For beginners who want to start on shortboards…

[oldmansurfer]

Fish surfboards have a split tail the narrower ones you could call swallow tails but as they get wider they become a fish. If the tail isn't split then it's called something else afaik

[mrerider]

I have enjoyed reading the experience of other beginners learning to surf on a shortboard. My experience has been similar in many regards. I bought my first surfboard, an eight foot foamie, five weeks ago. Took it out a few times and got the basic idea of paddling, sitting on a board, and catching whitewash.

After realizing that I enjoyed being out in the ocean (water is 72 degrees right now!) and became determined to learn how to surf, I went to my local surf shop and bought a used 6'6" fish. I knew I was making an irrational decision based on my level of experience, but I too wanted something that would fit in my car and enable me to easily hit the beach to and from work.

Here are a few of my observations so far:

* get out of the whitewash, it'll only frustrate you on a shortboard
* stay out of the way of more experienced surfers
* be friendly to others and ask them for advice
* forget about wave counts, learn from the overall experience

I have had a lot of fun over the last several weeks, but at times it does feel like a lot of work and can get a little frustrating. Some days, it's one and done. Then there are times when the waves come my way and I feel like I'm making progress. Like anything, it helps to set a goal and realize you are not going to get there in a day.

[pmcaero]

got a used 6'3" Spectrum for the swells to replace my 7'4"

I'll keep you posted

[surf patrol]

Wassup folks? new to the forum here! Been reading some begginer stuff in the website and decided to register.
I'm finally trying to take the idea of surfing seriously, buying a board and checking some nice spots I can go to. Biggest deal is that I'm new, and live a little far from the beach (about 110 miles or so). Gonna keep my board on my ants house, and surf as much as I can now on summer vacations.

This topic kinda frustrated me a little, since I basically closed a deal for a 6'2'', and the worst part is that I was not being a stubborn. Honestly, I made the mistake of thinking 6'2'' was not that small (wouldn't mind starting on a longboard, except for the trouble of transporting it). It's a semigun if I'm not mistaken (not really familiar with names so far), the owner says it has pretty good flotation, and it's easy to get on waves with it (even for a begginer), but who knows..
That's the board by the way: <edit>

I used to skateboard for a few years, so I'm hoping it might help somehow now that I know what a challenge I'm about to face..
Wish me luck, and good waves for you all!

[oldmansurfer]

Skateboarding might help with balance but it doesn't help with arm strength and you need that and ability to read waves (look at them and figure out which ones to catch and where to be.) You can swim to keep up your arm strength and endurance up and skate for balance and leg strength and practice popping up daily at home so you don't need to waste too much time learning and relearning that but still only doing it on summer vacation is going to be a difficult thing on a shortboard. How much do you weigh? If you weigh 95 pounds then maybe that board will be fine but if you weigh 195 maybe not. For anyone learning on a shortboard is difficult but not impossible. If you are young then maybe the skills you learn will stay with you better over the rest of the year when you aren't surfing. I guess you will find out. So don't get discouraged...... it can be a bit difficult at first. Welcome to the forum and if you run into problems let us know.

[IanCaio]

Hey man, thanks for the feedback!
Well, I'm kinda skinny, but tall. I weight 65kg (143 pounds) and have 1,85m of height (almost 6 feet and an inch) last time I checked. About arm strenght, I'm not sure but I guess I'm a little fit, not really athletic, but except for the last two weeks, I've been going to the gym and kinda improved my strenght. Guess I'll only find out on water, right?
A friend of mine that surfs for a while told me it should be ok to start on that board, as long as I learn how to paddle right, so I actually get into the wave.
I intend on surfing along the year too, but since I'm on college, I will only have the weekends to ocasionaly spare on the beach. Hope to make some time though, specially if I improve my skills during this summer!
I'm 21 years old by the way

[IanCaio]

Guess I got lucky, the guy who was going to sell me didn't respond my messages, so I started looking again and for the same price (20 more bucks) I found a longboard (9') and a funboard (7'2'') being sold together. Trying to close the deal now, gonna ask my cousins to go check the boards. I asked if there was some maintenance to do on them and he said none on the longboard, and the only problem with the funboard is something about the foam shape being deformed on the top side, if I understood right, but nothing that requires a fix (no infiltration) and that I could catch waves with no trouble with it.
The only thing is that the fins aren't removable as in the other one, and they don't come with a cape and leash.

