Novice New Board. Help?!

[mannyjgarcia]

So Ive been surfing for a year now and really want to get a new board to progress on. I have been surfing on a Wavestorm for the past year. I am in doubt as to what size I should get. I went to my local shop and talked to one of the workers there and he told me a 6’4” shortboard would be a good board for me(cant rememebr all the sizes).

Im 5’11 and weight 170lbs
I have skated for about 5 years give or take so I feel comfortable under a board.
The beaches I surf are in South Florida so pretty small and mushy but I do want to start heading up north (Cocoa) during the weekends to catch some actual good waves (and bigger).
I have surfed waves up to chest high and can handle pretty good on them.
I catch and ride most waves I paddle for.
I want to start making some turns and be more fluid with the board.
I surf whenever there are waves here which is like once a week during a the season.
I feel that I am a fast learner and have surfed once a friends board that is a 6ft fish and was able to stand up on a few waves, felt that a couple more days and I would of gotten the hang of it.

Hope you guys can help me out deciding what would be a good board to get.

[jaffa1949]

Manny, welcome! Please have a read through the surfboard advice section, by what you write you are very much a beginner, wavestorm boards are floaters designed to catch waves easily and going to something about 6'4" when you can barely turn is not going to help much paddling will be harder so wave catching will be harder. You can do it but will you be persistent enough to win!
Read all the posts , I'm sort of thinking 7'6" as a minimum.
But read up the thread an see what your informed choice would be.

[mannyjgarcia]

Thanks for the reply! I looked around and I couldn't exactly find anyone about my weight and size in the same situation. I feel like the 7'4" would not be much of difference conning from and eight, but I do have to consider that many things change apart from the length. The problem is that I have a small car and the boards barely fit, I usually have to ask my mom for her suv every time I head out and I don't want to keep doing that. That's another reason I'm looking for smaller. But I did keep looking for board online and found this egg that is 6'6"x21"x2.75"
I feel that that's has a good amount of volume that paddling won't be as hard and I will still be able to catch waves. Do you think that would be a better choice than the 6'4" short board?
Thank you

[waikikikichan]

Do not get a Shortboard shape. Egg is okay, but a retro fish is better. just be careful damaging the tail tips. What is the biggest board you can fit in your car ? NSP make a 6'8" Funboard and a 6'6" Fish shape. 7S makes some good floaty shapes too.

Do Not get a Short Board !!

[dtc]

Also, there are 'soft racks' to carry surfboards on the car roof, even if you dont have a roof rack. You are much better off getting a bigger board and some soft racks than a small board.

[jaffa1949]

A surfboard is about enhancing your surfing not what fits your car.
Soft racks and harden up
Get the board you need to help you progress.

[mannyjgarcia]

I ended up buying a used 6'8" x 21" Egg (thast what the guys called it) for a real good price and in pretty good condition (a ding that was repaired and water tight) from a friends friend. I was able to surf it that same day on some mushy 3ft waves and was able to stand up and ride a couple of waves, I did loose balance on a few and had to get used to paddling harder but I felt pretty good on it. It is just going to take practice to really get the hang of it and start riding more comfortably and catching waves on it but overall I liked it.
About the roof rack, I have to take a 30 min highway drive to the beach and I usually go after class so its also not the most practical to drive at high speeds or leaving in parked at school all day with the board on top.

I have another concern now with the board, dont know if you guys can help with. I did find it had some pressure spots on the top, nothing too serious, but my concern was hat it had some like spider cracks on it which seem water tight but I was wondering if there is anything I can do to fix it or if it wont really affect and just leave it alone?