Small waves with a shortboard.

[yannickbats]

Am I able to surf 2-3 foot waves with a shortboard?

[garbarrage]

Are you able to surf ANY waves with shortboard? It is possible to surf 2-3ft waves with a shortboard, or 1ft waves depending on the board, rider and shape of the waves.

[yannickbats]

yes i normally surf a shortboard,

[themathteacher]

2 to 3 ft waves no problem, but smaller you'll need a bigger board. I actually use a disk or a fish if it's chest high or smaller. It's not because I have to, it's because I can catch way more waves and work half as much.

[dtc]

2 to 3 ft waves no problem, but smaller you'll need a bigger board. I actually use a disk or a fish if it's chest high or smaller. It's not because I have to, it's because I can catch way more waves and work half as much.

I've noticed a few people using the small but 'fat' Firewire boards on small waves (I think they are called 'potatonator' or 'sweet potato' or something like that) - are these what you would class as 'disks'?

Presumably the extra volume (for the size) is what makes them work better in small waves.

Its interesting that there seems to be a trend away from narrow thin boards to fatter wider boards. I wonder if its because the former was just a fad that people now appreciate wasnt suitable for the normal surfer; or because the market is now catering for a big bulge of older surfers who like the extra foam plus dont care about image, just want to catch waves.

Or maybe its just that I tend to hang around with older surfers; the young 'uns probably still all surf 6x18x2.

[drowningbitbybit]

Its interesting that there seems to be a trend away from narrow thin boards to fatter wider boards.

Yup.
I've drifted away from skinny boards, and now use a pod for bigger days, and wide (22") fish for smaller days. I catch a whole lot more waves (compared to a 'proper' shortboard) and it doesn't inhibit my surfing one bit, apart from finding the fish a bit tricky to duckdive.

As has been said on here about a billion times (often by me) - it's not about surfing the smallest board, but having the most fun, and I have a lot more fun catching waves on a slighty fatter board than sitting frustrated and exhausted on a tiny board.

[yannickbats]

thanks a lot, i think ill use a fish, is a 7S super fish 5'9'' a good option?

[themathteacher]

Like buying underwear you need to make sure it fit or you'll... well... dang, can't come up with a punchline, but tight underwear sucks!

Post your weight/height and age, though the age part is just so we know if to call you sir or dude

[yannickbats]

65 kilos, 1.78 m, 15 years old. Im a european so this how I say it but ill do it the American way too: 143 lbs, 5'10'', and so yeah... Im a dude

[themathteacher]

The super fish should do if you've been surfing a while, but if you are a begginer go slightly bigger, at 143lbs you will have a blast with just about any fish LOL.

Enjoy, see you in the lineup.