Picking a good but actually rideable shorter board

[lachyd333]

Hey guys,

I am 6,ft 2 and about 78 kg. I usually ride an 8ft minimal or a 7 ft minimal. I need a shorter board though, as I can't fit my minimals into my car easily anymore due to a change in car. I bought a 6 ft eco bean that is super wide and super thick with nearly 50 L of volume. However, it is just too short for me. I find my height makes it hard to land easily on a board of that length. So, I am wondering if any one can suggest a board that is 7,6 or under that is a shorter board style (not a mini-mal) that is still quite bouyant and stable and easy to padle. I'm not trying to be the greatest surfer alive. I jsut want to catch waves and do some little up and down turns, so not a performance board. But, I need something that is not a mini-mal and will fit in a regualr car but fits the criteria for stability, etc. Thanks heaps for your help

[dtc]

Look for hybrid boards. There are heaps - FireWire makes a few (addvance, dominator), the McCoy nugget, XL super fish, look up a grant Miller 'waterskate'. Mctavish carver. At the cheaper end Torq fish or funboard.

The boards suggested are all a bit different and may not be available where you live, but you can get a feel for what they involve and then look around locally. Don't limit yourself to the boards mentioned by any means - there are heaps of others (that said, most of the big companies, like CI, don't seem to cover this space - smaller shapers tend to have a version in their range). Most shapers are no more expensive than the top shelf internationals

Generally 21-22 inches wide and 2 3/4 to 3 or so thick. Rounded outline, low to mid rocker, thickness carried through to the rails.

I assume you are after a 6'6 (rather than a 7'6 per your comment)? I guess it's worth saying that don't get a board to fit in your car if it messes up your surfing - no point spending the money and effort to surf and doing it badly because you don't want to use a roof rack

[ManicDaisy]

I just got a 6'6 Catch Surf Skipper and I love it. Like, LOVE. Granted, I'm 5ft5 and 125lbs... So much smaller than you. But I've only only been surfing for about 3 months total, so I'm probably also more of a beginner. It's a foam board, but fairly stiff and a great shape. Maybe you could find a used one to try out?

[waikikikichan]

What make and model of car ? Me and my wife went to the beach with two 9'0" longboard inside a tiny Scion XB.

[Big H]

If you still have the board keep at it....it is not too small; you're just not used to it. I'm 6'1" and have ridden a 5'8" board before with no issues and I'm far from expert. It is just going to be a different thing with a shorter board; one thing is that you can't use your toes to pop up anymore....practice and you'll get it, or just look for a roof rack for your car and surf what is comfortable.

[lachyd333]

Thanks for all teh helpful repleis guys. I really appreciate it!

[Big H]

BTW, for STABLE (you mentioned that you wanted that) and turning a little bit, mini male are pretty good platforms....the rest is down to you....

[Namu]

I can't even fit my 6'6" fish in my car, a tiny 4-door hatchback, but I can haul 2x longboards on my roof. Get some some soft straps. With the correct placement I can drive 70 MPH without drama. It would be a lot cheaper than buying a new board, less than $50.

http://amzn.to/2dcaJbs

[waikikikichan]

I can't even fit my 6'6" fish in my car, a tiny 4-door hatchback,

Hatchback ? 4-door Sedan I could understand. On the hatchback, lift up the hatch, take off the rear headrest ( or lay down the rear seats flat if they can ). Lean the front passenger seats all the way back. Place the nose of the board into the space where the feet normally are.

[Namu]

Its a Hyundai Accent, the angles are all wrong and the roof is low. With my wifes car, a Scion XD, I can slide the passenger seat back, recline it all the way back and put the nose of the board into the foot well. The roof of my Hyundai is very low, and it slopes even lower towards the back seats. I can't recline the passenger seat while folding down the rear seat, its only one or the other. Also I can't recline the seat very far when it slides back since it hits the rear seats. Also the width of the board, 21" makes it hard to lay at a diagonal into the seat behind me. The best I can fit in there would be a 6'0 board.

[jaffa1949]

What's the problem??????:

images.jpg (12.11 KiB) Viewed 2200 times

[lachyd333]

Hey guys,

Can any one suggest boards that would be very similar to the Firewire Addvantage. I'm thinking the 6,10 would be my option. I've looked at a million hybrid/fun boards, but can't seem to find a board that gives such nice thick rails and good volume throughout but with such a sleek back, etc.

[dtc]

What's wrong with the Addvance?

I'm not sure what a 'sleek back' is.

Also you will probably have more success looking at a smaller (local) shaper than one of the big companies. As mentioned most of them have a hybrid board in their lineup esp if they make longboards

[lachyd333]

Nothing wrong with Addvance, just really hard to find in QLD second hand and a bit too pricy first hand, 900 bucks for a 6,10.

Yeah, i'll have to just keep having a snoop around

Best,

Lachlan

[dtc]

If you are in Qld /Australia then have a look at

- miller waterskate (or v skate or f skate) (ideal but hard to find second hand-but a new custom will cost no more than the addvance)
- Anderson robo mollusc or mollusc
- maybe some of the mctavish - carver, sumo
- McCoy nugget
- Mark Richards has a few that may suit eg flying saucer


All are quite different in design so have strengths and weaknesses. The nugget or the mctavish are probably the easiest to find second hand

Or have a look at the Torq boards (slightly cheaper) or even a GSI super fish range (not much cheaper)

6'10 - 7ft board that aren't funboards or 'fish' can be quite hard to find second hand. Nothing wrong with either style but not what you are looking for. You just have to keep scouring gumtree etc