What would be a good first shortboard to buy?

Question

Alright i am around 6' 160 and have been surfing for around 2 years on an average waist high beach break. i have mostly been using my 6'8 fish and feel ready to get a shortboard. so what would be a good board to get and what dimensions

Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

a fish may work too. when i started it was perfect. not too big not too small. but if you have no balance get a long board. it keeps you balance pretty well.

=]

Answer 2

Most of the time, you can you can ride a nice fat fish a little bit shorter than you would a short, performance board. By that standard, you'd be up in the 7'2" - 7'6" range. However, that's probably not right for you, or your body mass. You probably would be good in the 6'2"-6'6" range. Both lost and Channel islands have some good boards for that waist height surf you usually ride. I have a Lost SDII that I just got last month, but I still haven't gotten enough feel for it yet to recommend it.

Go to a good local surf shop. Talk to the folks there about the right board for your size, skill and local break. Look at some of the smaller, local shapers, who make some great boards. Don't disregard getting one custom shaped for you. In 42 years, two of my most favorite boards were customs, made by local shapers.

Please don't buy a junk popout. The mass produced Chinese c%#p is ruining the market. Check out the link! Good luck, and go to a surf shop, where you can talk this out in person.

http://www.mckevlins.com/nopopstory.htm

Answer 3

Hmm... best bet would be a 6'2/6'3 board, 2-2.5 inch thickness, and go with a regular tail or "squash tail".

Answer 4

6'4" swallow tail with soft rails. I suggest a cheap made in China "seven surfboards" deal. You don't need to get a custom made board. You'll probably progress out of it in two years and be ready for a custom made brand name board then.