It's getting close man, been dreaming about those waves! Guess I'll try to catch the monday or tuesday swell that seems good, 4ft~3ft swells, and light offshore wind on the morning turning to a light onshore wind along the day. Good period too (+10s).

[IanCaio]

Had my first experience with the board a few days ago. 2 days, 9 hours of practicing. Been on my feet about 4 times, but I still dont feel like Ive really catched a wave, since I could only stay on the wave for a few meters before it outrunned me (not sure if Im not paddling hard enough or poping up too soon). Had a few wipe outs, including nose dives that made me swallow more water then I want to admit. Its being a fun experience despite the dificulties. But I can see many people would give up soon enough with a shortboard, because its indeed much harder!
The hardest part for me is having to wait days for the waves to come. Im going tomorrow in the hope for a 1.8 feet swell to give me some surfable waves, or I'll have to wait until saturday and handle myself with a 5 to 6 feet sweel :p
Good surfing all you guys, enjoy the new years party!

Ps: I would recommend anyone that is a begginer like me not to surf without a shirt on, specially for long periods of time at once, if you dont want some painful board rashs on your stomach and chest

[pmcaero]

So I should update here, I guess: the 6'3" board turned out to be too much of a step down. I bought a 6'8" shortboard of fairly standard proportions (width and thickness are in line with other shortboards, so not too big) and am having much better luck catching even 2ft waves.

Definitely doesn't work in white water, needs a face or else it will stall right away.But if you are in reasonable shape and not too big, (I'm 150 lbs), a 6'8" shortboard should be a good transition. I wasn't exactly a beginner when I started on it, but I think learning to read the waves, sitting on the board, positioning, paddling etc can be learned just as well on a shortboard than on a bigger board. The paddle strength, you have to get that somehow Also, one great advantage of shortboards as a learning tool is that you can learn to duckdive and arrive at the lineup less tired , especially on a bigger day, than when lugging a large board through the breakers.

[Moustachoolo]

I just recently purchased a shortboard to learn on and my first session I was able to stand up on smaller waves but it is alot harder paddling out which is a massive disadvantage for beginners, so just choose a board that you think you would be suited too and stick at it.

[Big H]

...just choose a board that you think you would be suited too and stick at it.

That's pretty much the issue in a nutshell.

I don't get the comments about a shortie working or not working in whitewater....it shouldn't even be on your mind if you have a shortboard under your arm.

[Malibulongboards]

Too many beginners use a board that is too small. This is a big problem if you want to get better faster. GO BIG to learn then work your way down the board size chain is pretty much the only way for adults. Little kids can get away with little boards because they are so light weight. If an adult goes for that small board to start they will be wasting a lot of time. The bigger board will make it easier to paddle, catch waves and stand up. Everything else in surfing comes after that fact. Do yourself a flavor flav and get the biggest board you can find until you are catching every wave in sight. Then work your way down in size. Surfing is 90% paddle, and if that is hard then you are going to be stuck spinning your wheels while a less talented surfer on the right size board will be surfing right by you like you are standing still.
Good luck!
Matt
" Surfing is like riding energy from the Sun"

