how many of you started on a shortboard?

slimgsi

how many of you started with shortboards or hybrids, thinkin on buyin my first board and its a 7ft hybrid, ive been surfing for about 9months now most weekends, renting a 7'6 or 7'2, and i can surf them quite easily although il almit my pop up needs work... how many of you would agree with starting with a shorter board?

promethius

hey, i started on a 7ft9 BIC minimal and found it a good way to progress.
imo i think people rarely regret starting on a longer board but many regret having too small a board which can really hold back their development regardless of what kind of board or surfing they end up getting into. If your pop up still needs work i'd tend to get something a bit longer with more float so you can nail one of the basics and most important parts of surfing.

Starting on a shortboard is a bad idea and won't work for most adults, there are of course exceptions but not too many. Get something cheap to start with and don't feel need to keep it forever, it's easy to sell on learner style boards once you're ready to step up.

Cecil Mor

I'd be interested in WHY the op wants a shorterboard.

I'm guessing that is the reason behind the post, so whats the motivation slime?

slimgsi

well to be honest im a determined person, and my goal is to surf somethin in the 6ft range by next year, i pick up things very easy, from riding a 7'6 the past few weeks my first go on a 7ft 20" wide hybrid i could get up and ride my first try. im just wondering am i being too ambitious?

Mickeroo

slimgsi wrote: »

well to be honest im a determined person, and my goal is to surf somethin in the 6ft range by next year, i pick up things very easy, from riding a 7'6 the past few weeks my first go on a 7ft 20" wide hybrid i could get up and ride my first try. im just wondering am i being too ambitious?

It depends. When you say ride what do you mean exactly?

slimgsi

well im no pro, i can get up and ride across the unbroken part of the wave.

Mickeroo

slimgsi wrote: »

well im no pro, i can get up and ride across the unbroken part of the wave.

Thats pretty good going in fairness. I wouldn't move down to a 6 footer until you're cutting back and bottom turning handy enough and your pop-up is bomb proof though, thats just me though

You will progress quicker on the larger boards. you've only surfed 7+ mini-mals so far right? If you go down to a shortboard it will seem very different and frustrate the hell out of you at first. Another option could be a fish, they're short but they have lot more float than your regular shortboards so would be a lot more forgiving. I'm getting a fish soon myself and it will be my first board under 7ft. It's up to yourself really.

slimgsi

pm'd u the board im thinkin on gettin, think its more of a hybrid than a shortboard. im gonna give it a good try and if i dont succeed il go bigger.

Cecil Mor

Good Man Slimgsi, you're obviously gonna be the dogs but I'm still curious as to why you're going shorter.
Why do you want a short(er) board?
Why, as an ambitious & determined person as you say yourself, do you view the shortboard as the goal to aim towards?

slimgsi

i take it your a longboarder? i think short boarding is more demanding and takes more skill (i imagine il be corrected on this) than long boarding. from watchin videos and having an interest in surfing i like carving the way and the airs that can be got with experience of course. and of course the sheer handyness of carrying and transporting a shortboard compared to a 9ft odd long board

Mickeroo

slimgsi wrote: »

i take it your a longboarder? i think short boarding is more demanding and takes more skill (i imagine il be corrected on this) than long boarding. from watchin videos and having an interest in surfing i like carving the way and the airs that can be got with experience of course. and of course the sheer handyness of carrying and transporting a shortboard compared to a 9ft odd long board

Careful now, lets not say things we can't take back. :pac:

They're entirely different diciplines with different skill sets(some are interchangeable) and philosophies, so its not really right to say one demands more skill than the other. I'd rather watch a good logger than a shortboarder anyday but that's just personal preference

[Rasta]

I started off on a 6'4, but it did take me 2-3 sessions to get used to it as I had only surfed on foamies in lessons beforehand. I was relatively small and light, so the size of the board was perfect for me really.

I wouldn't particularly advise a shortboard if you're particularly tall and heavy unless you're determined and really want to start on a shortboard. It can be relatively off-putting not being able to catch waves as easily as on a longboard. It also requires a lot more paddling than a longer board which is kinda frustrating at times if you're as lazy as I am.

slimgsi

i just dont unserstand long boarding, wouldn be able to tell you how its done right or wrong. have seen very few long boarders in the water in rossnowlagh. all short boards or mals, with 1million foamies in the middle :P

promethius

thought the policy was to steer newbies to really small thin shortboards guys come on

FlashD

slimgsi wrote: »

i just dont unserstand long boarding, wouldn be able to tell you how its done right or wrong. have seen very few long boarders in the water in rossnowlagh. all short boards or mals, with 1million foamies in the middle :P

You're off to a great start there Slim.

