How do you select your first Shortboard and how do the different qualities affect the ride?

Question

Ive been surfing awhile about 2 years or so and have recently been getting into shortboarding. I've been using friends boards and cheap ones laying around but now I'm considering purchasing my own. Since I plan on buying a nice board, I want to understand the different qualities to a shortboard so I can figure out how I want it to feel in the water. How does a swallow tail differ from a thumb tail? A quad fin from a Tri fin? Thicker and skinny? or Thinner and wider? What about rocker? And most importantly size? I am 5'10 about 165 pounds, people have told me I shouldn't get a board more than 6'2 because I'm not that big, but isn't a bigger board easier to catch waves (San Diego surf is smaller more often that it's large). To what extent should I comprimise? I was thinking a 6'2 in a summer shape. But what exactly are the specs that make a shortboard a summer shape? I basically want a shortboard with decent maneuvaribility, that can catch 3-4 foot waves when it needs to.

Answer 1

I'm 5'10" 165ish and have been riding in socal for going on twent years. Boards work differently for different people, it depends on the most minute detail. For instance, if you were to put more of your weight on your front foot then I do then you may want to think about going with heavier glass in the middle.... K enough with that, you'll figure out what's perfect for you later.

Since we're about the same size I'll tell you what I ride:

      6'1" Length (perfect length for socal)

      18 3/4" Width (wider for sharper turns, narrower for mor speed)

      2 5/16" Thickness (thicker if your heavier and thinner if your lighter)

     I also ride a squash tail. Your going to want a more rounded tail in those size waves. Then narrower the tail, the bigger the wave it's for.

     I also use a 4-6-4 deck. That's 4oz glass on the front and tail and 6 in the middle (the middle is where the board will support most of your weight ).

    Since you and about average size wise, you can easily find a board like this premade in a surfshop. Better bet though is to spend half the money and have a local shaper put one together for you. To find a good local shaper, just look for someone that's ripping and is riding a board you've never heard of. They'll point you in the right direction.

*sigh, my response was too long. their goes my shot at best answer :P

Answer 2

I haven't been in san Diego in about 15 years, so I won't comment on what is right for your local breaks. But, there are surf shops there, with people working there who surf those same breaks. They can give you giood advice on what to buy for your isize, skill level and the local conditions.

Avoid popouts, but don't feel obliged to buy 'Big name' either. There are good lcoal shapers everywhere who shape for the local conditions.

There are a thousand 'rules of thumb' for what actually constitues one design or another, or how they perform. Look this up on the web (even check old questions and answers here!), but whene all is said and done, go to a surf shop. Check out the links, and good luck!