starting on a shortboard...

[coffeaddict]

Hey everyone, new here.
I surf for about two months now, I did surf a longboard and a softboard at the beginning, caught waves on my very first couple of sessions and after that, I just felt like I wanted to progress and learn on a shortboard.

This is a whole new thing to get used to, the board itself just literally drowns everytime I attempt to pop up(when doing a push up) OR im losing balance to the side/backwards. I just can't find the sweet spot.
I do enjoy the failure process though and I do not feel demotivated at all at the moment, I see people on shortboards all the time, there's no reason for me not to get used to it.

It would really help me to hear some advice from experienced surfers here, especially from those who started on a shortboard.
(I am 5'9, 70kg and the board is 6'1.)
thanks@!!

[BaNZ]

Save yourself the hassle and just go with a longer board. A shortboard is not good for learning unless you're like 10 year old.

I do know a guy who learnt on a 6'3, he spent the first 6 months nearly every day at the beach before he was able to master it. He was around 20 at the time and had a lot of free time in a place where you don't need a wetsuit.

I also have 2 other friends who decided that they want to surf a shortboard when they can only surf once a week. After 2 years they still suck at surfing.

Just surf something like 7'6 or bigger before you move down to a short board.

[OlegLupusov]

To my personal knowledge, the only guys who succeeded doing so were young short and light pro or semi pro athletes in sports requiring good balance and coordination. For instance, wrestlers, martial artists and gymnasts.

[steveylang]

The short answer is you're not progressing by riding a shortboard right now.

I salute you for your spirit and not getting discouraged, but the thing is you could right now be riding waves instead of struggling, and actually learning how to surf better. When you can easily catch waves and really ride them well on a bigger board, that's the time to gradually step down in size.

That's how you maximize your progress (many of us have learned this the hard way.)

[dtc]

Most people you see on shortboards started surfing when they were 6 yr old...there is absolutely no benefit to staying on a shortboard. You will, absolutely, be able to surf your 6’1 faster and better by starting on a longer board, learning the skills and then moving to the shorter board. You don’t have to start on a 9ft or softboard, try a 7ft fun board if you have an issue with the longer boards (will still take a while)

Ok, to your issue

- have you caught any waves
- is your problem before you catch the wave (paddling), during pop up or after you stand. Or just during the pop up
- what are the dimensions of your board
- are you confident your body position on the board is correct (ie do you know where it should be?)
- can you pop up on land without using your toes/feet?
- after you pop up, can you turn the board - bottom, top?

[oldmansurfer]

I learned on a shortboard I was 18 years old weighed 165 pounds at 6 foot 2 inches tall and had a 6' 10" board. At the time a shortboard was a board about 6 inches taller than you mine was for a beginner so 8 inches taller than me. I had apparently no trouble learning compared to what it seems everyone goes through although it seemed a bit tough at the time. However prior to surfing I was an avid bodysurfer since I was 10 years old and an very experienced bodyboarder from about 15 years of age. So to me the board seemed big as I was used to a 4 foot board. It took me about 30 minutes to figure out where I should be to catch a wave with the shortboard which was a different place than for my bodyboard which was different also from bodysurfing. I think what happens to lots of people trying to learn on a shortboard is they develop lots of bad habits and then have to be trained to undo them. But for me in two weeks I was able to catch green waves and ride them along with the break (I never tried to ride whitewater). From what I hear on this forum it's extremely unlikely that this will be your experience. Go to using a body board and when you think you are good enough stand on that. If you can do that then go straight to a shortboard. There is so much that goes into surfing. You need to learn about the waves and currents and hazards of the ocean where you surf. You need to learn techniques to get out through the surf. You need to learn where to wait for a wave and which wave to catch. How to paddle, how to popup, how to turn. It's all easier on a longer board. I am an old man now and surf a 8 foot board most of the time because it's easier than my 7 foot which is the shortest board I have. (I am still 6'2" but weigh 210 pounds)