Starting out. advice?

[Keithx24]

So I want to start surfing, totaly new to it. I've done body boarding, skating, snowboarding, I can ride a board and understand that the water is probably a completely different world from snow and concrete. I want to get into short boarding and just learn to rip, cut back and forth, all that cool stuff. I know there has been a million topics and discussions about board sizes and what to learn on and all that. I'm 5'9" and about 170lbs. I was thinking about something like a 6'6" to 6'8" or even 7'0" because i want to have something i can learn on, but still use to progress later, a budget board basically. would it be a good idea for a size like that, if it was relatively thick and wide?

[drowningbitbybit]

I'm 5'9" and about 170lbs. I was thinking about something like a 6'6" to 6'8" or even 7'0"

You're only about a foot and a half out...

[Keithx24]

So you're saying i need a 7'2"?

[drowningbitbybit]

At least. At your height/weight, you should be looking to start on something about 7'6 - 7'9.

Its possible to learn on a shortboard, but you'll progress much more quickly and have much more fun on a board with length and lots of volume.

Remember - surfing isnt something you learn in a matter of weeks. If you buy a large mini-mal, you'll learn more quickly but still wont 'outgrow' it for a year or more.