Advice on getting a "groveler" type board....

[novasteve]

Hello all,
I have started surfing again after a few year hiatus and am looking for a newer board to get me back in true form. I am currently riding a 6'2" Boysen "supercharger" it is a swallow tail. The board is ok but I have a really hard time getting into waves and am curious about the groveler type as I've heard the get you into waves easier. I am about 5' 10 and 180. I would consider my self about a b- surfer. What is the right size for me? I would like something I can use in stuff to about 2 ft overhead. I usually surf beach breaks and some reefs now and then. Thanks in advance.

Steve

[tony g]

Hello novasteve,
I really like the Channel Islands Flyer and the flyer 2. They both come to life quickly in small mushy surf and still perform when the waves are good. I also have a 6'0" Randy French Soul Fish that is insane in small to med sized waves. I can ride it on days when only the longboards are catching waves and still have fun. Its super fast and responsive, but if the surf gets big and hollow, all those small wave characteristics make the board harder to control. I have had fun with mine in overhead surf though. Its best to have a few boards so you can have the right board for the different surf conditions.

[IB_Surfer]

Boysen makes great boards, how thick and wide is the board?

I'm 200lbs and surf 6'1 disk, but it's 20 1/2 inches wide and 2 1/2 inches thick epoxy. My shortboard is 6'5 x 19 1/2 x 2 1/2 epoxy.

Truth be told, I can and have surfed smaller boards, but I value catching waves more. I just sold my 6'2 thruster because I could catch about half of all waves I tried, but half is not enough for me. The 6'2 was easier to shred, but my 6'5 is almost as easy.

So, is it thin and narrow? Maybe just just need a little more volume, not length