Buying advice on third board

[Lorentz]

Hi guys, I started surfing about a year ago on a 7'6 minimal, learned the basics on it (i.e ride the face of 4ft max. Waves, left and right), then in August I transitioned to a 6'8 Lost EZ up (L 6’8/W 22.50/T 2.88/V 48.91), with which I really clicked and was able to catch a lot of waves and progress to a few more maneuvers (basic top/bottom turns).

I'm now thinking to keep the ez-up and also get a shorter board, as I'm under the impression that would allow me to progress even more and turn easily. I'm looking at the Lost Puddle Jumper 6'0 (which would be around 40L) in Lib-tech construction so I have to worry less about dings. I am thinking that going under the 40L volume would slow down my progress, but maybe I'm wrong?

I'm 180cm (5'9ft) and 77kg (170lb), 34yo in pretty good shape, will surf about 2-3 times per week in Los Angeles area, haven't surfed anything over 6ft so far but would love to!

Hope you can give me some advice, as if I should just stick to the ez-up for now or if it would be good to have an alternative already, and if the Puddle Jumper is a good alternative.

Thanks in advance!

[Big H]

Advice from me would be to go bigger first.....6 foot faces would be head high right? You need to be surfing at least that at your size to open things up....you'll see that on a head high wave turns with the board you have will be easier since you'll have a little juice behind you. If you just got the board you have in August, I would surf that for a year before thinking about another board, learn to get into bigger stuff over the winter and learn more manoeuvres on the waves you get. That ez up is actually designed for better waves, better than the puddle jumper anyway according to the site description....ez up is meant as an ez step up board. LA is coming into winter season when you start to get bigger and better surf correct? Surf your ez up through the winter on bigger waves then think about a short fatty for summertime small waves next May.


With a more refined and aggressive rocker, profile and rails this board is not just a blast from the past. Many successful surfs in solid California winter waves followed. I ended up regularly making custom orders based off the board, tentatively calling it The LazyToy Step Up. Now, after two years of fine tuning, we finally organized it into a stock model and gave it a name that fits. The “E-Z Up”. Jokingly named as a very easy way to step up into better waves.

[Lorentz]

Thanks for the great advice!

Yes 6ft I mean about head-high, and you are correct winter swells are bigger and better in LA.

Would you say once I'm fairly confident in bigger surf and can complete more advanced manoeuvers on the ez-up, should I still pickup a short fatty like the Puddle Jumper, or maybe better to advance on something shorter but also with less volume? I'm just thinking that the ez-up can also handle small surf as it has good volume so maybe something more advanced would be better to build a good quiver.

I ask because a friend has a 5'9 / 33L shortboard that I can get cheap, and although it might be above my level for now it might be a good investment for the future.

Thanks a lot in advance!

[Big H]

What I am saying is that I would forget about going shorter for now.....or forever. Shorter is not the answer to better surfing performance, especially if you are surfing between shoulder and head high waves at your weight. What I am saying is to keep the board that you have and ride it through the winter, get used to bigger and better quality surf and see how much more you can do on a bigger wave, bigger face with some guts behind it....you'll be surprised I think on how much better you surf on a better wave than shoulder high waves you're teething on.

Forget about the 33L board, even for a so called future investment. That board is WELL beyond you at the moment. Buy what you can surf now; what you can surf now is the EZ Up in baby waves.....learn to go in bigger, more juicy stuff and THAT will be progression. As for what you should be riding after you've gotten confidence/experience in bigger waves with the board you have? My advice is not to worry about that at all at the moment.....the board you have now is good enough to learn what you need to learn in all surf.

Lots of used boards out there; ride your board now and when you get to the point where the board is holding you back, I will bet that you will have a better idea of what you will need than you do now.

[Lorentz]

That sounds logical, still lots to accomplish on the ez-up indeed! Thanks again for the advice!