Second Board

[Dennis]

I've been surfing for just under six months now (but only like once a fortnight), I can ride unbroken waves but no tricks or anything. I've been surfing a 7'2 minimal but I really want to downsize soon (Birthday in April ) because I feel it's too big and clungy and want something that I can duckdive. I surf at Bournemouth so usually is just 2-3 foot mushy waves, would a fish be suitable for me? I'm thinking a fairly large one as I'm still abit of a novice so 6"6 or 6"4 21"+? I'm 5'6 60kgs/130lbs/9 & 1/2 stone high levels of fitness, good paddling, my weak point is probably turning (smaller board = easier turns?)

[Sillysausage]

what about an egg shaped board?

fish are usually loose and hard to practice on as far as i know. not yet surfed one so i can't really comment but most people say that they are good for catching waves on and are good boards if you already are a good surfer.

smaller boards are easyer to turn, but only if you can stay on the board. they feel so much faster and looser (shortboards).

[Dennis]

I was thinking about an egg aswell but it's hard to find one as they're not too popular and finding one second hand would be hard.
I've heard fish can be loose aswell but wouldn't a larger one be much more manageable? Most fish are >6ft but you can get up to around 6'6. I don't think I'm ready for a shortboard yet....

Hopefully someone who rides a fish can advise...

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

Actually quad fins feel a little too loose and squirrelly to me (probably need to get used to them), but no problems with round nose or hybrid fish with thruster set up. Most of the fish I've ridden (from 5'2" to 5'10") were easy to catch waves on and relatively loose. I found the turns were more smooth & drawn out on the fish in comparison to my shortboards. I usually take out a fish when the waves are waist high or smaller. Perhaps a hybrid or funboard will work out well for you...something kind of shortboard shaped but wider on the nose and fuller on the rails. I had an egg and I hated it.

[drowningbitbybit]

I've heard fish can be loose aswell but wouldn't a larger one be much more manageable? Most fish are >6ft but you can get up to around 6'6. I don't think I'm ready for a shortboard yet....

A lot of people think that fishes are harder than shortboards. Certainly a big shortboard/funboard will be more stable. Fishes are very loose, and can be wobbly for a beginner.

Also, fishes are usually 6ft or less...

Ive got a hybrid fish, 6'6 (a touch too big as it happens), which I love. So perhaps try something like that?

Fishes are excellent on the crappy waves of the south coast UK. They can be tricky to duckdive due to the high volume in the tail.

[Dennis]

Yeah, i've seen tiki do fish and supefly fly models at 6'6 and 6'8 which would probably just be like a wider shortboard for smaller waves. They're £275 though so I might try to find something simular second hand...

Local surf shop has a 6'8 seven's superfish for testing so I might see how I do on that...