good shortboard for Johnny Utah?

[Johnny Utah]

hey fellas, I'm about 6 ft and weigh about 185 pounds, how would this board suit me?

fish hybrid 6' 6" x 20 7/8" x 2 3/4 with thruster set up




i figure its nice and wide and thick enough to learn on surfing 4 days a week?

cheers
your expertise would be greatly appreciated as I don't want my head punched in by locals.

[Rico]

depends on more than your height and weight.

are you in good shape?

[Johnny Utah]

yeah, i got to the gym quite a bit.. my cardio ain't the best but i've been working on it

[Rico]

yeah see there are diff. kinds of being in shape...

needless to say that you should only start on a shortboard if you're fit enough to paddle it for a long time and explosive enough to catch waves frequently. Then you should have enough balance and power to push up in a fast motion.

lack of paddling strength will frustrate you
lack of balance will get you nowhere on a shortboard
plus you have not enough time to slowly stand up

if you think you can manage those things, go for it! It's easier than people say when your abilities are better than average, no need to use a longie or mal, these boards can help you developing those skills, if you still need them.

[crepuscular]

that's a modern fish... usually about 2" shorter than a shotboard, but the best way is to take it out for a ride.