downgrading to shortboard

[anonymous1212]

Hi,
I've surfed for about 8 months and i'm very good at surfing. I can control my board while on a wave and get speed and more. I was thinking about downgrading to a short board. I currently surf on a 9"0' and I'm 13 years old. I've no idea how I should start surfing a short board. I've already thought getting a something like a 7"0' hybird short board.
Thanks.

[jaffa1949]

Hi anonymous , you are at a great time in your surfing journey. Unlike advising the older new guys to stay on long boards due to,their weight, age and inexperience. You thoughts of your next board are pretty much where you should be aiming.
I would advise you see if you can try something in the range you are thinking of, ,,try before you buy. Hopefully that is available to you.
Maybe a friend has something similar.

Being your age you are at the time when your physical learning powers are at their peak so make the most of each surfing moment.
Be safe and courageous , plan your schooling around getting a great job that will enable you to surf all your life!
I started when I was 9, I'm 68 now and still surfing and my good job took me all around the world surfing ( I'm not a pro surfer but I've had a great time)
Go get some surf , post some photos of any board you might be interested in , before you buy it we could help your decision.

Jaffa

[anonymous1212]

Hi anonymous , you are at a great time in your surfing journey. Unlike advising the older new guys to stay on long boards due to,their weight, age and inexperience. You thoughts of your next board are pretty much where you should be aiming.
I would advise you see if you can try something in the range you are thinking of, ,,try before you buy. Hopefully that is available to you.
Maybe a friend has something similar.

Being your age you are at the time when your physical learning powers are at their peak so make the most of each surfing moment.
Be safe and courageous , plan your schooling around getting a great job that will enable you to surf all your life!
I started when I was 9, I'm 68 now and still surfing and my good job took me all around the world surfing ( I'm not a pro surfer but I've had a great time)
Go get some surf , post some photos of any board you might be interested in , before you buy it we could help your decision.

Jaffa

Thanks for the help. I will try to get a used 7"0' board for not a lot of money maybe 200-350$ that's fiber glass or something like that and I will practice on it. I will see where it gets me to. Again, thanks. By the way Jaffa, i'm trying to extent how much I could hold my breath under water for surfing purposes.

John

[oldmansurfer]

Be careful about breathholding if you are doing it in the water. In the water you should have a spotter or someone who can pull you up if you blackout. On land however if you blackout you just start breathing again as long as you don't do it driving a car or riding a bike

[Big H]

Last two posts prompted me to google different ways to develop your lungs, breathing ability and lung capacity....interesting reads.

BTW I second OMS for breath holding practice.....if you are going to push the limits, do it in the back of the classroom while you doodle waves in your notebook when the teacher is droning on rather than actually under water.

http://freediveuk.com/how-to-hold-your- ... -training/

http://www.active.com/swimming/articles ... lung-power

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health ... g-capacity

[dtc]

Your lungs dont care if you are underwater or not (until you hit depth) so, yes, just practice on land. Also, while free diving gives you some pointers, holding your breath surfing is completely different to how free divers work. So try some 'active breath holding' ie run then stop and hold your breath, or while fast walking

If you can run fast for 50m and then hold your breath for 20 seconds, you are right for pretty much 95% of the waves anyone surfs. and if you are surfing that other 5%, then you wont need to be taking advice from this forum!

[Big H]

To add a touch of realism....run really fast for 50m, have someone punch you in the chest then no breath for 20sec.

[jaffa1949]

Get fit in as many sports and ways as possible, become a strong swimmer, learn to body surf, become aware of beach conditions and how to,work with them. Make sure your fun quota is strong too!

[Big H]

I have a 7' board I really like....Jimmy Lewis 7' thruster (3 fin) with a rounded pin tail and a fair amount of rocker for a board in this style. A board like this is a relatively easy board to ride and IMO would be a good stepping stone to a shorter board since you are coming from a 9'.

A lot of posters here like the torq boards in the mid lengths (attached). Maybe look for something shaped like this or like one of the other shapes attached.