Surfing Waves

Due to relocating back to UK I don't have a choice, I can't take longboard easily on those low cost airline or trains. I need to either learn how to surf on a shorter board or not surf at all.

Been surfing for nearly a year with a 9ft x 22.75 x 3.125. Surf 2-3 times a week and in the last 2 months I've been surfing nearly everyday. Tried my friends 8ft and 7"3 funboard. Manage to popup up fine after a few tries. Not perfect but I had fun as I felt that I have more control over the board. I'm very comfortable on my longboard, I can usually catch more waves than anyone out there.

The board that I'm looking at is not fully fish, I think they said it is somewhat a hybrid. The specs are 6ft 3 x 20.5 x 2.5 with Futures F6 template 3 fin set 36 litres. Unfortunately they don't have a demo that I can try at my local shop. The brand is the same as my longboard as I love them!

Is it a Torq? In any event, a fairly flat rocker with a wide mid/front point is the way to go, no point going for an 18inch high rocker shortboard to start with (although you may get there sooner or later, if you want). So a fish/hybrid style is good.

If you need a shortboard to surf, then get a shortboard. No point sitting in your bedroom looking at the longboard and reminiscing about the good old days!

You will probably find that you can pop up ok on a short board, its actually catching the wave in the first place (and being fit enough to paddle out) that are the main issues to work on; oh and you need to relearn (to some extent) how to turn (no more huge bodytwists and rear foot weighting to get that large LB nose around)...

Yes, it's a Torq.

Glad that fish/hybrid is good. I heard it's very wobbly but I guess I will just have to man it up and learn. I definitely won't have as much time to surf like I used to. So I'm planning to signup for the gym and use the swimming pool during weekdays and surf on weekends.

I've decided that I'm going to get both. LB for when I'm in UK and can travel by car. Short for when I fly to Europe!

My current main board /fish is very similar to the dimensions you're looking at and after coming down from a 9", then 7'6 mini mal to my 6'2 fish I can give you my personal experience. I've also only been surfing for 5 months but very heavily similarly to you- 3+ times a week.

As DTC mentioned one of the biggest differences is the paddling! I could pop up on to my fish quite quicky from the 7'6 but the difference in volume and paddling took a good month or two transition as did learning about popping up later on the wave. Just be prepared for a possible frustration stage initially and also as DTC mentioned, the turning is quite different.

Aside from that, my fish has been great fun and can still catch plenty of waves in the right conditions bear in mind that it won't ride white wash like a long board will. Only took a couple of good sessions to get the balance sorted of the thinner and more narrow board.

I've attached a pic of mine as an example (board on the left), it's 6'2 x 2 1/2 x 20 1/2 and 37L volume.
Probably pretty similar in terms of price point and quality as the Torq too.

Hope it all goes well and would be interested to hear how you find it!

benjl wrote:popping up later on the wave.
Aside from that, my fish has been great fun and can still catch plenty of waves in the right conditions bear in mind that it won't ride white wash like a long board will. Only took a couple of good sessions to get the balance sorted of the thinner and more narrow board.

Oh no, that makes me worry. I have a tendency to pop up early. Cos the waves here are hollow and steep and if I don't do that I'll nose dive.

Hopefully the waves are better where I'm going so that I don't have to ride white wash all the time!

Good to hear that it didn't take long for you to adjust to the small board. Hope I'll have the same experience.

You can pop up later with a shorter board without nosediving, thats one of the benefits of the shorter board (indeed, you have to pop up later otherwise you miss the wave). But the time between wave catching you and you having to pop up is usually quite reduced.

Swapping between a LB and a SB could be quite difficult - if you have the cash, try getting a mid length (say 7ft4 or so) mini mal rather than a LB. On waves under about thigh high the LB will still be better, but over that and the mid length will be as good if not better, and not as hard to travel with/transition to the SB

Anyway, just thought I do an update since I'm bored at work and waiting to go home.

Since I bought the 6"3 hybrid nearly a year ago, I surfed it less than 5 times. I lose my board behind me most of the time when I try to duck dive. I'm exhausted within an hour and I just don't have the paddle strength for it. I always bring my longboard with me and I don't surf regularly so at the end of the day I always go with the LB.

I've asked the local surf shop to put my hybrid on for sell.