BEGINNER AND I SUCK AND NEED ALL THE HELP!!!!!!!!!

[surfing101]

ok so i did what ur suppose to, start off with a longboard, got my pop up down and paddling and all that good stuff... ok so go to my local surfshop and get a 6'5 1/2, nose is 10 1/2 width 18 1/8, tail 13, thickness 2 3/8.
im about 5'5 or 5'6 prolly 130 at most... the problem is when i paddle out the board is really idk i guess not stable im always moving left and right, left and right sumtimes it feels like when im paddling im gettign nowhere.... and when i finnaly do and in the process of trying to catch the wave i paddle like a mad man and cant get it, it seems im not moving at all nowhere!!! geez.... idk what do im a begginer that was my first day with my board.... 3 hours and not one stand up most of the time i was jsut paddling.... thanks for reading and help me with any suggestions! thanks
P.S. also whenver i do try to pop up my board goes under the water@!@!@%$#_* what am i to do? and at what point to catch the wave?

[leolivi]

I think it is all about learning how your new board works.

I have been on 3 different boards and they are all completely diferent to ride. When popping up you must be careful not to grab the board too close to the nose and to distribute your weight evenly.

I think it will take a few days of surf till you get it all fixed again, but you should be fine. Just think you will have to do everything in a different way, and try to find your new sweet spots and movements.

The waves play a big role in that. It is much harder to catch very small waves with a short board. You'll need the waves to have some power now.

[xXbLiNksGiRLXx]

ok so i did what ur suppose to, start off with a longboard, got my pop up down and paddling and all that good stuff... ok so go to my local surfshop and get a 6'5 1/2, nose is 10 1/2 width 18 1/8, tail 13, thickness 2 3/8.
im about 5'5 or 5'6 prolly 130 at most... the problem is when i paddle out the board is really idk i guess not stable im always moving left and right, left and right sumtimes it feels like when im paddling im gettign nowhere.... and when i finnaly do and in the process of trying to catch the wave i paddle like a mad man and cant get it, it seems im not moving at all nowhere!!! geez.... idk what do im a begginer that was my first day with my board.... 3 hours and not one stand up most of the time i was jsut paddling.... thanks for reading and help me with any suggestions! thanks
P.S. also whenver i do try to pop up my board goes under the water@!@!@%$#_* what am i to do? and at what point to catch the wave?

I think you shoulda went a little bit thicker and wider :(