Learning to surf on a shortboard

[paulminors]

I have had a few lessons learning to surf on 7ft+ mals boards and have just bought a 6'8 shortboard. been out a few times and haven't grasped the pop up yet! I'm still making the rookie mistake of using my knees! The conditions I've been in havn't been great, a lot of white water! but i need some tips on learning to surf on a shorter board!

thanks[/b]

[kitesurfer]

Get a bigger board you will progress much quicker and your surfing style will be better for it in the long run.

KS

[pkbum]

I have had a few lessons learning to surf on 7ft+ mals boards and have just bought a 6'8 shortboard. been out a few times and haven't grasped the pop up yet! I'm still making the rookie mistake of using my knees! The conditions I've been in havn't been great, a lot of white water! but i need some tips on learning to surf on a shorter board!

thanks[/b]

Keep practicing the pop up on the ground. Try not to use your knee to get yourself into a standing position. Just try use your arm and your @ss to swing through into standing position. Doing some push up exercise will help a little. If this sounds boring, take KS advice and have a blast!

[CHarvey]

That's how I learned so I know it can be done, but it's not easy. Get in the water as much as possible, make sure you are arching your back and think about getting a bigger board at least until you are able to read the water decent.

[gaelicsurfer]

i started surfing in cali and baught a short board so i could bring it back to ireland with me, found it quite tough and after 3 months didnt progress as much as i would have liked.

since coming back i baught a 7'6" minimal and it made a huge difference. compared to the shortboard it was so stable and i found it really easy to catch waves. since then iv progressed really quickly and have started to experiment with a 6' fish shape with pretty good results.

i would definitely recommend starting with a bigger board, it will save alot of frustration, you will progress faster and you will have alot more fun.

[kinggargantuan]

i'm having the same problems although i'm on a 7'6" funfish (but i'm also 6'3 and 220lbs)

[Sillysausage]

i learnt to surf on a shortboard, but started young so wasnt too bad, still only young now, but it is much better to learn on a bigger board.

[Milo]

Longboard, then work down

[perusurf]

i started on a shortboard and got up on my first try, i had a little push from my brother-in-law, but still went all the way till it closed, it was awesome, i did do bodyboard when i was little so that helped a lot, specially to know how to go for a wave...
it is still alot easier to begin on a bigger board... the only problem is duckdiving, the bigger the board the harder it is..