Getting a shorter board okay for a small frame beginner??

[Tomi_li]

So people say beginners get longboards, etc. I am 5"5 127 pounds with a 7"4 surfboard thats pretty thick.

I have been out about 30 times and I can stand up all the time and can catch many waves just not surfing across them and stuff.

I was thinking about getting a shorter board after I have perfected a consistent popup.

Since I am pretty small frame would it be okay getting a 6"6 size board this early on? I want to be able to turn better, get faster speed on the waves and be able to get past the 4-6 foot break better.

[jaffa1949]

The size will be OK but I would hold out for a while until you can catch green waves and ride across the face doing turns, don't have to be stunning turns but adequate will do!
As you go smaller the wave catching ability will drop.
By all means go short but at this stage what you are riding is ideal.
Get your skills up!

[waikikikichan]

"So people say beginners get longboards, etc. I am 5"5 127 pounds with a 7"4 surfboard thats pretty thick."
I am 5'3" 120 pounds. Most of my boards are 9'0 21" 2 5/8. I can comfortably turn a 10' 22" 3". Turning a 11' 23 1/2" 4" takes a bit of time with my 110 pound wife on the front. learn about Leverage. Your back foot must be over the fin(s) to turn.

"I have been out about 30 times and I can stand up all the time and can catch many waves just not surfing across them and stuff."
So you're going "Straight" in the soup. Getting a smaller board will feel even more like a wet potato chip

"I was thinking about getting a shorter board after I have perfected a consistent popup."
The place and timing that you "Consistently popup" with a 7'3" will change greatly on a smaller board. You will have to stand up almost as the wave stands up vertical. Thus your timing and pop will be all thrown off, then you back to square one.

"Since I am pretty small frame would it be okay getting a 6"6 size board this early on?"
If you got the money, sure buy another board. The surf industry needs your help. A 6'6" Hybrid or retro fish will be a good next board.

"I want to be able to turn better, get faster speed on the waves"
Smaller board won't go faster, you actually be worse off in the soup. There is no speed in the broken part of the wave. How about we make a deal, dont' start searching for that 6'6"until you can Bottom Turn consistently and Trim along the face of the wave. When you finally get out onto the shoulder and attempt to do your first turn down, then go buy that next board. Before then you'll just stunt your progress.

"and be able to get past the 4-6 foot break better."
Use your brain not your brawn to get out. Like Turtle said, " when da wave breaks hea, don't be dea, or ya gonna get drilled "

[Tomi_li]

Alright thanks for replys, I will work on turning on the face of wave before I get my next board.

[nolte]

I am 5'8" 150 lbs and started on a 7'x23x3 thruster "short board" shape. Basically a big guy short board I guess. I don't think it hindered me at all, in fact I think it put me a little ahead of the curve in some ways. The important thing is, you need a board that is easy for you to paddle and catch waves. You just can't get any better if you can't catch waves. Now that being said, my second board was actually bigger than my first ( I kept the first for medium-big days). Reason being, while I could catch anything on my 7', it just didn't have the glide for the really small days (which we have a lot of), so I wanted something bigger for the small days. In the meantime, I do plan on working my way down to something shorter to replace the 7'. So, to answer your question: Yes it's OK, provided the board has a TON of volume.

[Tomi_li]

Hey guys, practiced my popup more and have been able to ride across the face of some of the waves


I surf in San Diego at la jolla shores. I heard some people talking about getting new boards for the upcoming winter. Should I care at all, does it matter what type of board you have for winter/summer surf ?

[jaffa1949]

Stop worrying about stuff like that get your surfing up and more skilled.
There are different boards for different size seasons , but really it's just like car talk ( just talk).
Stop thinking about all the aspects of surfing ......... go surfing find out by doing!

[Tomi_li]

Lol okay, will do. I went out 5 times this past week, Whenever Im not surfing I try to find more about surfing online and stuff. I can't get enough of it I just want to know more and more

[dtc]

In many places winter waves are bigger and more powerful, so people get slightly different boards than the boards for the (usual) smaller and weaker summer waves. But while it is a difference for people of skill, the waves are not so much different to require a new or different board for the likes of us. a 7ft4 is pretty good for most conditions, although once the waves are getting overhead you may find its not great because of rocker or rails (rather than size) - but chances are you wont/shouldnt be out in those conditions anyway