HELP...What should my next board be !!

[Burkey]

Hey guys so I'm kinda stuck on what my second board should be and would really appreciate some advice here's a little about me I'm 31 average fitness working on getting better paddle strength and cardio I'm about 5,6 and weight 65 kg , I've been surfing for about 6 months on a 8ft foamie I can catch green waves and go down the line no probs we are currently traveling Australia so I surf a lot when we are near the coast which is most of the time so I put a lot of time in the water and want to trade in the big blue beast and treat myself to something new for xmas. I know I'm not ready for a short board and probs will never be so my options are a fish/groveller or mini mal I keep swinging between the two would a high volume fish/groveller be a good all round choice for a second board or would a mal be better suited coming off the foamie, ideally I'd love to lash out and buy a puddle jumper or FireWire scud then go the mal direction. I know this subject has probs been flogged to death but I'll appreciate any advice Cheers

[dtc]

Mini mal for sure. Volume doesn’t mean it’s easier to surf (stand up, position, stability). It just means (for a fish)’that it can cope with less powerful waves. You will still want stability, paddle, board ease of wave catching. An 8ft foamie will probably be 80l+ volume; you don’t want to drop to a 45l volume board anyway (like even a big groveller)

Personally I would try for a nice wide board something like 7’6 x 22. You could probably go slightly shorter if you wanted, but 7’2 would be the minimum I would recommend. Longer is perfectly fine - even an 8ft will surf quite differently to your foamie

Where are you traveling? East coast?

[waikikikichan]

If you can't bottom turn and top turn going back side, you are not ready to go down to a groveller / Fish. Agreed with DTC for a 7'6"ish fun board / mini-mal. Groveller / Fish for your 3rd or 4th board.

[Burkey]

Cheers mate i think your right i just needed to hear it im quite happy just going down the line and eventually carving so if i get a decent mal itll last a long time and should do exactly what i wanna do..weve done the east coast just in vic atm going to head over to port fairy then South oz on wednesday

[Burkey]

Cheers waikikikichan its always good to get some direction i probs would have bought a fish if i didnt post here and really struggled so glad i did thanks guys i really appreciate it

[waikikikichan]

Fishes / Retro fishes are Great. Just not right for you now. Fishes need to ridden on rail and constantly transitioning back and forth from rail to rail. If you've only been surfing for 6 months, here's something to aspire to in say about 2-5 years.

Work on those cutbacks, kickouts and pumps on your Mini-mal, then Funboard, then Hybrid first before you get on a Fish.

[dtc]

Port fairy? Hope you have a good wetsuit!

[Burkey]

Haha i know right think its 3mm or mabey 2.5 either way im still keen as its been about 3 weeks sense we left noosa and been inland the whole time so really looking foward to following the coast for a few months surfing everyday

[Burkey]

Are those torq funboards any good i always seem to see them in stores or would i be better of spending a couple more notes and getting something else

[dtc]

Personally I haven’t surfed one but a few people on this forum have and give them high marks (and may chime in)

They are definitely suitable for what you are after and your level - 7’6 mod fun or big boy would be an excellent choice. They are tough and lightweight and so make good travel boards as well