Any advice on choosing my first shortboard...

[waterlily]

Hi guys,

I'm looking to move onto a short board but I'm a bit stuck on what shape and size I should be looking at, I'm just learning to duck dive so need something I can get under the water, but also want something that's floaty enough to paddle and catch waves on.

To give you a bit of background, my old board is a 7'0 quad fin fish that's 21.5 wide and 3 inches think so no chance of duck diving that and recently I've been surfing a 6'6 fish that's 21wide and 2 and 9/16 thick so i couldn't duck dive this either, although for catching and paddling waves this was really great.

I'm going to be surfing it this summer in the UK probably until about October, but afterwards I'll be in Nicaragua where the waves get quite steep and hollow, so I want a board that I can surf in both places. I'm 5ft 5 tall and 135 pounds.

Any tips, or if anyone knows of any shapers in cornwall I could chat to, that would be awesome!
Thanks

[cornishsurfer]

fluid juice shaper adrian phillips gives awesome advice. look at: http://www.fluidjuice.co.uk/
Adress and Contact:
Fluid Juice Surfboards, The Old Airfield, St Merryn, Padstow, Cornwall. PL28 8PU
Phone: 01841 520928, enquiries@fluidjuice.co.uk

[vabeach]

I would sugest talking to a local shaper whos familiar with your area.
As for the NI trip; rent a board it will cost you quite a bit to bring yours and it may be damaged by the time its in your hands again.

[phippsy]

try ns surfboards @ ocean magic ...i was very happy with the board i got..was myt 1st shortboard coming off a minimal for 10 years......b52 love it ....easy paddler and a good wave catcher and can be ducked 375 pounds a bargain in my book .

[tony g]

Hello,
It sounds like you want a higher performance thinner shortboard that you can duck dive. It is great confidence builder to be able to get under the waves when it is bigger out. Just remember it is harder to catch the waves so you must work on positioning. You do not have to paddle like a mad man. You just have to watch the waves more, and learn where you want to be to take off. With a shorter board you must take off more in the critical part of the wave closer to the curl. As far as the exact board you should get, I would try to ride a few different shorter boards to help narrow down exactly what you want. Good Luck

Tony
Safari Town Surf Shop
http://safaritownsurf.com/