Surfing...shortboard vs. longboard?

Question

I'm still pretty new at surfing but I want to get my own board for this summer. Does anyone know where I can try and get a fairly cheap, used one since I am not going to spend 700 + dollars for it? I am 5' 8" and about 140-145 pounds, I know longboards are easier since that what I learned on but would it be worth it to get a shortboard so that once I am done with the longboard I won't have to get a new one? Any advice would be appreciated!!

Answer 1

The absolute best board to 'step down' from a longboard will be a fish.  You'll have all the paddle ease of a long board, but with the looseness of a shortboard.  Don't waste your time on a funboard.  At your height and weight I would suggest anything in 5'9-6"1" range.  That may seem short but they surf much better the shorter they are.  If you get something close to 7' you might as well get an egg or a funboard (not recommended).  I prefer keel fins but a quad will do just fine as well.

Check craigslist or call your local shaper.

Answer 2

if you're still pretty new at surfing, but still want to transition from a longboard to a shortboard, i'd suggest getting a hybrid or funboard (somewhere between 7'0" and 7'6" and a little wider). that will make the switch to shortboarding a little easier if you continue surfing.

good idea on buying a used board. check craigslist or a local surf shop; you can ususally get some pretty good deals.

oh and keep the longboard for days when it's flat and you can't ride the shortboard.

Answer 3

first off, there is no such thing as being "done with the longboard". people spend their entire surfing lives devoted to longboarding.  all in all it comes down to what style of surfing you like.  if you want to short board then dont buy a longboard. since your still new i would say dont go any shorter than 6'8".  also try and get somethign a little wider like a fish.  if you can find a 6 8 quiet flight stingfish i would say go with that since they are wider boards but can still perform really well and leave plenty of room for you style to grow without having to shell out cash for more advanced boards.  i know alot of people who start out on funshapes and within a year want something more performance oriented, but with the stingfish this shouldnt happen.  ive been surfing for 13 years and usually ride either a 5 10 quad or a 6 2 thruster.  that being said i rode my friends stingfish in some smaller surf and loved how easy it was to both catch waves on (like a longboard) and turn (like a shortboard)

Answer 4

You definitely should stick with a longboard since you are still fairly new to the sport. Start with something in the 8-9 foot range and work your way down to something smaller once you get really good at that size. It should always be a "gradual process" when transitioning from a longboard to a shorterboard. I made the mistake of going from an 8'2'' long to a 6'3'' short (with only 6 months of surfing experience) and paid the ultimate price for it one day in San Diego a few years back when the conditions were nearly epic. Needless to say, I had the wipeout of my life and nearly lost my board. ALWAYS work your way down and you will have the most fun and gain more skill in the sport. Also, you can go to any surf shop to get good deals on used boards. Of course, you could also do what I did and use E-Bay (even better deals there!). to find a good used board. Good luck and have fun!