got a board. now what?

[dreamwr]

I picked up a 7' board...it was a great deal. The guy called it a hybrid. It's got a square tail and a flat bottom, about 2 3/4 thick. After reading all about how to surf and visualizing myself catching the waves, standing up, and even doing some carving, I finally tried it out in white water and couldn't get the board to float above water with me on it. I went to baby steps and caught waves, went on my knees, then finally I could stand, but with two hands still on the board. Is this board made for bigger waves? I'm 5'7, 170lbs.

[kieran]

what kind of quality were the waves.
Were there any other surfers out, could have just been weak waves, a 7ft board is likely to surf no less than 3ft

[sinistapenguin]

How wide is the board? If it's narrow, it may have been designed as a bigger wave board.

If the guy described it as a hibrid, you should be OK.

If you are just lying on the board in flat water - does it float with you on it?

7ft should be OK in smaller waves, you will have to paddle a lot harder and your rides may be shorter, but you should be OK.

Surfing is NOT an easy thing to do - If this was your first time out and you were standing, but still holding the board then you did pretty well.

I would say this was far from a 'failure' in any way. You may have got a board that is slightly beyond your level of surfing, but if you stick at it then you will get the hang of it.

Cheers

Sinista