Forget the surfing. Fitting in is the most important thing.

Slagging off foamies is also the norm for the stand up crew.

Keep it up dude!

rodento

promethius wrote: »

thought the policy was to steer newbies to really small thin shortboards guys come on

And 3mm wetsuits for winter

will3k

rodento wrote: »

And 3mm wetsuits for winter

I love these threads

Don't forget the boardies + rashie outside the wetsuit

keryl

Love the foam, gives me a massive grin.:D:D

If you see someone riding a foam board and smiling ear to ear they are probably having the time of they're life. Simple pleasures.:cool:

promethius

you're bang on keryl
i've often seen good surfers taking out foamies on busy small days and they clean up on wave count. fair play!
it's all about the waves doesn't matter what craft or not you use to catch them, a real waterman knows that.
posers want to look good and be in the cool crowd oftentimes at the expense of what it's all about.
none of my business though, more waves for the rest of us

slimgsi

Almost every weekend I see this guy on a massive foam board abolutely Rippin it up, looks funny as he'll!

slimgsi

FlashD wrote: »

slimgsi wrote: »

i just dont unserstand long boarding, wouldn be able to tell you how its done right or wrong. have seen very few long boarders in the water in rossnowlagh. all short boards or mals, with 1million foamies in the middle :P

You're off to a great start there Slim.

Forget the surfing. Fitting in is the most important thing.

Slagging off foamies is also the norm for the stand up crew.

Keep it up dude!

Who said anything about wanting to fit in? And who slatted foamies, we all started on them... Wind your neck in.

keryl

Up to you really whatever you want to surf on. I would say it would be difficult to start on a short board. It would probably help to do press ups etc and build up a lot to get a good start on it because I've found it's a hell of a lot tougher to paddle a wave, even paddle out on calm waters you notice a difference compared to a longer board.

I don't think anyone is trying to knock you it's just there is a fashion to shortboarders and sometimes there's more style than substance but go for it, let us know how you get on. shortboarding, longboarding, it's all a skill and at least your going into winter waters. The way I see it, if someone is going out and doing something it's better than just talking about it. More time in the water isn't a bad thing.

Good luck

xxyyzz

Its a rite of passage in surfing -
1. start on a shortboard
2. waste a year flapping around
3. you realise that you've made a mistake.
4. Buy a mini-mal and learn to surf properly

Don't feel bad. I've done it and most of my mates have done it. Its not just difficult to surf a shortboard - they require bigger more powerful waves waves to work than are suitable for beginners. They can be surfed in smaller weaker waves but it requires very good technique.

slimgsi

the surfboard i bought is a 7ft 20 odd wide, 2 5/8 thick, more of a hybrid i think, so not really a shortboard, had it out for a spin today, waves wer horrible, but i managed a good few before i got fed up in whitewater...

FlashD

xxyyzz wrote: »

Its a rite of passage in surfing -
1. start on a shortboard
2. waste a year flapping around
3. you realise that you've made a mistake.
4. Buy a mini-mal and learn to surf properly
.

That's fairly spot on, though a lot just pack it in after step 2. That shortboard disappears into an attic or somewhere gathering cobwebs for the rest of its life.

[Rasta]

FlashD wrote: »

That's fairly spot on, though a lot just pack it in after step 2. That shortboard disappears into an attic or somewhere gathering cobwebs for the rest of its life.

Of course its hard to start on a shortboard, but its not impossible. Is a bit of a challenge that off putting to some people or what? If it takes a year of not catching a wave to realise that a shortboard is not for you then you might wanna switch on the aul brain. You can always sell shortboard for 2nd hand if it doesn't work out, and go for a 7-8ft bic.

SuprSi

So (to slightly hijack the thread) is a mini the recommended length of board to learn on?

Mickeroo

SuprSi wrote: »

So (to slightly hijack the thread) is a mini the recommended length of board to learn on?

