Board to continue surf progress

[luizesg]

I'd like you to give your opinion on the best equipment to increase my surf level. I presently have two boards: one 6'4'' x 19 square square short board and an 7 feet fun board (one with round nose). I am 39 and am overweighted (200 pounds).

Do you think I could get some improvement in my technique just for changing my board? I was thinking in exchange my funboard for an 6'10'' x 21'' with a thin nose (they call this "Big joe" here ). I intend to use it when I am not in my best so I can continue to use my shortboard. I surf much better with a funboard than short one, but I prefer shortboards much more. The problem is that I am slow due being not surfing frequently (almost only in the weekends) and because of this, I am constantly dropping too late and end in the white water. When this happens, I catch few waves and so I get less stamina and do not improve mya performance. This becomes a cycle.


Does it makes sense?

[tony g]

I would keep your funboard surfboard, but keep trying to ride your 6'4" shortboard. If you feel your shortboard is not working or is too short then get rid of the 6'4" and try like a 6'6", or a 6'8" shortboard. That way you can still ride your fun board when the wave are mushy and small, and take your short board out when the waves are a little hollower and bigger.

[Lodato]

Keep the large board for those really small days.

As for the 6'4", you may want to try something a little wider or thicker. If you like surfing a shortboard, but need a little more float, try a retro board or something like a 6'4" x 20". An extra inch in the width and maybe a slight bit thicker, you get much more push out of a wave.

My close friend is 6'4", 220lb, and he rides a 6'1" retro fish twin fin in EVERYTHING. He charges overhead barrels and thigh high glass with that board.

[luizesg]

There are some very crowded places I surf that I usually take my fun even though the wave have power to push me. If I didn't do that I would not catch any wave since my paddling is slower than most . Anyway I feell I am getting better since I've been in water more frequently.

I think paddling is the key for me. The earlier I catch the wave the better I ride it.

As soon I can ($$$) I am thinking in getting a fish. It must be very fun!