Surfing Waves

Hello,

What is a better choice for my first surfboard? A small funboard or a large fishboard?

I'm 21 years old, 6'1 (1.86 m) and weigh 185 lbs (84kg). I have been surfing for two summers on a large soft-top, I don't know the dimensions, but I can ride the wave up and down. My next goal is to perform turns and cutbacks.

The waves I will be surfing are off the beaches of Europe, so the waves will be 1-4 ft. I will be surfing mostly during the holidays. So at the most 4 to 5 weeks a year.

I was looking at a 7'2 funboard, even though I know a 7'6 is recommended for me.
Or a 6'10 fish board, though I know that's large for a fish.
7'2 funboard http://www.torq-surfboards.com/fun-72.html
6'10 fish http://www.torq-surfboards.com/fish-610.html

Any advice for my first surfboard?

Thanks, I appreciate your time.

Dutchsurfer

You are almost exactly my size in much smaller and weaker surf than I learned in....I used a 9'3"x23x3" and it was perfect for what I needed to learn, develop and progress. However, I surfed and surf multiple times a week....nearly every day. For 4-5weeks a year in small onshore windswell conditions like what you'll be facing, I'd get a board similar to what I used.

Oh yeah....I bought second hand....this was the pic from the ad....the bloom had fallen off the rose so to speak so I didn't feel bad about all my kooky beginner mistakes, dings, bashes, accidental groundings, etc. In the end I sold it for 20 bucks more than I bought it for......good times.

Thanks for your reply.

I searched the surf conditions for Europe. And the waves are almost twice as big as I said before, 2-10 ft.
Also I want a board that's easy to travel with and more turn-friendly.

Any other thoughts about boards?

No.....for your size and frequency, that's the beginning and the end. You aren't surfing 10ft waves any time soon, and anything smaller with your frequency and current ability will mean a lot of frustration and time spent in the lineup not catching waves.....I see it every day here; so many people on boards that are too small for what they are able to actually surf.

Don't become a bobber; ride a board that will fit and support that big body.

Thanks a lot for your advice, I will begin to look at bigger boards.

Cheers

First, try to find out what size soft board you were learning on. Was it 8, 9, 10 feet ? Then, try not to go too far away in size when buying a hardboard, since hard boards don't have as much float.
But I understand traveling with a 9'0" longboard can be a pain.

A quick search and I found that I ended my holiday on a 7'6 Soft board.

Then how about the 7'2" Mod Fish. I think the wider nose up front and the wide swallow tail ( instead of the Funboard's narrower rounded pin tail ) should help you in mushy beach break. Plus the Fish is 53L versus the Fun at 47L yet the same length. 6'10" Mod Fish is a bit of a stretch. Try to stay within 6 inches.

I didn't even thought about a 7'2 fish. It has more volume and is wider than the funboard.

Thanks a lot.