Yea if you want to progress as quick as possible a min-mal or a longboard is the way to go. More waves = more progression. That doesn't mean you can't learn on a shortboard, but you're just making it harder for yourself if you do.

Joeyjoejoe43

Went from a foamie to a 7ft2 Bic myself, only got into surfing last October, but for the amount of times I've been across to the west to surf (7/8), Im happy with the progress.. Itching for a surf now..

FlashD

SuprSi wrote: »

So (to slightly hijack the thread) is a mini the recommended length of board to learn on?

Absolutely not, how many mini mals do you see the schools handing out to learners? None by my count!

If you want to learn then small waves is where you are going to do it, that means a longboard.

xxyyzz

SuprSi wrote: »

So (to slightly hijack the thread) is a mini the recommended length of board to learn on?

If its your first time surfing, go to a school and learn to stand up on a foamie but don't invest in one as you can't do much else with them once you learn to stand up. If you are looking for a board to progress a little then, depending on your size I would recommend a mid-length approx 8ft board. As stated above you will catch more waves with a longboard but the can be a little tricky to start out on as they tend to nosedive a lot until you get them wired. ALso if you're not particularly fit or strong, its not much fun trying to hold on to a longboard in the whitewater on a messy day.

A mini-mal will work in a variety of conditions and IMHO it gives you more options for choosing your next board i.e. if you choose to go longer or shorter whereas if you learn on a longboard then going to a 7ft board is a big step-down. A lot of surf-schools will do their 'intermediate' lessons on mini-mals like 7'9" or 8'4" Bics.

SuprSi

Well I'm a beginner but have been using a longboard for the last 5 months or so. I can stand up easily enough (on the smaller waves) but haven't managed to get the board to run sideways or to turn properly. I get a lot of nosedives but always assumed that was my positioning on the board and thought that maybe a mini might suit me better. I also have awful problems getting out past the white stuff with the long board

I'm 6'4", 15 stone

xxyyzz

SuprSi wrote: »

but haven't managed to get the board to run sideways or to turn properly.

A longboard should be ok for your size. Practice taking off at an angle instead of paddling straight for the shore, it'll come with practice.

You're right about the nosediving, its your position on the board. If you feel the board is gonna pearl then arch your back a bit when paddling - this will cause the nose to rise a little out of the water. Getting the position right is just trial and error I'm afraid.

Mickeroo

xxyyzz wrote: »

A longboard should be ok for your size. Practice taking off at an angle instead of paddling straight for the shore, it'll come with practice.

A good way to do this (well it worked when I was told it anyway) is when catching the wave pick something at about a 45 degree angle from you on the beach in the direction you want to go, then don't take our eyes off it until your up standing on the board, your board should be pointing down the line then.

Boomkid

Im going to hijack this a thread a bit sorry in advance. I got 2 boards off my cousin who is after immigrating (a 7'3 mini malibu, and a 6'6 Spider), I dont really surf but since I got these boards Im gunna start. But the thing is Im finding it difficult enough to get up on the 7'3 (Im 6ft, and 11 and half stone) Im wondering would it be a good idea to sell it and try get a bigger board or should I stick with it. The Spider Im not going to try surf anytime soon and plus Im keeping onto it for whenever my cousin comes home.

any help would be great

FlashD

@ Supersi. If you can't turn a longboard then you will be all over the place on a mini-mal. It takes years to learn to surf, there are no quick fixes.

@ Boomkid. Your wasting your time. That, 7'3 is for small kids learning.

Regards

keryl

I think they need advice not lectures. Must be daunting seeing a forum board for surfing and being put off by comments when there should be encouragement.

FlashD

Who is giving a lecture?

..and what advise would you give so?

Because apart from repeating yourself, most of the advise has been already given in this and many other similar threads.

Regards.

Ronnie Beck

If you start on a mal it gives you the option of going both ways. I started windsurfing then I had a minimal, then a shortboard... Sometimes I borrow a mates long board and go for a spin on smaller days. Wouldn't call myself this or that or get stuck on the idea of being a long or short boarder. You can have good fun on all the different types of boards and it can make you a better surfer quicker(I'd love to get a paddle board and a kite surf rig too but i cant afford it) A good surfer can surf any kind of board http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybWV9YpUCxs :Djust thought of this video ... also you get more surfing done if you have a board for every condition.

