Riding a Fish the same size as my height?

[Josh.Mustillo]

Hi guys,

So I am coming from a 6'2 Malibu to a 5'8 Fish. I was reading just then that the board should be a palm bigger than yourself, I got it fitted up at my Surf shop but just wondering what you guys think?

Thanks advance

[jaffa1949]

It is all based around your level of surfing skills and your height and weight, all part of the equation that helps you choose a board.
I think there is a steeper learning curve in the beginning if you choose to go short, and the shorter to it is the harder it is.
A 6'2" malibu is not a malibu it is a shorter fat board ( might call it a fun board though)
Were you doing OK with it? because if you were going well then a change might help, if not it's a harder path to follow!

[Josh.Mustillo]

Thanks for the reply! Yeah I did pretty well, I've mixed self taught with some lessons and just tons of practice, I can ride unbroken waves go down the line etc.

I recently went to Port Macquarie with a good surfer mate, it was pretty hard for me to get out the back the sweel was decent about 2M, after seeing him that's what made me want change board. Easier to get out the back, more maneuverability.

I booked in a lesson this weekend just to see how my technique is going and for any points in the right direction. I'll let you know how I go, the board is a Channel Islands High 5 Fish 5'8

[Jester]

2m!! Alll-righty-then...

[jaffa1949]

I think that you have bought the advertising, not what you need at your stage.
Unless you are exceptionally skilled the Channel Island Hi 5 fish will turn out to be a flounder!
4 months of surfing and being able to do et ceteras and go down the line is really not enhanced by a small fish, accept that you are still very much beginning and work up from there

[drowningbitbybit]

Not many 2-metre waves in Sydney that would suit a fish...

[dtc]

I assume he means a 2M swell, which could mean an actual wave of any size depending on the beach. But probably no more than a 3ft wave, to mix my measurement systems, unless its a totally open beach facing the swell direction.

I recently went to Port Macquarie with a good surfer mate, it was pretty hard for me to get out the back the sweel was decent about 2M, after seeing him that's what made me want change board. Easier to get out the back, more maneuverability.

I hope it works out for you, but you may realise that the 'easier out the back, more manoeuvrability' is 98% the surfer and 2% the board. Well, I guess to be fair getting out the back is easier with a smaller board, regardless of the skill of the surfer (so long as it doesn't exhaust you paddling the smaller board), but from then on its surfer>board.

Its like saying you could play like a pro golfer if only you used the same clubs as they use.

But practice and effort may well win the day. If you are struggling after a while, don't fear hopping back onto your bigger board for a while.

[Josh.Mustillo]

Thanks for all of your replies I went pretty good with the private lesson on my High 5 Fish. After the lesson the instructor said I have the timing and pop down pretty well I did hit the waves again today and I went pretty good, I've had more fun with this board but it is noticeably harder and you have to keep a more consistent paddle technique.

I made this post before I had much experience out on the water with the board, I will probably stick with it and just get out there and keep practising

Thanks!

[jaffa1949]

The honey bee defies all science that says it should not be able to fly.
The posts here often recommend longer boards but there are guys that have started and succeeded on short boards.
Always determination will drive success , go for it!

[oldmansurfer]

Science figured out what makes bees fly a while back http://www.livescience.com/528-scientists-finally-figure-bees-fly.html

[oldmansurfer]

When I started surfing at the beginning of the shortboard era, almost everyone learned to surf on a shortboard. I think because it is more difficult that is why there weren't more people surfing back in those days. They would attempt to learn to surf on a shortboard and give up. Now they have surf schools who pride themselves in getting people riding waves right away......you can't do that on a shortboard.

[Josh.Mustillo]

Wow so just under two months and my motivation hasn't at all settled. I've been out two days a week since and I can honestly say that I've got this board down (catching 4 footers and riding straight into shore, no riding down the line yet. But soon!.)

[dtc]

Josh, how come not down the line? Its actually just as easy to go down the line as straight to shore, unless you are popping up quite late. Just angle the paddle a little (toward the direction you want to go) and nudge the board around as you go down the face (ie straight after pop up. Just gentle nudges, esp on a short board like you have. Sure, later on you will want a nice strong bottom turn, but to just go down the line without anything fancy, all you need to do is get the board pointing in the right direction and it will take itself.

[Lebowski]

Wow so just under two months and my motivation hasn't at all settled. I've been out two days a week since and I can honestly say that I've got this board down (catching 4 footers and riding straight into shore, no riding down the line yet. But soon!.)

You probably won't like what I have to say but your board is too small for you. If you've been riding it for 2 months and you're still straight-lining towards the beach then you're not ready for it. A 5'8 fish is a board for an advanced surfer (assuming you're a fully grown male). There is nothing to step down to after that. A surfer ready for that 5'8 would be able to ride it along the wave immediately. It is a board for someone with years of experience.

I'm not trying to dampen your enthusiasm but you need to learn to ride the waves, not spend all your time trying to master a board that is beyond your current capability level.

I used to teach 5 day long intensive surf courses. Everyone used 8'4 BIC boards. By the end of an average week probably 80% of the students were paddling out back and catching green waves, and maybe 50% of the them could catch unbroken waves and ride down the line left or right. 1 or 2 of them in the season could even do it in their first ever lesson. If we'd have put them on 5'8 boards I can guarantee nobody would have been able to do that, and everyone would've had much less fun.

[yumyumyellow]

Everything Lebowski said. Additionally, you need to learn to ride the wave, NOT the board. Even many competent shortboarders don't get this, usually because they've only ever ridden short boards or grovelers. Learning on a shortboard from day one usually leads to ugly, flappy style.

[jaffa1949]

Like a fish out of water !

[waikikikichan]

I can honestly say that I've got this board down (catching 4 footers and riding straight into shore, no riding down the line yet.)

I got this Skiing thing down too. I can Snow Plough / Wedge the whole way down every run on been on.

Going straight is "riding" on the board, Not "surfing" the board. It's like having Dad push you on a swing with you just sitting there, after the momentum stops you sit there and wait to be pushed. But real surfing is you riding a swing by yourself, you generating speed.

[jaffa1949]

Josh look around you and realise how much your are deluding yourself, you can stand and go straight to the beach ( you've got the board down), you think you are doing well.
Look around see the guys going across the waves doing turns, going much faster than you are are!.They are the ones who have it down.

You are at the rawest beginning stages on an unsuitable board , get smart, get a suitable board get the skills and then go for a smaller suitable board.
Fish stink for beginners.

[oldenglish]

Don't listen to them man! The best surfer is the one having the most fun!

[waikikikichan]

If you consider going straight in the soup fun, then I guess you're right. But to me surfing is about TRIM ( going along the face of the wave, no faster or slower than it is ). Riding in the broken part of the wave, in the white water where the wave has given up it's energy, it is not possible to TRIM. I rode a fish ( what the OP is wanting info about ) wood twin keel yesterday, and it sucked on it's belly but loved being on rail. But to each his own, and I'm glad he can enjoy what the ocean has to offer.