Changing board dimensions?

[LucasG]

I currently own an used Flyer 6'6" (20 3/4 x 2 3/8) and a Dragonfly 7'6", honestly, I have stopped using my 7'6" completely, I just want to ride my 6'6" now. I was thinking on selling both of these and getting a Flyer II 6'6" (19 x 2 1/2), but I was concerned by the dimensions. Do you think they would make a huge difference? Do you think it would make it harder or what would it affect? I mean, I can stand up on my 6'6" and ride it, not an expert but I can stand up on it and ride it.

Any comments?

[the.ronin]

Gotta preface that I'm no pro here.

In my own barney opinion though, 1-3/4 less width is a HUGE difference. Add to that the less thickness and you are riding a completely different board. I'm thinking the narrower width will make it looser rail to rail and the less thickness will make it less bouyant so a bit more work to paddle. That is still a lot of foam though.

How are you liking the Flyer? A few of us are talking about getting one but I've heard that it can drag (slow) on faster waves compared to conventional shortboard shapes.

[LucasG]

Well, it's my first surfboard, it feels quiet good. I can ride it, but not yet too good on turning towards the wave, most of the time I ride it a little straight. I don't know, maybe the waves are not the best right now. But I like it honestly, it feels good, I can paddle (tires me a little) and I can stand up with no problem. And I've been just surfing for a month so... I'm sure that can give you an idea.

How are more conventional boards? What's the advantage of the conventional ones?

[the.ronin]

Well the dimensions are all proportional but to give you an idea, my MX is 6'2"; 18-1/2"; 2-1/4" ... and that's probably running tall. Keep in mind too the "length of the width" so to speak. That extra 1/2 inch on the Flyer is a huge difference because it runs further along the board - wider nose and tail.

The difference is being a LOT more looser than bigger boards. Think of it as a speedboat where as longboard is a barge. You can turn on a dime.

Now whether that is an "advantage" depends on whether you can actually ride the board to its full potential

[LucasG]

I was thinking this "conventional" boards you were talking about was shortboards but with different dimensions which are bought more often, but I guess there is no such a thing as "common" shortboards.

[uglystick]

find a loacl shaper, get to know them and buy a board that suits you. Can stress this more, until you have surfed many different boards its hard just to pick a board off a rack.

So many different variables other than surfboard dimensions: rocker, rails, foil, tail shape.

All these will change the way the board surfs. The best advice i can give you is to be honest with them, if they are a good shaper, they would ask you a whole heap of questions designed to workout what the perfect board would be for you to take te next step in your surfing ability and skill.