How to surf on a shortboard?

Question

I use to surf a lot on my 8-0 but then I decided to sell it and had a 6-6 fish but never surfed very well on it. Im 16 150 and 5 11 wondering how to surf a shortboard and what size board? Want a shortboard that can handle smaller waves

Answer 1

Practice, practice, practice.

We're about the same size and i rock a 5'11" fish. It's just a matter of geting used to a board you stick where you want it to go as opposed to turning like a Caddilac.

Answer 2

If you're used to an 8', never surfed well on the 6' 6" you had, *and* you're going to be in smaller waves, you should try a fun board a.k.a. mini mal.

Shortboards are fast but require experience to ride. They are also more difficult to catch a wave on. The larger and wider the board the easier it is to pick up small waves. Again, you want a wider tail too because it will offer easier turns. A good funboard/mini mal for now would be a 7' 2".

Try to buy used, because you're still growing and the more skilled you become you'll want to work your way down. Generally speaking though, shortboards and guns are best for medium to large swells.

As for how to ride it, just practice. You already know what to do, it's just a matter of experience and working your way down to it. But a 8' to a 6' 6" was too big a leap.

Answer 3

Get a 6'3" squash tail with wide rails.