Here we go again the great longboard vs. Shortboard debate

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They are different. Neither is better than the other. I would still agree from personal experience that bigger boards are better for learning. I am 5'3" and am learning on a 7' funboard and there have been days, even on that that i have wished i was on a bigger board. Yes i have tried shortboards (2 or 3 of Brents) and i have had no success with them. I'm not saying its impossible but as a rule its going to make things difficult.
Also i think one of the problems is that people think they are going to 'outgrow' a minimal or funboard in a few weeks. I think people need to realise that learning to surf (for the vast majority of people) takes years not days or weeks.
And you dont 'outgrow'a longboard, there are heaps of pro longboarders or talented freesurfers who ride longboards. You may change styles but thats different altogether.
I agree with Lagune, DBB etc. bgdkmetzger2003 remember that not everyone spends there free time doing weights and eating raw eggs, and what works for you therefore probably doesnt work for the 'average' guy, and also just because you cant do cr_ap on a longboard doesnt mean that nobody else can.
My next board will be a 9' nose rider and then hopefully soon after that a 6'4-6'6.