... rabble rabble rabble

how many of you started with shortboards or hybrids, thinkin on buyin my first board and its a 7ft hybrid, ive been surfing for about 9months now most weekends, renting a 7'6 or 7'2, and i can surf them quite easily although il almit my pop up needs work... how many of you would agree with starting with a shorter board?

you should start on at least a 7' 3 mal or a bit bigger if your 12st+ but since you seem to have done that already the 7ft hybrid should be grand for you now since your able to get it going. I would stick to that for a while coz its a big step to a shortboard and it will probably stop your surfing in its tracks for a good while especially as the waves get smaller over the summer. There usually a handy board to sell to get a 6' 6 or 6' 8 next autumn.

slimgsi

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

If you start on a mal it gives you the option of going both ways. I started windsurfing then I had a minimal, then a shortboard... Sometimes I borrow a mates long board and go for a spin on smaller days. Wouldn't call myself this or that or get stuck on the idea of being a long or short boarder. You can have good fun on all the different types of boards and it can make you a better surfer quicker(I'd love to get a paddle board and a kite surf rig too but i cant afford it) A good surfer can surf any kind of board http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybWV9YpUCxs :Djust thought of this video ... also you get more surfing done if you have a board for every condition.

... rabble rabble rabble



you should start on at least a 7' 3 mal or a bit bigger if your 12st+ but since you seem to have done that already the 7ft hybrid should be grand for you now since your able to get it going. I would stick to that for a while coz its a big step to a shortboard and it will probably stop your surfing in its tracks for a good while especially as the waves get smaller over the summer. There usually a handy board to sell to get a 6' 6 or 6' 8 next autumn.

thanks lad, think il surf this right into the summer and maybe rent out a big board for the really smaller days, and as u said get somethin smaller next autumn, had the 7ft out a good few times now and finding it ok, no set backs yet but you do notice the extra bit of effort needed to get onto a wave, with the 7 ft ive noticed a few times just losing the wave at the last second, very frustrating

Ronnie Beck

slimgsi wrote: »

thanks lad, think il surf this right into the summer and maybe rent out a big board for the really smaller days, and as u said get somethin smaller next autumn, had the 7ft out a good few times now and finding it ok, no set backs yet but you do notice the extra bit of effort needed to get onto a wave, with the 7 ft ive noticed a few times just losing the wave at the last second, very frustrating

when paddling you should be arch your back and lie as far forward as you can to get your weight over the nose of the board. this rises up the tail as the wave hits it. A few nose dives are no harm and are better than dropping off the back of the wave as the tail ploughs into the water. I find if you should be able to touch the tip of your boards nose with your fingers as your paddling for a wave otherwise your lying too far back. might put up a diagram or a pic at some stage. I was stuck lying too far back on the board for ages before someone pointed it out to me.

nomisdeer2004

I started on a 6.7 bic about 6 years ago. i quickly progressed to a 6.2 which is still my standard short board size.

I think if u want to be a shortboard surfer u should start out short otherwise u get too used the bigger board and then changing onto a shorter one can take a long time.

Leitrim lass

An alternative way to learn to surf (worked for me)
Is to get a decent bodyboard & fins first. really good fun and a fast learning curve compared to standup.
Then I learned to surf stand up on friends or hire boards if the waves wer'nt that good for the bodyboard.
My first standup board was a 6'7 bic then .
It was a good handy quiver , bodyboard, fins and bic 6'7 covered most everyday beach conditions.

Ronnie Beck

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

The guy on the left is lying too far back and not arching his back. Not a hope of catching this wave.

The guy on the right is lying further forward which allows the tail to rise up with the wave.

You can use the movement of your head forward and back to control the pitch of the board. This allows you to stall the board for a moment or commit to going down the face of the wave.

You can see the difference in the board angles. This is essential to catch waves a shortboard properly. You have to build up strength in your back muscles to be able to do this which takes a while.
It is good practice to surf a long board like this too even though you can get away with not doing it in smaller waves. Otherwise you'll struggle when progressing to shorter boards.

slimgsi

great advice right there, cant wait for a week of surfing this week, hope your all making it to the water. anyone streedagh bound il prob see yas there. gonna try movin a bit forward on my board, gonna be a lot of nose divin for a day but il get the hang of it by then... thanks guys