Surfer girls: longboard or shortboard?

Question

I have a good friend at work who's interested in surfing (she tried it in Hawaii and loved it) and wants to get a board here in FL. I have been pushing shortboard or retro-fish since that's what I ride, but I'm a man and so might have a different perspective.

I know she learned on a longboard and is habitually looking at huge longboards (9') and thinking 6'11", 7"3 funshapes are a nice choice for 'performance'.

I started on a 6'4" funshape and really didn't enjoy surfing until I got on a 6'1" shortboard. My 6'4" was too big and clunky. I feel like this girl should choose either a smallish longboard, or get a nice fat retro fish for Florida waves.

What do you think? I have two other good female friends who both ride shortboards and love them; I have two more female friends (one is an ex) who had big funshapes, and neither really ended up getting into surfing.

My friend is about 5'4", maybe 120 lbs? Athletic and tough so I think she can handle what FL has to offer. Advice?

Answer 1

haha, the perspective of what a person rides isn't based on gender.

I've surfed both long and short board. I did better with longboard, and thats what I stayed with.

However, I plan on buying a new shortboard this summer. Hopefully an Al Merricks board.

I'm 5'6'', and I'm 125 lbs.

I surf in FL too, what part are you from?

(I surf at the Jupiter Inlet, and Juno pier)

Answer 2

I think shell feel and do better right now on like an egg or funboard

maybe around 7'6 -8'0

just by seeing how much experience she has

it won't be as frustrating, as if she just hoped on a shortboard

soo yeahh

when she gets more comfortable with the ocean and what not she should deffinetly got

for a

shortboard or fish

good luck!

hhopee I helped!

-sierraaaaa(:

Answer 3

I would take xsurfgirl4lifex's recommendation, but maybe go a little shorter. If she has the money, there are some great, 'funboard' size boards that are shaped a little more radically and perform pretty well.  And, there are lots of good 'hybrids' out there. Cruise the shops and talk to the women who work in them (they aren't all bathing suit saleswomen).

Answer 4

How about an 8 foot funboard/longboard or a 6'6 fish quad fish?

The Surfboard Man

http://www.thesurfboardman.com/

Answer 5

Well if your friend isn't an avid surfer definitely get a long board because they are easier to ride and you can pretty much catch a wave on the board no matter what kind surf there is. If your friend can handle a board that's less buoyant go for the short board.Another way to figure out what board is good base it on weight height and skill level, but then again she should have at least two different surfboards for different surfs,that's what i have because i live in California and the surf is never consistent but then again i don't know about Florida. I hope this helps!

Answer 6

longboard about a 7'8