Surfing Waves

Hi
I've been surfing for a year now on the west coast of Ireland and I've just been using an 8ft soft top board and ive been doing pretty good:) I wanted to progress onto a better board (not a soft board) but there are a lot of rocks around where I surf so I've been recommended getting a BIC due to there durability! I've always wanted a shortboard so I was looking at the BIC 6ft7 shortboard but I thought moving from a longer board to a short board might be hard to I was looking at the BIC 7ft6 mini mal and the 7ft3. I usually surf in Strandhill and the waves a usually decent and can get very big during a storm:)
I'm 14, I'm 5ft9 (and growing fast) and weigh about 9 stone.
Anyone want to point me in the right direction of these boards or suggest other boards not to high in price:)
Thanks for suggestions:)
Jamie

Dude, at 9 stone you could probably surf almost anything. Have you ridden anyone else's boards? 7'3" is actually big for you if you want a shortboard, but good if you jut want to stop riding the foamy. At your weight you could probably easily go down to 6'5" and eventually, once you are better, to a 5'10 or 6' board.

So, if you want easy paddle, they yes go with he mal you had in mind, but if you think you can go smaller try one out, rent or borrow one.