Surfing Waves

I just was wondering if getting a fun board maybe about 6' 10" was a good size to learn on.

Whether you are using the term, "funboard," to describe a foam board or a fiberglass fun shape, it's probably too short. The primary characteristic a beginner requires in a board is one that provides maximum flotation. You will be much better off and have more fun if you use >8ft foamie or 3inch thick 9ft fiberglass board. One book auther wrote, " A beginner needs a board that keeps his butt out of the water when sitting on it." If you have been around guys in the water on short boards, you've seen they are actually sitting in the water. When I'm on my 9ft board, my body is completely out of the water; legs excepted. That is what you want.

billie_morini wrote:Whether you are using the term, "funboard," to describe a foam board or a fiberglass fun shape, it's probably too short. The primary characteristic a beginner requires in a board is one that provides maximum flotation. You will be much better off and have more fun if you use >8ft foamie or 3inch thick 9ft fiberglass board. One book auther wrote, " A beginner needs a board that keeps his butt out of the water when sitting on it." If you have been around guys in the water on short boards, you've seen they are actually sitting in the water. When I'm on my 9ft board, my body is completely out of the water; legs excepted. That is what you want.

traditionally id agree with you there but somepeople just dont get on with longboards me included. Best thing to do is beg borrow n rent what you can and see what works for you. Not everyone is the same

its not all about length although surfing a longer board with some thickness and width is a lot easyer than a nice little shortboard thats tiny

isaluteyou makes a good point above. Borrowing or renting a couple of boards may help find the answer.

Iron Lung wrote:I just was wondering if getting a fun board maybe about 6' 10" was a good size to learn on.

It would help to know your characteristics. For ex, how much you surf, how fat you are and etc.

I am 5' 6" and weigh about 135. The funboards I had in mind were pretty thick and wide. I dont know the dimensions off hand. But I was looking around the 6' 10" to 7' area. I definitely dont want a foamie or a longboard right now. I have a 6' 4" Natural Art, which I am selling right now to put toward a bigger board. I have stood up only a couple of times, which I didnt really go anywhere but backwards back in to the water.
I may just be impatient, but I dont feel like putting $600 + into a long board right now.
Plus, this spring and summer I am going out with a friend of mine (who is more of a mentor) who has been surfing for over 20yrs. He has an extra long board and he is going to basically get me going. He says to think about getting a funboard for when I progress to it. I just want to know what other people have to say, because I dont want to be wasting my money.
Another point I want to make is, I am not completely dumb in the water. I am a good swimmer and although its not like surfing, I have been skateboarding for over 6 years. So I have some balance.

If your buddy is willing to lend you a longboard to get you going, I'd say save your money for a while and see how you progress on that.

It may turn out you dig longboarding and want to stick with it. Also, given more time in the water, it'll give you more of a chance to see what other people at roughly your skill level (or people SLIGHTLY better than you.) are on. That may influence your decision.

Oh, after saying all that I'm going to echo Isuluteyou. I hate riding longboards to bro! Just never really know what to do with all that board!!

pkbum wrote:how fat you are and etc.