Help needed with shortboard

[IrishGirl]

I've been riding a 6'10" x 19" x 2 5/8" swallow tail for the last 6 months or so. Been getting on very well with it but as it's so thick it's very hard for me to duckdive big/fat waves. As well as that I want to get a smaller thinner board that I can throw around a bit more and a bit easier! (something around a 6'6" - 6' 4")

I found an add for a Baron thruster 6'4" x 18 3/4" x 2 1/4". What do ye think? Should I go for it?

I'm 5' 9" and weigh 9.5 stone.

I'd really appreciate help from all you pro shortboarders!

[bassist]

9.5 stone for all the Americans is.......?

[IrishGirl]

9.5 stone for all the Americans is.......?

about 60kg I think?

[namino tsume]

about...... 9*14=...126lbs.... sry its too early in the morning .

[namino tsume]

as to the board... go for it. 6'4 something you can really grow into. nice and thin... umm just dont pay too too much cuz something else could come along.

[IrishGirl]

It's 250 euro, which is pretty good in Ireland. (450+ for a custom).

I think 9.5 stone is just over 57kg?

[IrishGirl]

With the cost of travel up to collect the board I'm thinking of getting one shaped now altogether. Could any of you tell me what size I should get or do the measurements of that board sound okay?

[namino tsume]

Id go for something just a tad bigger in general. Mabye 6'6, 18 3/4, 2 1/2 thruster of course... I think that would do.

[Phil]

if your gonna get one made then talk to the shaper tell him how good you are and what your looking for and he will be able to advise you best

[Brent]

Irish Girl.
It's real simple. Anything shorter with less volume than your current board & more agressively shaped is going to be harder to catch waves on & ride. You have to accept this.
It's a case of how far down do you want to go?

I suggest you go with a new board, shaped specifically for you by a local shaper. Tell him where you surf, your weight & height, your ability (and be really honest)...and you'll get your dream board. He'll even stick your name under the glass....a true custom.

[hawaiiSUCKSexceptsurf]

im america we dont use the metric system, and most of us cant imagine how much a kilogram is.

[namino tsume]

Some people in america do use metric units... im not one of them, but i know there are people.

[IrishGirl]

Irish Girl.
It's real simple. Anything shorter with less volume than your current board & more agressively shaped is going to be harder to catch waves on & ride. You have to accept this.
It's a case of how far down do you want to go?

I suggest you go with a new board, shaped specifically for you by a local shaper. Tell him where you surf, your weight & height, your ability (and be really honest)...and you'll get your dream board. He'll even stick your name under the glass....a true custom.

Cheers Brent, unless I find a second hand one within the next week think I'll get one shaped....probably a 6'6" (thanks namino).

Tried out a 6' 2" off a friend this evening, bit of a toothpick but could manage it grand, think I'd prefer a bit more length though. So I'll probably go 6' 6" x 18 3/4....but how thick 2 1/2 or 2 1/4?

Thanks for all your help.

[Brent]

Irish Girl...
Don't get too caught up in the numbers. Perhaps have a general idea of length you want to give the shaper a vague idea what you want to start with.
He can then cleverly work out width based how broad you are & your physical make-up i.e long & lean =18 inches wide for example....stocky, he'd cut a 19.5-20 inch wide board.

Don't worry too much also about thickness either, if you are long & skinny he'd make it a consistant 2.5 inches (for example) throughout the whole area you torso & pelvis lies when paddling. If you are short & squat, he'd make the board thicker nearer the middle of the deck...to make it float higher when your paddling...understand?

If you tell him you are a weak paddler he'll make the nose slightly wider with more foam in the front 12 inches...to make the board easier to catch waves on. The board will have a flatter "rocker" also.

If you tell him your a strong agressive paddler/surfer he'd make the nose narrower and the board slightly wider just past the middle...(give it a slight "hip") to suit your aggressive thrusting surfing style....

Honestly, I get boards made custom several times a year and I have a good ongoing relationship with my shaper. I'll confess...the boards I have too much input into and tell him exactly what I want never seem to work as well as the ones where I just tell him how long I want, what breaks I'll use it at & what sized waves....then leave him to it. He knows best.
Food for thought.

[Hazy_daze]

I got my 6'6'' and found it a awesome board, like Brent says its really important to build a relationship with your shaper, after all, hes the one with the most experience in theory!?
But yeah, short is the way to go Not meant to offend any longboarders out there.

Hang Loose

[IrishGirl]

Thanks for that.

Problem though, If I get it shaped it'll be through beachbeat (uk) so I don't know and won't meet my shaper.

I'll ask a local lad that has a fair idea of my ability and would know alot about boards etc.

Thanks again!

[Irishguy]

Hi Irishgirl do you know any shapers in the west of Ireland as im thinking of getting 1 shaped for myself, surfing a 7,3 malibu at the mo.

[IrishGirl]

There's a lad down in Kerry. Mervyn Beard I think his name is. Or that lad from Glide surfboards...