What is the right size shortboard for me? I am 6'1" 170lbs with 1 1/2 yrs experience and I am 27yrs old.

Question

I want to get a shortboard to surf mostly in LA, OC waves. I surf on a 7'8 funboard right now, but since I go out at least once a week I want something shorter. What is the the best shortboard for me?

Answer 1

id say get a higher volume board for your first shortboard but challenge yourself to ride a real shortboard.  ull be suprised at how fast you adapt and make the transition.  i would recomend a squashtail 6'3 or a 6'4, width about 18.75 and thickness about 2.75.  thats a pretty beefy shortboard.  you will probably struggle with your popups for a good two sessions, but once you get into it you'll go, "d**n, so that's what turning really feels like!"

that board for your body size should be appropriate in waves up to about two feet overhead, and once you start to dial in you could probably push it to double-overhead even--kinda depending on the wave type.  seriously though, don't get a board that's too big.  you'll be stoked on a real shortboard.

Answer 2

This a hard call really. It's reletive to where your skills are now since you've only been surfing 1 year. Why not try renting or borowing a few boards to see how you cope with dropping a foot of your board.

Also, another option might be a fish. I just got a 5'10" and have no problem with it coming down from a 6'8" trifin.

Answer 3

If you want a board for smaller mushier waves, I would seriously consider a fish.  Don't let anyone fool you - fishes are fast, loose, and a ton of fun.  What else could you ask for in a board?  If  you're looking for an all around shortboard then I would consider a 6'6" x 19.25 x 2.5 or something along those dimensions. That should be big enough to transition easily w/o being too big.

Answer 4

It depends, you left out one critical detail - your skill level.

How good are you on the funboard?  If you feel really comfortable(ie. full roundhouse cutback and turn back to the curl without bogging) go for something like a 6'6"-6'8" about less than 2.5" thick with a slightly wider (fishier template) than a standard shortboard template.  This will then help you turn those roundhouse cutbacks into a cutback re-entry(off the foam).  Have fun...

Answer 5

I suggest a 6'8 fish!!!

Answer 6

If you're transitioning from a longboard or funboard, a retro fish would be the way to go.  If you have no problems catching waves on your 7'8" funboard, you might want to go with a 6'2" quad fin retro fish.

Most fishes are designed wider and thicker. This helps keep you plane on top of the water with minimal drag. This in turns increases your board speed. The deep swallowtail design provides more surface area for the waves to push you. These features make it much easier for you to paddle into and catch a wave.  A 6'2" fish will paddle similar to your funboard but will be much more maneuverable since it's 1'6" shorter.  

For maneuvering, the wider swallowtail actually turns easier on slower waves. Contrary to popular belief, a narrow tail is harder to turn at slower speeds because it sinks. This drags water and slows the board down. Our wider tail will plane on top of the water, allowing you to do snappy, pivotal turns by twisting your body. This gives you the feel of a looser board when turning but more stability when trimming down a wave.

A quad fin setup with removeable fins gives you a lot of versatility.  You can start off by riding the board with the larger pair of fins towards the tail.  This will keep it more stable.  As you get better, move the larger pair forward to loosen the board.  You can also ride the board as a twin fin.

I'm 5'10", 165lbs and ride a 5'8" quadfin fish most of the time.