Surfing Waves

I have read a lot of the posts on new boards for beginners. The consensus seems to be NSP boards. Also the posts say go longboard. I can understand why longboard, more stable and bouyant, etc, etc. What if you went with the 2006 NSP 7'4 shortboard. It says its made for bigger guys (which I am not) and it has more volume. This would make it more bouyant like a longboard. Yes/No.

I was recently in Hawaii for the second time and really caught the surfing bug. My girlfriend almost left me there cause I wouldn't get off the surfboard. lol. Anyways I am located in landlocked Calgary, Alberta Canada and plan on atleast making 6 or more weekend trips to Toffino this year, so I can't really take a longboard along.

Comments appreciated.

Thanks

A 7"4 NSP board would be good to start with, I started on a 7"3 Bic Mini Mal and they are good to begin with. I do think though I should have bought a longboard instead as they are more fun and you do learn a little quicker. Whats great about starting on a longboard is, when you move down to a shortboard you can still use the longboard for small days to play around on.

thanks

I have also looked into the Mistral Mini-Mal 7.6 and the Stretch Big Guy.

Am I right in thinking that a big guy board will float and stuff like a long board? Paddling??

im not sure myself on names and brands - I look for the dimensions and shape of a board before I buy it, if its 7'4 or whatever and says its for heavy people it will most likely float better but wont perform like a longboard, it will always be a mini mal. However mini mals share some characteristics of a longboard such as it paddles like a longboard, but at the end of the day a longboard will always be the best to start on as its a big 8-9ft+ board thats also wide.