Did I make a huge mistake?? Shortboard = First board!

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Did I make a huge mistake?? Shortboard = First board!

Postby johnzacha » Thu Sep 11, 2014 8:53 am

Hello my name is John, I'm from Melbourne Australia. I'm new to these forums and surfing so I have a few questions. I recently bought a second hand board, not knowing much. I have no surfing experience but I skate if that makes any difference. My board is a 5'8 tri-fin Al Merrick. That's the issue. After I bought it, I did heeeaps of reading and everybody says to start on longboards and work your way down. I am really worried about not being able to surf it. I am 5'11 and I really didn't think it through enough. Another big issue is location. I just read that shortboards are pretty much only usable in green water, and all the spots nearby are white wash, 3' high maximum. Am I an idiot? So basically I'm asking if it's possible to surf a shortboard as a first board, and if so, could I surf white wash? Thanks alot for reading, and I hope there's a good soloution. :D
Last edited by johnzacha on Thu Sep 11, 2014 9:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Dings/Creases

Postby johnzacha » Thu Sep 11, 2014 9:00 am

I forgot to mention. The board has a few minor creases. Will this affect it at all?
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Re: Did I make a huge mistake?? Shortboard = First board!

Postby jaffa1949 » Thu Sep 11, 2014 9:53 am

Hi John it is a mistake but it can be overcome. The first problem is just being able to paddle to catch a wave white green or in between . If you surf as much as possible you may be able to put the effort in to overcome all the difficulties. The board too is a light weight beater, see all the foot depressions in the deck, so now as bouyant as it was when new. It really was a board for a skilled surfer who has beaten it almost to death! :lol:
Maybe a trade in or something like that, head down to Flinders and go to the Trigger brothers store see what is there! Look for something between seven and eight feet look to gentle surf on the quieter beaches of Flinders or do the Torquay run and the Victorian surf coast, checking stores there, there are good learning breaks there!.
Happy to talk further, before you choose you next board post pictures and we'll help. :D
I've taken up troll hunting just for fun, instead of a rifle I'll just use a pun! 冲浪爷爷
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Re: Did I make a huge mistake?? Shortboard = First board!

Postby drowningbitbybit » Thu Sep 11, 2014 10:56 am

Oops...
You'll probably find me surfing, but if not, I'll probably be in the photography studio
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Re: Did I make a huge mistake?? Shortboard = First board!

Postby johnzacha » Thu Sep 11, 2014 10:57 am

Thanks alot :) I really appreciate it and I'll hopefully keep you posted
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Re: Did I make a huge mistake?? Shortboard = First board!

Postby oldmansurfer » Fri Sep 12, 2014 5:38 pm

The thing about starting with a shortboard is that you won't have to change anything once you learn it. If you start with a longer board then you need to change how you catch a wave and turn the board when you switch to a shortboard. But I guess it is apparent that most people don't have the patience or motivation and persistence to learn on a shortboard. However it sounds like you have a high performance shortboard that has been ridden to death both of which are not good for a beginner and it is shorter than you which is not good for a beginner. There is more than length to the board to there is width and thickness. If you get a shortboard that is wider and thicker it will be easier to learn on. Or just get a longboard, they are so easy to learn on.
So what is worse.... dying or regretting it for the rest of my life? Obviously I chose not regretting it.
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Re: Did I make a huge mistake?? Shortboard = First board!

Postby BigBlueBear » Tue Oct 21, 2014 3:58 pm

I started on a 6'7 fish, i got worried just like you have but i got on with it fine. I think the thing to remember is you wont know any different, so you wont miss what a longboard offers haha. Learning to surf is hard whatever board you use, you'll pearl out, you'll misplace your feet, you'll mistime waves blah blah blah, but eventually you'll get there, just BE PERSISTENT AND DO NOT GIVE UP.

Good luck man!
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Re: Did I make a huge mistake?? Shortboard = First board!

Postby surfyeah » Thu Oct 23, 2014 1:16 pm

Ah...not the best board to learn on. It does not have to be a longboard but you should get at least 7ft if you are a beginner. And I don't completely agree it does not make a difference, it does. I mean, you will get there eventually, if you are really persistent, but I know a few people who after a while stopped being persistent and bought longer boards:)
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