starting on a short board

[PHOENIX_X]

Hi there,

I live in nova scotia and wondered if I could ask for some advice. I am 6'4" and have seen a cheap 6'5" shortboard but I am still starting out with surfing, would it be a smart idea to buy it and learn surfing with a shortboard or is it better to opt for a longboard?

Thanks in advance.

Pix (short for Phoenix )

[drowningbitbybit]

Shall I?

Okay, no. No little bangey head man. For now.

So.

No. Definitely not. Forget it.
At 6'4 you'll need a much much much bigger board. You might never be able to surf a 6'5, let alone learn on one.

A longboard or a mini-mal will be far easier.
And just so I dont appear to be one of the 'longboard mafia' (who said that? Rich R I think? Made me laugh) - even if you are determined to shortboard, at your height you'll need something 7'+. And even that will be difficult to learn on.

If I were you, 8' or so would be the way to go.

[the.ronin]

While I’ll be the first to vote on learning on a short*er* board, I agree ... an inch of slack is just not enough. To clarify, it is definitely better to opt for a long*er* board ...

Yeah that longboard mafia comment had me LOL’ing for a while haha.

[kitesurfer]

Do your self a favour and listen to DBBB get yourself a much longer board you will progress quicker and your surfing will be bettwer for it.

KS

[pkbum]

if looking cool is your option go take the shorty otherwise the longboard mafia hahahahah

[PHOENIX_X]

thanks for the replies,

not taking any sides here but what size of a short/long board would be suitable for me? I am about 200 lbs and 6'4" like I said.

Thanks

Pix

[garbarrage]

if looking cool is your option go take the shorty otherwise the longboard mafia hahahahah

sure... you'll look real cool tumbling arse over head down the face of every wave you go for... or just missing them completely.. getting knocked off the board while waiting for waves by every little bump in the ocean cos your too busy trying to keep it afloat to concentrate on balance... lol

like DBBB says something 8ft ish would be ideal.... best bet is try a few (renting, borrowing, "borrowing", etc.) and see what works for you.

bit of an ongoing debate here about what to learn on but i think there are far more advocates of the longboard approach... myself included.

but rather than getting sucked into the middle of it try a few yourself and see what you think..

[PHOENIX_X]

alright, I'll do that thanks

[rich r]

Shortboard mafia checking in here..

6'4"? Yes, go for a longboard. You won't look cool on a 6-5 by any means. More like a kook.

now, if you were 5'4", I'd have a different answer...

[Cortex]

I'm 6'4" 160lb. Today I was forced to surf on my 6'8" instead of my usual 7'8" (only thing that would fit in the car I had to borrow). It was awefull! Couldn't catch deeper waves that my main board would've taken with ease. And I just don't have the balance not to wipe out after 2 sec on the steep fast shallow waves it would catch. I can't imagine learning on one.

[Snapple!]

Shortboard mafia checking in here..

6'4"? Yes, go for a longboard. You won't look cool on a 6-5 by any means. More like a kook.

now, if you were 5'4", I'd have a different answer...

That's the situation I'm in. I'm 5'3" (I'm a Finn, small family) and after surfing a few times in Hawaii with a longboard, I'm looking to begin surfing with a shortboard. Now, I was told anything over 6'1" at my size I would be capable of riding, is that true? I'm not necessarily looking forward to buying a longboard, but a cheap shorty off Craigslist.
I've thought it over and decided that I could buy a shortboard, anywhere from 6'1 to 6'7" off Craigslist for about $100, so if I couldn't ride it, due to having newbititis, I could resell it for about the same amount I bought it for.

[rich r]

Depends on the board. Thickness and width have a lot to do with rideability, as well.

If you want to go with a shortboard, I'd look at a hybrid.. something around 6-6 that has some extra width in it.. like 21 inches or so, at least 2 1/2" thick.

I'm 6-1 and used to ride a nice 6-8 Lost with similar dimensions. It's nice and stable, catches waves nicely, but has maneuverability.

[isaluteyou]

off Craigslist for about $100, so if I couldn't ride it, due to having newbititis, I could resell it for about the same amount I bought it for.

Yep dont do no harm and you never know till you try