Surfing Waves

I started off with a softtop 1.5 years ago. After a few months I changed to minimals (I tried a few dimension to test which one suits me better) I found out a minimal was a bit beyond my paddling ability ( My arms get tired fairly easy) and I caught fewer waves with them. So then I changed to a 9.0 food full size BIC longboard and liked it. It is easier to paddle and more stable. After another few months using it and catching some good waves/turning it, I thought I was able to handle a minimal and I gave it another try this weekend. But I was exhausted already after a one hour session paddling it( probably due to a not-so-ideal surf condition) and I miss my longboard immediately.

My instructor told me in order to build up enough paddling fitness I need to surf regularly ( at least twice a week for 6-8 weeks) which is not that practical as I have work commitment.( I surf once a week currently) she then recommended this fish board to me and said it will be easier because its width and thickness.

Another instructor said I was already in the lower end of intermediate level ( not sure if he only said that to me happy) and he said I can change to a minimal ( which I tried this weekend)

So should I stick to my longboard for a few more months( don't want to do this because it is soooo heavy to carry around) and I am afraid if I do this I will stay with it forever. or should I try harder with my minimal until I can eventually handle it, or try this fat, thick fish my surfing instructor recommended?

I am nearly 30 years old so I so of cannot afford wasting time on boards I should not be with.(Basically I just need a board easier to paddle and lighter)

Any comments/suggestions appreciated.

Should I go with fish at this stage?

Easy one this - No.

Not sure why you (or the instructor) would think a fish would make life easier? It won't.

You've already answered your own question - you missed your longboard. So that's the board you should be on.

If you find it too heavy (not unreasonable - those big BICs are heavy), then think about getting a lighter longboard.

If you can't paddle or surf a mini mal you aren't ready for a fish and you're not an intermediate surfer.

Surfing is 90% paddling (or more)....if you can't paddle you can't surf.

My advice would be to get a mini mal and learn to paddle and surf it, then move on to something smaller. A fish is wide and thick but still doesn't offer the same level of paddleablity (made that word up ) as a mini mal does which will typically have even more volume and length than the biggest "super fish" boards out there. I had a 7'6" mini mal with 51L of volume that was a fairly standard shape/design. My fish is 39L and 6' long. Longer boards are easier to paddle as are higher volume boards; mini mal tops the category on both counts and will do vs. almost any other style of board....that's why they are the developmental standard for the step down in length from longboard.

Maybe your bic longboard is heavier than typical poly/epoxy longboards or the same dimension? I'm still learning, and I ride a 9' poly longboard. I guess it's on a heavier side for a surfboard but not that bad. If you are planning on riding a longboard regularly and you can swing it, one option is to replace your bic w/ a fiberglass longboard and keep on learning on a 9' board.

If not, minimal is still better than fish. If you stick w/ a mini longboard shape(real minimal I guess) and not a hybrid egg or fish(less round nose) it should paddle and ride pretty similar to a longboard. I have a 8' minimal that paddles and catches waves just about as easily as my longboard. It's a small wave lazy summer day board. Not a board I want to use when I want' to work on a new skill or when waves are steeper. I also have a 7' egg that paddles and rides ok but it is noticeably lacking glide so I miss waves often enough. In addition, lower rockers on the egg which makes it a little easier to paddle for its length makes it easier to pearl. Overall it has less margin of error than minimal or longboard. I sort of guess(I could be wrong) that fish boards are similar.

I had a 7'6" mini mal with 51L of volume

How do you know the volume of your board?
My is 7'6 21 5/8 2 7/8 but has a pointed ish nose. the nose is also a bit thinner I think comparing to a standard minimal. Maybe if I get a more standard shaped minimal some of my problems can be solved?

I know there is not a magic board that can help me become a pro immediately, I am just trying to get a board as suitable to me as I could.

Frostless get an 8ft or longer Torq* board minimal shape they are available in Manly and Cronulla. Flick the BIC lighter but just as floaty. you are not paddle hardened to anything shorter . Forget fish that was all sales pitch and you need to have the skills to be able to use the qualities of fish, for most beginners they stink.
Get a board that will give you catching ability, means more chance to enhance your skills.
If you mullet over, you'll see with a fish you will flounder, don't be a flathead about this. your surf time may be limited so get an easy wave catcher, without the arm straining weight of the BIC
*Quite a few of the forumites are happy with their Torqs of various sizes so I think that may be the way to go.
At my local break there is a large crew of surfing women of all ages they all are ripping on boards of that nature.
I'm collecting a couple of video links for to follow up
Here is the first
https://vimeo.com/76042270
and this one,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiMb8aXOnxE
Enjoy thoroughly

they are available in Manly and Cronulla

Yeah I know Torq is a brand recognised in this forum. Are they in the surf shops in Manly and Cronulla? I cannot find any in gumtree.

At my local break there is a large crew of surfing women of all ages

Ironically I am not woman and I look younger and more fit than those in the videos. But my surfing is not better than any of them.(some of them do look a bit clumsy) Maybe because I have less surfing experience than them?

I have a 8' minimal that paddles and catches waves just about as easily as my longboard. It's a small wave lazy summer day board.

what other dimensions and what is the shape of your board? I am thinking to buy a 7'10, 22, 3.

