Surfing Waves

Hey, so I'm 5'2 about 120lbs,female, I was surfing a 7'0x 21 x 2 3/4 for a couple of weeks and it worked well for me...I'm looking at a firewall alternator 6'4 x 19 1/2 x 2 5/8 as previous board was borrowed and I think 6'4 is more suitable for my weight etc....however all reviews suggest the firewall is fast and I'm not sure I'll keep up with it!! Any thoughts appreciated
Also I have an 8ft mini mal which in the rare times I used it felt like a mission just to get the board out past the breaks....

What kind of conditions do you plan to surf in? That is a "good wave" board; not really going to work unless it's about shoulder high minimum.

In the firewire range, I know a few women your size who surf a 7ft2 SeaAxe, which is a mini mal sort of, but very light weight and a narrower nose. I'm assuming you are looking at the alternator because you have found a second hand one that is cheap, so suggesting the 'sea axe' probably doesnt help much; but that is the kind of board I suggest you look at.

Duck diving is pointless if you cant catch a wave, or stand up on the board, once you are out the back.

becka wrote:however all reviews suggest the firewall is fast and I'm not sure I'll keep up with it!!

Yes, you are right, that board is too fast for you. But not because of the brand/maker. A surfboard, computer, baseball bat, bicycle has no potential with out the rider / user. An advance surfer can probably go "faster" on a sponge costco board than a beginner on a firewire going straight in the soup. But you'll never know till you try it. ( or a board of similar shape/size )

becka wrote:Hey, so I'm 5'2 about 120lbs,female, I was surfing a 7'0x 21 x 2 3/4 for a couple of weeks and it worked well for me...

Curious, I ask " it worked well for me." why go beyond that just improve on that board then go for something else.
I ride a longboard, I'm 68 years old I often overtake people on their fast short boards because they do not have the skills to generate speed.
if you cannot generate speed on your 7'0" borrowed board you are not going to do it going smaller!

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking that a 6'4 is a good length for my weight etc....I enjoyed the 7'0 board but no longer have access to it and want my own. With that board I was up and turning.... In my mind the firewall isn't massively different from it but maybe I'm wrong?

Unless you are an accomplished surfer 6" makes a lot of difference. get something similar to what you were doing well on.