[DreamSurf]

not meant to be bragging but i started on a large shortboard and stood up on my first session. ( i skate though.. i heard skating helps alot)

tell them bro. i keep going with this theory. i might as well start shorboarding as a beginner. i was a pro skateboarder ; i have beaten ricardo fonseca javier mendizabal. i killed rodrigo texeira with game of skate. from 8 to 33 i skateboard ive done it all; half pipe street and miniramps; i even have a carverboard. some people have hard time understanding this;

my first wave experience was with a freaking skimboard and i also rode a pro skimboard of zapp going from sand into the deep and catching a wave i even aired and all. and for all i know a skimboard has waaaaaaaaay less volume. i hear this start with a longboard thing. but i just dont like the idea just like i hate longboarding on land as well; its not my cup of thea. and now i hear you

interesting

[DreamSurf]

in general its most people have a better time on a longboard when starting out not to say they cant/wont drop in sizes pretty quick. i.e some work it like so on a 9ft -7'6+ - 6'8 - 6'4 or 6'2 or whatever works.

However i know a few people that started on 6'0 potota chips and got on fine and they had never done anything like it not even skated. I also have known someone who had snowboarded/skated their whole life and absolutely struggled to get surfing right. So it makes no ryme or reason. You gotta find whats comfortable for you

interesting. you just never know huh? everybody picks up his own way. you have to find out how. staring with a longboard isnt necessarily the holy way. thats what i think

[Lebowski]

not meant to be bragging but i started on a large shortboard and stood up on my first session. ( i skate though.. i heard skating helps alot)

tell them bro. i keep going with this theory. i might as well start shorboarding as a beginner. i was a pro skateboarder ; i have beaten ricardo fonseca javier mendizabal. i killed rodrigo texeira with game of skate. from 8 to 33 i skateboard ive done it all; half pipe street and miniramps; i even have a carverboard. some people have hard time understanding this;

my first wave experience was with a freaking skimboard and i also rode a pro skimboard of zapp going from sand into the deep and catching a wave i even aired and all. and for all i know a skimboard has waaaaaaaaay less volume. i hear this start with a longboard thing. but i just dont like the idea just like i hate longboarding on land as well; its not my cup of thea. and now i hear you

interesting

We all get that you're a good skateboarder. What you don't get is that it doesn't matter.

Being able to stand up on a surfboard in a first lesson is nothing. Most beginners do this. A shortboard is not only more difficult because it's harder to stand on.

It bogs as soon as you slow down.
It's FAR more exhausting to paddle.
It will only catch waves when they're steep (assuming you yourself are able to catch the waves, which you won't be for a while)

The skimboard has less volume but it doesn't matter because you generate the speed by running with it and throwing it. It's a bit like saying that your skateboard has 5 litres of volume, so you should be able to ride a surfboard with 5 litres of volume.

[SeaMissile]

If you are beginning, definitely try to go with a longboard. It will save a lot of frustration. I spent many a fruitless try in my youth trying to force myself up on a 5'10" board when I stood 5'10". It was eye-opening the first time someone loaned me an old 70s longboard. This is what happens pre-internet when you are self-taught.

[Gershon]

Hey Everybody,

I started my surfing career on a short board 7 years ago in Domincan Republic. I had experience from windsurfing and wakeboarding, so I thought I will manage surfing easily. My friend loand a short 6.0 board for me. I remember I couldn't even sit on it in the beginning. I felt so imbalanced. I was struggling with it. Even so I had so much fun in the water. Next time I rented a longboard and it changed my life. I could easily paddle to the lineup catch waves and have a lot of fun. I guess I saved a lot of time and frustration.

I can see that most of the people want to improve too fast. Neglect the basics is a huge mistake. I have learned from my experience.
Now I am riding on a 6.0 - 6.4 depends on the conditions.

Aloha

[capri]

i started surfing around age 7 and I've only ever used a shortboard and I did fine. I think it's easier to use a shortboard if it's all you've ever been used to.

[Big H]

i started surfing around age 7 and I've only ever used a shortboard and I did fine. I think it's easier to use a shortboard if it's all you've ever been used to.

Everything is easy if you start at age 7...... LOL

[jaffa1949]

7 year olds are not 200lb. 40 year olds. But at 7 I agree wherever you start is all good.. welcome on board!