Begginer surfer looking for help

[lost-soul]

I recently moved to South Florida and am looking to start surfing. I've been riding snowboards for the past 8 years and would like to start off on a short board rather than a long board. I'm 6'3", what would be the average height of a shortboard for someone my size?

[Heathen]

I am just learning to surf also but i skated since i was 10 years old it wont help man when your learning I tried to learn on a short board and it was really hard to catch waves and actually get up on the board that was years ago so this time I got a long board got up second time once I am up I am fine from balance from skating but like i say its getting that's the hard part but being on a long board has made it so much easier.

I am sure the real surfers here will have some better advice but honestly man from doing it the hard way myself and basally thinking the same thing as you are when I first tried save yourself time and just get a long board or mini mal the sooner you learn the basic and progress the sooner you can go to a short board which is my goal also.

If you are dead set on a short board maybe go rent one first then try a long board.

[drowningbitbybit]

Snowboarding is no help whatsoever when you're first learning to surf.
The whole challenge when learning is about paddling, positioning, wave choice, and (eventually) popping up on a clean wave. Only then will balance skills from a snowboard have anything to do with it.
And height is a distinct disadvantage when you're learning to surf.
At 6'3, you'll struggle for a long time to learn on a shortboard.

So take the advice that (most) people on here will give you to at least start on a learner-friendly board and forget about shortboarding until you're reasonably competent.

[RJD]

dbbb is spot on.

Having done plenty of both the effort & skill it takes on a surfboard to get to a position to catch a wave is imense compared to jumping on a ski lift.

Then you have to paddle for it, get to your feet, get the bottom turn in etc. Once your at that point its similar to snowboarding in powder with no straps on your feet, except the ride lasts 5-10 seconds and you've got to paddle back out again.

In 1-2 hour session surfing you may catch 5-10 waves on a long board as a newb, on a short board it'd be much more difficult.

By newb I mean only been doing it a few months. I think I was a more competent snowboarder after 3 days than surfer after 2 years....

[isaluteyou]

Having not snowboarded i cant speak from experience but...

I think I was a more competent snowboarder after 3 days than surfer after 2 years....

...is the same impression i got from a lot of people i know who tried surfing a shortboard straight out cause they thought "i can rip snow this should be easy" However just throw a hammer in the works i know someone who has no board sport history and picked up surfing rapidly on a shortboard tooo everyones different i guess. But in general go with what everyone else is saying

[IB_Surfer]

So you know what's up for learning, the bigger/wider/fatter the board the more stable, and thus easier to learn on, so rule of thumb is to go big for learning, then as you get the basics down (paddle, popup, turning) you start progressing down in size.

My first board was an 8ft funboard, standard begginer board. But, I bought a 7'6" fun gun about 2 months later, I think it was 2 3/4" thick and 21" wide, so really floaty (as opposed to regular guns which are supposed to be skinny and narrow), and picked it up almost immediately. So, if you want to start on a shortboard, my suggestion would be to start on a big shortboard, or what we call a hybrid or big-boy board, great for learning if you are athletic and have good balance, a horrible experience if you are overweight, out of shape and have two left feet. Not sure if 7'6", fat and wide for sure.

[vanfossenator]

I agree with themathteacher...If you want to surf a shortboard buy a big shortboard first...something at least over 7' and thick and wide cuz your tall...If you haven't surfed before don't just go out and buy a board, rent and get a feel for what kind of board you like and work on the basics like paddling, positioning and your popup...I still consider myself a beginner and I have been goin out for over a year now......I started (borrowing from friends) and renting a longboard about 9' and gradually have worked my way down to a 8' funboard and now have been trying out boards that are in the 7' range...The thing that sucks for you and me is that we surf in Florida and there are long periods of bad days, but when the waves are good it is ideal for beginners...You'll get hooked quick bro!!!