Hook me up, ? on size (of a surfboard)

[kcaffee]

What's up I posted this question in shortboards only, but I got no love, so I am trying a different venue. I 5' 7" 185-190 depending on the beer I'm drinking. I've been longboarding for a while a have a chance to get a shortboard. It a firewire flexfire thats 6' 3" x 18 3'4 x 2 3/8 is that going to float me or should I get (a) longer, or (b) thicker, or just stop posting this God D#$% question. =) thanks

[RJD]

Have you tried a shortboard? For a starter shorty that may be large enough dunno, tons lessvolume than a longboard quite differnt techniques.

[trifish]

Nope, that wont float you. Look for something atleast 2.5inch thick and around 19.5inch wide for that weight. It all depends on what waves you will be surfing also. Go thicker and wider in smaller waves since you will need more float.

[kcaffee]

=( Oh well I was really hoping maybe the epoxy would add a little more float. So the length would be okay, but it would just need to be wider and thicker.

[trifish]

Im 185lbs 5'9" and surf a 6'3" x 19 3/4 x 2 5/8 small wave shortboard. Since this is your first shortboard I would lean towards something that will give you a good bit of float. Like RJD said the float difference is night and day between a longboard and a shorty. You will get frustrated going to small on a shortboard.

[kcaffee]

Do you think a 6' 6" x 18 3/4 x 2 3/8 would work?

[trifish]

Just not enough volume there. Im pretty comfy on a shortboard and I wouldnt attempt to ride one that size. The length is not the issue. Its the width/thickness. To give you a idea I ride a
5'11" x 20 3/4 x 2 5/8 retro fish and it floats alotttt better then my 6'3" shortboard does because of the width/thickness through the board.

[trifish]

Also flexfire shortboards seem to be very narrow and thin for lighter surfers. You might want to look at a different brand or at a custom one that the shaper can beef up.

[kcaffee]

Dude thanks for the knowledge and thanks to everyones input, a guy I know is going to sell his firewire and I was hoping it would work, but I'm glad I didn't jump on it. Trifish do you think a biscuit would work those are all like 20+ and a least 2 3/4+. And what do you think is the right length for an all around short board for some 5' 7", I cant spend a lot on buying new boards, so I want to get a good board I will grow into skill wise.

[trifish]

Personally I think your best bet is just to get a high volume shortboard to transition to. If your looking for a all rounder go towards a bigger size so you can still catch waves on a smaller day. Something like a glider shape would work. Lost makes a nice glider also. http://www.surfindustries.com/surfboard ... glider.php Once you get comfy on a shortboard I imagine you will want to be riding around a 6'1" or 6'2" at that height, but its all preference. Some guys go bigger and some guys rather smaller boards. A biscuit shape could be fun also. Looks like it has good width and thickness. Ive rode the pod which is similar and liked it. Its made to be ridden really short though and that will be a huge jump coming down from a longboard. I originally learned on a 8ft board and jumped to my 6'3" to fast and was frustrated out there. I ended up going with a 6'8" transition board (superfish) and kept the 6'3" for when I got better. It helped alot with the transition and made the shorty so much easier when I switched. Now on most days im on a small retro fish and love it, but everything comes in steps. I just wouldnt try jumping to far ahead of yourself and going to small to early. Also limiting yourself to one board isnt always the answer, I think riding as many different boards as you can will help you get better. I switch up with friends all the time and sometimes ride a board for a small amount of time and sale it for a different one. Also find yourself a surfshop and see what some of the guys there think. They know the waters best around you and prob could recommend you to a board that will work in your conditions.

[Pornstar]

I frankly disagree with most of you.
At his height and weight the 6´3 would float him fine.
It wouldnt be a good board for him though for 2 reasons.
1) It isnt meant to be ridden by someone of his height.
2) It´s not a forgiving model.

For his complexion and skill level he should be looking for an oversized shortboard/funboard hybrid. Something around 6´7 would do. Easier to ride, and with more forgiving sweetspots.

If he sticks to this sport he should be looking to ride a custom made 6´0- 6´1 at the most, wider and thicker than normal to compensate for his weight. Unless he looses some weight during the process to be able to ride a reg. 6´1 board.

BTW My specs 5´10 165 pounds My boards 5´11 18 7/8 2 1/4 flyer a 6´1 18 1/8 2 1/4 reg. shortie and a 6´3 18 1/8 2 1/4 step up. The best board for me to learn on was a 7´0 foiled down hybrid.

[drowningbitbybit]

I frankly disagree with most of you.

No you dont, you seem to agree with most of them

"That board's no good, go for a longer/fatter/thicker hybrid shortboard" just about sums up everyone's opinion.

[drowningbitbybit]

...And another thing - the goal of surfing isn't (or shouldn't be) to ride the shortest board

[Pornstar]

I disagree with them saying that the board wouldnt float him.

This is what i missed the most about posting here.

DBB and his toughtfulls posts.

If you want to ride a shortboard, he is interested in getting one isnt he?, you should get one intended for your size/weight. Unlike many whom ride shortboards 4- 5 inches longer or more of their height.
Or oversized $600 flyers tufflites etc...
Until you can do that the best bet is to get an toughtfully designed "oversized shortboard".

[trifish]

I frankly disagree with most of you.



No you dont, you seem to agree with most of them

at pornstar

Maybe some other guys will chime in around his weight and give some input. I know he weighs 5 lbs more then me and that boards to small for what I would say is proper float for me, especially for a first shorty. Everybody prefers something different though, so to each his own.

[drowningbitbybit]

This is what i missed the most about posting here.

DBB and his toughtfulls posts.

[kcaffee]

Sweet, thanks for all the input. So would I be safe with a board around 6' 2" x 20? x 2 1/2??? I understand the learning curve with me going so short, but I wont be able to buy another board for a while. I do get out at least four to five days a week and take this very seriously.

[drowningbitbybit]

At 190lb, I predict that we'd see that 6'2 board in the 'for sale' section pretty soon

Little guys will tell you its easy to learn to surf on a board only a few inches taller than them - but for the larger gentleman, that just aint true. As for the learning curve, its not so much steep as vertical when you're board is too small for you - not catching waves doesnt help you progress one bit.

[kcaffee]

Cool I do appreciate your honesty I really do want to progress, so what what about a 6' 6" thick flyer, do I need a little more length.

[drowningbitbybit]

Something around 6'6 thats good and thick (at least 2.5") and has a forgiving outline (not too pointy at either end) would be a more realistic goal. It'll still be a steep learning curve, but if you're getting out there 5 times a week, you'll get it.