Surfing Waves

Hello.. I'm looking at getting a 7.6 second hand board that will probably have 21-22 width. I've been learning on a 8.0 soft top. There's a couple of things I'm wondering about as I look at second hand boards around. The main thing at the moment is the tail shape. My board now has a squash tail. Some of the boards I'm looking at have all the right dimensions but have a swallow tail and look more like a big short board rather than a small long board. I want this board to be right because it's something I'd like to hang onto even if at some point I want to get something else. Because I'm at a beginner level and trying to get some basic skill happening I'm not going out in bigger surf ( 5-6ft + ) but sticking with the 3-5 fters learning to paddle out, catch waves front and back side. I'm guessing I'll be doing this for sometime and then try to add some turns in.
The nose shape is another thing... I'm not sure if I've made any sense but what do you guys think about nose and tail shape for someone like me?

Surf Science has great information about board design including nose, tail, rocker, rails, fins, foil and bottom contour. This is a great place to start.

http://www.surfscience.com/topics/surfboard-design/

Tell us more about your height, weight, and goals.

BoMan wrote:Surf Science has great information about board design including nose, tail, rocker, rails, fins, foil and bottom contour. This is a great place to start.

http://www.surfscience.com/topics/surfboard-design/

Tell us more about your height, weight, and goals.

Thanks.. I did see that before writing but I'm still a bit confused what would suit me as a beginner. I'm female 155cm 62kg and at the moment my goal is to paddle better, catch waves frontside and backside across the wave and feel comfortable with this then maybe add turns.

I my opinion, a squash tail or a round tail or a even rounded pin tail would be fine for a beginner. The nose design isn't so important unless you want to nose ride the board. Board design is a complex issue with so many things going into it that it's difficult to get as good understanding of it all however as a beginner you won't be able to tell that a board design isn't the best for getting tubed or doing radical turns but you will be able to turn it and get tubed. Beginners are a blank slate with no prejudices for design except for in their imagination. Some beginners blame their boards when they lack skill. Surfing is a complex learning process just make sure you have fun which is the most important part of surfing.

debz0773 wrote: Some of the boards I'm looking at have all the right dimensions but have a swallow tail

The tail shape won't make a huge difference to you at this stage, as long as it's not very narrow (which makes it harder to catch waves). A swallow tail, however, is more fragile than a rounded tail, so you'd probably be better off without a swallow tail while you're still at the battering-your-board stage

However...

debz0773 wrote: like a big short board rather than a small long board....The nose shape is another thing...

...this will make a big difference. A board is more than its length x width x thickness. If it's shortboard-shaped, then it won't have nearly as much volume as a longboard shape, plus it'll be a whole lot less stable. So, for example, you want a rounded nose, not a pointy nose.

At your size and experience, a mini-mal in the 7'6 range sounds about right, but yes, make sure it mal shaped and not shortboard shaped

debz0773 wrote: I want this board to be right because it's something I'd like to hang onto even if at some point I want to get something else.

If you're going to be buying second hand boards, then I would drop the notion of permanency from your board buying mindset. Second hand shopping, in my opinion, is about test driving lots of different boards and reselling lots of those boards. You may find a second hand board that's the ONE, but eventually you'll move onto the next ONE. If you as a beginning surfer want a board for keeps, then I'd recommend finding a reputable shaper and putting your board design in his/her hands.

Thank you so much for the replies everyone. I am definitely in another head space now. All the info is gold and I really appreciate it.

debz0773 wrote:
Thanks.. I did see that before writing but I'm still a bit confused what would suit me as a beginner. I'm female 155cm 62kg and at the moment my goal is to paddle better, catch waves frontside and backside across the wave and feel comfortable with this then maybe add turns.

If you still can't turn, I would not go as short as you are looking....8ft minimum and 9ft better until you can do those basic things you mentioned easily then go down in size to a 7'6". Correct me if I am wrong but if you still list a goal as being able to go down the line front and back side, I don't think you are much beyond the whitewater stage/catch the odd green wave and ride frozen straight to the beach stage.....need to walk before you run. Swallow tail boards in the midsize range like 7s boards usually have a little more rocker, nose and tail pulled in vs a standardish mini mal....better as a third board after you've gone through a longboard and a mini mal.

Ditto to what Big H said.

At your skill level and body size, 8' board would let you have fun while learning. If you are comfortable handling a bigger board 9' is even better. My first hardboard was/is 9' that I still use after 1 year of learning. It's my forever keeper board. With that length you can learn all the basics and then more like nose riding which I started working on recently. The possibilities are endless Either way, go with a round nose and a wide-ish tail like square, squash, or rounded pin.

Thanks for your input guys it's much appreciated