How hard is it to learn on a fishboard?

[hellspawn1]

I'm 5'7 weighing 115lbs, and I can borrow a 6'8" long, 20,5" wide, 2,5" thick fishboard for free.

I know mals/longboards are the otpimal beginnersboard, but since I'm quite small/light, (and don't have the option to borrow any other board too) would it be a totally hellish struggle trying to catch some smaller (waisthigh at most) waves with this board for me? I'm not afraid of being wiped out for hours for days in a row...

fishes are supposed to be real "loose" and all, but its pretty big for being a fish right?

whaddya think?

[Phil]

not an expert on fishes tried riding DBBB surftech but struggled alot on it being a longboarder so maybe he can give you a good idea of why there not the best boards to learn on, but from what i know about fishes is they are relativly flat with little to no rocker so when you take off on a wave they fly there really loose and hard to control for a begginer, theres nothing to say you cant learn on one just be easyer on the funboard as you would likley have more control over it

[hellspawn1]

hmm.. what about the shape features of mals? I thought they also was pretty flat and with little rocker...

[Phil]

you have alot more volume on a mal and bigger fins so they are alot more stable and easyer to ride also allow you to catch waves alot earlyer

[Ellie]

Silly question....Would putting HUGE fins on fish make it more stable? Don't have one, just wondering!

[kitesurfer]

Depends upon what type of fish it is. The one your descbing does sound like it'll have enough volume for it but as phil says they can be loose and fast.
What's the fin set-up?

KS

[drowningbitbybit]

The problem with learning on a fish is (as well as being wobbly) they dont maintain momentum - they stall really easily and as a beginner you've got enough to be thinking about without trying to pump the board and move onto more powerful sections of the wave.

So if you're just learning, that wont be much fun. Much better to get a mal or funboard shape, then one you've clambered to your feet it'll keep on going til you run out of water

[drowningbitbybit]

Silly question....Would putting HUGE fins on fish make it more stable? Don't have one, just wondering!

On mine (which is actually a hybrid fish, so not an entirely fair comparison) its got three fin boxes and it goes...

Really small waves - two side fins.

Medium clean waves - two side fins and one middle 'stabiliser' fin (ie the really tiny half fins)

Big or messy waves - thruster set up with a 'real' fin in the middle.

So its not that silly a question!



It gets a bit more complicated though - removing the centre fin also reduces drive, so on small AND gutless days it can be better to go back to three fins!


Still, its always a good excuse when Im surfing like a complete flesher
"Oh, its my fin set up, I thought the waves would be more powerful..."

[hellspawn1]

Depends upon what type of fish it is. The one your descbing does sound like it'll have enough volume for it but as phil says they can be loose and fast.
What's the fin set-up?

KS

it's a tri-fin thruster setup!

[Phil]

Still, its always a good excuse when Im surfing like a complete flesher
"Oh, its my fin set up, I thought the waves would be more powerful..."

you can allways have ago on my log agian if you want

[kitesurfer]

Ok, i think you'll be ok with it then.

[drowningbitbybit]

you can allways have ago on my log agian if you want

Flesh off!!

My neck has only just recovered! First time I could cycle into work today and actually be able to look behind me!!

I like my boards to be small enough to be irrelevant once Im wiping out

[hellspawn1]

here's an image of the board in question, if that helps:


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y162/h ... mnds68.jpg

[drowningbitbybit]

Thats not a fish!

I'd describe that as a shortboard with a swallowtail. (cue endless discussion about what makes a fish a fish)
How much rocker does it have? (ie how much curve at the front and back)

Its got a lot of volume, so you should be okay. You may as well give it a go as its there and asking to be surfed!

[kitesurfer]

Aren't those boards called piranha's? I've seen them in surfed out in braunton. Some have the single step on the rails, others two and some three. I wouldn't call it a fish either more of a funboard/shortboard hybrid. Nice board though it'll be fine.

KS

[hellspawn1]

hehe ok, I thought all board with extra width and swalllow tails were fishes! so what makes a fish then, and what makes the displayed board NOT being one?


hmm "pirahnas" , now, what is that?
now we're talking different SPECIES of fish here.. lol

[Phil]

cue endless discussion about what makes a fish a fish

this is a fish





http://surfermag.com/magazine/designfor ... index.html

any thing with 3 fins and looks like a shorboard with just a little more volume isnt a fish

[Driftingalong]

I can't see the pic because I'm at work. (shhh.... )

But, it sounds like what I learned on...a Big Guy Fish...



Go with the "Fish"...
more length, more width easier time

Since it's borrowed and you're just learning; all your efforts will be on paddling, catching a wave and standing for a while. I wouldn't even worry about the whole turning and maintaining speed part. Once you're up and standing consistently you'll probably want something else anyway.

Go for it...fish...fish...fish...fish...

[rich r]

A fish looks like a longer shortboard that has been squashed, so the volume (width) is apparant in the tail and nose.

That 'big guy fish' sure looks to me like a standard shortboard, as does the original swallowtail in question.

The blue/green one is a fish.

Shortboards that are a bit wider/thicker than usual, without approaching that 'obvious' fish shape can safely be called a 'hybrid', but they still live solidly in the standard shortboard category, as they react like shortboards, although they are wider and/or thicker in order to have more volume to catch weaker/smaller surf and/or be more stable than a shortboard of the same size, but thinner/skinner midsection.

All that being said, the original question - you should be fine on the 6'7" shortboard. It's a foot bigger than you, so it'll still float you like your funboard. I used to ride a 6'8" Lost Mayhem (one of te original hybrid styles), and I'm 6'1", 180lbs, and that was considered a bit big for a shortboard for me.

[hellspawn1]

I can't see the pic because I'm at work. (shhh.... )

But, it sounds like what I learned on...a Big Guy Fish...



Go with the "Fish"...
more length, more width easier time

Since it's borrowed and you're just learning; all your efforts will be on paddling, catching a wave and standing for a while. I wouldn't even worry about the whole turning and maintaining speed part. Once you're up and standing consistently you'll probably want something else anyway.

Go for it...fish...fish...fish...fish...

what was it like to learn on it? an endless struggle? or just a slight effort? :]

and also, once you learn to stand on the board.. why would one want something else, boardwise?