Surfing Waves

Hi guys, I've been wanting to surf for a long time now. And this summer is going to be the summer I buy a board and have at it. I'm 129lbs and 5'9 & from what I see from the stickies is that I should go for a board thats around 6'2-6'4 with 18-19.2 width. I want to start of with a shortboard because I don't want to have to go back and buy a shortboard later on after I've learned the bascis

So the questions are, what is the absolute smallest I should go. What are some good places to order from and what brand? I'm not really into the label right now since I'm just starting out. I just want something average for my phsyic. And where are some good local places or online shops to browse around at? I'm in southern cali in the Orange County area btw. Please feel free to post links of what you think would be best for me & why. Like I said I want to start shortboard and I'm sticking too it Thanks a lot for the future help

If you want to start on a shortboard and you're determined to stick with it, and you know that you want a 6'2board then why are you asking for advice?

If you dont want to buy a learner board then a shortboard later then book yourself onto some lessons and learn the basics on a beginners board which will be about 8ft, not some little 6'2. A board 18" to 2ft taller than yourself, and about 21" wide with flesh loads of volume is the way to start. Dont think you'll be able to run before you've tried walking


Yes, I know someone will come on now and say they learned on a shortboard, but for every one person that found it okay, there will be a hundred who struggled on a short board, got frustrated and gave up. Length and volume is the way to go when you start out.

I agree with DBBB. I think its crazy for anyone to start on a shortboard. You willl be making it harder on yourself and wont be enjoying. People who learn on shortboards can get into a terrible style.
For your first board you want something big, wide and a lot of volume. You would have so much more fun learning on a longboard than a shortboard, FACT! Like DBBB said you have to learn to walk before you can run.
I think if you try learning on a 6'2 shortboard you will get fed up and annoyed - it will take the FUN away!

I agree with DBBB and Laguna...dont start on a shortie...save yourself the aggrovation. My friend and I both started surfing at the same time, him on a 6'2 board and me on a 6'6 fish (still a bit short to begin on if i was going to start again I would definately go longer) and I have progressed sooo much faster than him. its been a couple years now, and I am on a 6'3 shortie and he is still on a 6'2 shortie. now I am noticably better than him (even though he would never admit it ) and surf much more often then him.

Dont be proud,
get something longer. Dont stinge yourself on something you feel like you may have a passion for, surfing shouldnt be about the costs, but rather for enjoyment. If cost plays a factor (which it most usually does) then buy a used board...

@ above post, yeah thats the plan. I'm currently looking @ a 6'3 shortie for 101$ which seems pretty cheap to me. Also one of my co-workers told me I should start with a fish board. I've been looking at them & I noticed that they have some cut at the bottom of the board. Whats up with these types of boards are they good to start with?

Thanks for the honesty and like I said before the only reason I don't want to go longboard then short later is the $. Sure maybe I can sell it to a friend or on ebay but maybe not. It's just what I choose to do.

oh my god I hate summer........

tomcat360 wrote:oh my god I hate summer........

Tomcat, you get funnier and funnier, I wish you could come to the SurfingWaves meet - but its a bit of a long way for you!

Ha ha I hadn't even noticed the correlation until now. All is explained.....

Tomcat, we'd go down a treat together, I'm sure we could spend a whole day moaning about the summer and generally putting the world to rights heh :lol:

haha, one day....one day....

by the way DBBB, that is one kickin' van!