What is the length of the "wide and thick" Fish board your instructor recommended? When we hear "Fish" , usually it is short ( like 5'10" ). But surf names get thrown around, and the meaning isn't clear. Is it like a 7'+ fun board with a swallow tail ?

frostless wrote:

I am thinking to buy a 7'10, 22, 3.

I bought my wife a NSP 7'10" Funboard which is 22 1/16 wide by 3 1/16 thick. She normally rides a 9'0" x 22 x 2 3/4. She said the Funboard catches waves just as easy.

Question - have you looked in to board carrying devices like "board buddy". It's like a grab handle to make it easy to carry a big board.

waikikikichan wrote:What is the length of the "wide and thick" Fish board your instructor recommended? When we hear "Fish" , usually it is short ( like 5'10" ). But surf names get thrown around, and the meaning isn't clear. Is it like a 7'+ fun board with a swallow tail ?

She did not say it was a fish board. She said it was a wider and thicker board than the minimal I Brough to the lesson. She showed me the swallow tail type but I did not get the full dimension. It was not short I guess otherwise I would notice. It is a demo board she said I can try next time and it give me extra paddling power. And the name was "advance" I heared. back home I searched and came up with addvance and they were all fish.

Maybe misunderstanding?

frostless wrote:

they are available in Manly and Cronulla

Yeah I know Torq is a brand recognised in this forum. Are they in the surf shops in Manly and Cronulla? I cannot find any in gumtree.

At my local break there is a large crew of surfing women of all ages

Ironically I am not woman and I look younger and more fit than those in the videos. But my surfing is not better than any of them.(some of them do look a bit clumsy) Maybe because I have less surfing experience than them?

Wow did I miss the mark there! . Somehow the gender blender got stuck in overdrive!
The advice still applies though , go have a look or google the shops, I am six hours south of Sydney , Google Torq surfboards and look for sellers!. See how you go!

Question - have you looked in to board carrying devices like "board buddy

It is those little square handles on the SUP?did not know longboard have these designs too.

I bought my wife a NSP 7'10" Funboard which is 22 1/16 wide by 3 1/16 thick. She normally rides a 9'0" x 22 x 2 3/4. She said the Funboard catches waves just as easy.

Where did you buy and what is the price? Sounds like a good dimension for me.

frostless wrote:(My instructor) then recommended this FISH board to me and said it will be easier because its width and thickness.

frostless wrote:She did not say it was a FISH board. She said it was a wider and thicker board than the minimal I brought to the lesson.

You said she recommended a FISH. Then you say she did not say it was a FISH. Now you're making me confused.

frostless wrote:I searched and came up with addvance and they were all fish. Maybe misunderstanding?

The boards you probably saw have SWALLOW Tails. They are NOT true Fish boards like most surfers know which are short wide and have twin keels ( although there are many modern/retro variations with 3 or 4 fins ). So try not to describe them as Fish boards, but as Swallow tails.

frostless wrote:

Question - have you looked in to board carrying devices like "board buddy

It is those little square handles on the SUP?did not know longboard have these designs too.

Try Goggle search "Board Buddy" and look at the Images. It'll be self explanatory.

You said she recommended a FISH. Then you say she did not say it was a FISH. Now you're making me confused

What I meat was she did not actually said that board was a fish but she recommended a fat wide board with swallow tail and a name sounds like "advance" which led me believe it was a fish. Because I googled "advance surfboard" and all I got are fish boards. Sorry for the confusion.

I guess your search engine is different from the google search I did.

Most of the images were for the Firewire Addvance surfboard and Advanced branded surfboards. Didn't see a single "Fish" board on the first page. What search engine were you using ?

Try searching for "Fish Surfboard" and that will explain more clearly what a Fish surfboard looks like versus a Swallow Tail Hybrid.

The addvance does have a swallow tail; but a swallow tail does not a fish make.

The addvance is quite a good board for a third board although isn't a terrible second board either. It's very floaty (some say too floaty) and wide. Definitely give it a go; although they aren't cheap boards by any means - you can buy a custom board for less and something like a torq for much less.

However at the end of the day you just need to get fitter and then get a board that suits your skill rather than your fitness level

you are right. I was not able to tell the difference between them. But when it happens to someone new to surfing, it is not really a surprise is it? So if question was " is a swallowtail hybrid surfboard good for a beginner who needs extra paddling power?" Would the answers still be no? I know I can always try it next time when I go for a lesson but I am just so eager to know that is why I asked here.

Lots of good advice to walk the Torq to talk the Torq, to try the Torq, maybe buy the Torq, lots cheaper, don't chase what is unnecessary.
You can also ignore the Torq, there quite a few similar 8ft epoxy funboards /minimals etc available.
Lots of people trying to help you.
Settle in and hear the advice being given.
The choice is still there to buy whatever but that is your call.
Gain fitness, get a lighter board than a BIC, longboards do not have a carry hole in the middle, but there are strap and handle devices to help carry boards.
Do the old time carry , on your head!!!!.
Famous Picture from the Endless Summer surf movie 9'6" heavy boards