.

It took me 4 weeks (5 days a week, sometimes 2 times a day) to get in shape to even be able to paddle up to speed to catch waves and i was far from weak. Its by no means easy in any way shape or form and totally different to riding a long board, I advise to stick to your longer board, nail your trims, nail a half decent bottom turn, green wave take off, generating speed and angling your board into waves.

Long board generate their own speed where as short boards make you work for it, especially thrusters.

If you dont nail these fundamentals you will only make the journey frustrating no matter how determined you are, this is coming from someone with an addictive personality and and adhd

You want a short board, you have had some experience on a 6'8" so your selection for your first board is well served by the boards posted, and there won't much difference.

What do you mean by that Jaffa? Are you saying that my 4 suggested models will perform similarly?

What he is saying is you have already set your mind on a shortboard regardless of all the advise on this forum to not do so

Go and rent a shortboard before even think about getting on shaped, in fact dont even buy a new shortboard to start, go buy some beat up used board thats 10x cheaper, If you dont like it and find yourself frustrated (and you will) you have not just sunk 500$ into a new board u cant ride or dont have the strength to paddle.

Dont get a shortboard because you think its easy, its not... skating and body boarding experience is not going to help you if you dont even know the basic fundamentals on longer board eg. bottom turn, trims, angled take offs, spring paddle, weight distribution, I skateboard all the time and has not directly helped my surfing, yes its helped to build my stabilising muscles but not much else

Take this advise from someone who learnt the hard way..get more experience under your belt, rent a few short boards and find out what works for u

LonelyStoner wrote:You want a short board, you have had some experience on a 6'8" so your selection for your first board is well served by the boards posted, and there won't much difference.

What do you mean by that Jaffa? Are you saying that my 4 suggested models will perform similarly?

Yep that's what I'm saying, they are all boards that will suit the needs you expressed, all it requires is you to choose one. If you can apply the skill they will work across the range of waves you think you want to ride. Can you apply the skill to "well overhead waves" you'll have to see won't you.
And that is the real question for intermediates and beginners, how much skill do you really have?
I'm not going to go into the long V shortboard learning debate again.
You said you went OK on a 6'8" so there will an increase in difficulty and difference, I recommended two of the boards as the better options but really the winner is the one that floats your boat.

Enjoy your learning curve! it will be steeper than you think

What do you guys think of the Ray compared to the other boards? Does it look egregiously unversatile? Do you think a pro could take it down pipeline? ;D

I emailed the shaper, who says he likes it a little more than the Amphibian. But the pictures shown with the ray are of smaller waves, while those of the Amphibian are on really big waves.

A pro can take anything down pipeline, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D5ugxEVBXA I haven't ridden the Ray so I don't know , does the shaper know? Probably. Got with what you think you like, if it doesn't work take the loss and on sell.
There are really no universal boards and pipeline is a speciality wave, don't think otherwise

Dude, I like the roundo. You are buying spot on by the way, the board size is bigger than what you need for your size but perfect for your ability. The roundo will be great as a step up once you get better and buy yourself a potato chip. So yeah, go for it, you will learn on the size you are buying and store it for big days when you get a smaller board.

IB_Surfer wrote:Dude, I like the roundo. You are buying spot on by the way, the board size is bigger than what you need for your size but perfect for your ability. The roundo will be great as a step up once you get better and buy yourself a potato chip. So yeah, go for it, you will learn on the size you are buying and store it for big days when you get a smaller board.

THATS the kind of motivation I need Thanks IB!