Board Decision

[speedracer721]

Hey all,
Im new to the forums so bear with me. Im moving to san diego in two weeks and i want to take up surfing. Ive done it a few times and have been decent on those rental longboards. i feel like i have a feel for it. what i want to know is if it would be feasible to just buy a sick shortboard to begin with and just spend more time practicing. I just dont want to have to pay more dough in the inevitable switch to a short. so can it be pulled off? any board recomendations would be great. i am 5'10" 200lbs. thanks everyone.

[dondiemand]

if u must start on a shortboard, with your height and weight, i would go with a board around 6'6" ..my 2 cents

[Old Guys Rule]

Can you go to a shortboard yes. Will it be easy no. Infact chances are if you go to a shortbard you will become frustrated and that will be one less guy in the water.

You need to deside how comited you are to this. Keep in mind you can always sell your board once you get better and go to a short board.

If it was me I would skip on the shortbaord for now.

[speedracer721]

Just so you guys know how serious i am. all i do is read all i can about the subject, looking for tips, reviews on the right board and all that. i plan on hitting the surf everyday. no days missed, no matter the condition unlesss its unsafe. so thats my commitment. i think i am gonna just go for it.

[miamisurfer]

I started on a shortboard and I never got frustrated. I think that's because I'm a grom and when your young you learn quicker, supposedly.
So if your gonna start on a shortboard get something around 6'6'' and 19.5 to 20 inches wide and maybe 2.25 to 2.5 inches thick. Your gonna want that extra volume for bouyancy and stability.

[speedracer721]

thanks man. do you recommend a specific brand? and is it possible to learn on big stuff? i am going to socal. i heard they have some pretty sick overhead, not like im used to on the east coast

[isaluteyou]

Ya its getting near that time of year for epic swells in socal my eyes are glued to swell models. Its epically flat at the moment ankle biters In fact you should be arriving just when its going to get going. last year 21 dec we had monster surf 14-18ft+ faces (Im armed with my vid cam this time ) The really really big swells are dec-jan been a bit dissapointing so far

as for board specifics head down to the nearest surf shop and check out some of the local brands also talk to them about the right board for the local breaks.

I wouldnt suggest paddling out into overhead+ waves until you are confident

[Driftingalong]

I wouldn't recomend going in anything over stomach high until you try that first and see how you get along....

[drowningbitbybit]

just buy a sick shortboard to begin with

so thats my commitment. i think i am gonna just go for it.

Why do you other asking the question then?

[speedracer721]

Bothered asking becuase i wanted to make sure it was possible. i know how hard im gonna try. if it is impossible, than i would be wasting time

[jethrodog]

I think that what everyone is saying is that it won't be impossible to start on a shortboard but it will be alot harder. And I mean ALOT HARDER. I am 5'9" and 175lbs. I am not a total beginner but I'm no expert. And I still have some problems getting my 7'6" hybrid onto some waves. And it is frustrating. When you use a board that you can paddle into every wave with and can stand up on it every time then you will learn your positioning and stance and balance, etc faster because you are doing it more often than getting up once or twice or never on a shortboard.

[jethrodog]

WOOHOOO!! I am now officially a "surfer"!

[speedracer721]

well thats just part of the challenge then. will make it gratifying in the end i guess.

[dondiemand]

also keep in mind that surfing is probably one of the hardest sports out there..it has the slowest learning curve, so you really need a lot of patience and dedication..goodluck!!

[Jimi]

I'd swear I read a post similar to this in this forum... weird, dejavu I think.

[speedracer721]

thnaks everyone for the advice.ive decided to go with a minimal or a fish whatever a fish is lol