Is this board ok for me?

[T4duude]

Ok i bought a brand new (never been used second hand) 6.0' - 18''1/2 - 2'' 3/16 shortboard recently and Iam 5ft 6 and weigh 9stone.
I only surf a couple of weeks during the summer months and last year got down to a 6'6'' nsp shortboard.
I got told by a few people in surf shops that I wouldnt be able to ride the 6.0 because it is too thin ect and not to bother taking it to the water, I decided to have a go anyway and to my surprise managed to catch 4 or 5 waves on it. I'm getting the hang of duckdiving with it which seems alot easier than the 6.6 nsp. But obviously paddling is quite a bit harder.
Because i only get to surf 3 or four weeks a year should i trade it in and get something like a 6.4'' with a bit more volume or shall i just stay with this board?
cheers for the help.

[jon.biarritz]

Depends on your fitness level and tolerance for frustration bro. The learning curve is much harder on a board like that. I don't know what 9 stone means in lbs or kg but your height isn't a problem for that board length. Your skill level might be, though. Not just for catching waves, but for riding them properly. A board like that won't just glide like a learner board; it needs rail-to-rail action on your part, manoeuvering, speed turns, vertical riding face to lip and back etc, otherwise it will go to sleep on you.

[drowningbitbybit]

You might be able to catch the odd wave on it, but you'll struggle to progress if you don't surf it regularly.
To really make progress on a shortboard you need to be in the water several times a week until its second nature to you - otherwise you'll find that you need to go through the whole initial learning curve every time you go surfing.

So either get a learner-friendly board, or seriously step up the amount you surf.

[jon.biarritz]

Good point.

[T4duude]

ok fair comments so far, thats pretty much what they told me in the shops, 9 stone is 126lbs or 57 kgs. I still want to carry on learning on a shortboard so i can practice duck dives and fit it in the van. I got this board for a good price so thought i'd give it a go, I could always trade it in next time i'm near the coast for something a bit more suitable.
So what size board would you recomend keeping my eye out for?

[billie_morini]

Is this question kind of like that old psychology book, "You're OK, I'm OK"?

[vandangos]

if i were you id go for something like 6"4, 19, 2.5

[T4duude]

ok ive been offered to swap with a 6.2''- 19.5''- 2.5'' Aloha fish, will this board be more suitable? will i be able to duckdive or do you think i will be too bouyant?

[IB_Surfer]

Everyone should have a fish in their quiver. Besides, are you more worried about riding it than duckdiving it? Fishes are more buoyant, but great for begginers and for small wave surfing.

[T4duude]

No I was just struggling to paddle the 6.0 out, obviously it was much harder work and didn't seem to go anywhere when paddling ( i was laying on it correctly, just hard work) I manage to duck dive waves with it and just struggled with the paddling compared to the 6.6 which i could get out to some nice waves but was harder to duckdive, so yeah i guess i am answering my own question really I need something inbetween.

Just didnt want to get a nice bouyant board which I could paddle and ride yet struggle to get out past the white water.

[IB_Surfer]

Fishes are not that much harder to duckdive unless you get a tank. I own a 6'10" fish (which I use as my longboard, but different story there) that is and I can duckdive it. Not great, not deep, but I don't have too many problems getting out with it. Then again, I don't use it on huge or barreling days, but I have been out on overhead+ surf and made it out.

Also, maybe its' time to expand you quiver, have you considered a gun as a transition board? Not the usual advice, but if you want a board that paddles good and duckdives and catches a lot of waves then a nice 7ft skinny narrow gun might be your ticket. My transition board was a 7'8" gun, but I'm 200lbs