Longboard to Funboard to ? Fish ?

[kneedropper]

So I've been surfing for 6 months and I'm ready to try a short/shorter board. Had fun and caught a few waves on a 6'8" Flyer that I borrowed the other day at the end of a session. My arms were worked but I managed to get the feeling of a shorter board and I want more. I've been trying to read up and fondle a ton of boards, but of course everyone has a different opinion... so why not get a few more. I'm 6'2" and weigh about 190.

So for a surf Jong, would you recommend a thruster like setup or maybe a fish? From what I've heard the fish will surf and paddle more like the fun shape/long board but turn much easier. I'm thinking the fish will remain fun as a summer/gutless wave board when and if I move on to a thruster..if that's the route.

Anyway, I'd like to not buy another board unitl next fall (this shit is worse than skiing quiver wise), so any suggestions? I live in the Santa Barbara area...

[emetic]

why not a semi fish style board?
i am 5"10 about 200lbs and have a 5'11 x 19 x 2.5 with alot of width through the nose and tail, with FCS twin side fins and a small stabliser fin. it goes awesome in anything up to 3-4 foot.

[Raps]

I started on a 9'2" and i've worked my way to a fish - i'm still a beginner but i love my fish. Definately a fun board that catches a lot of waves, and obviously more manuverable than a fun or longboard.

Check out Kane Garden fishes, thats what i'm ridin.....

http://kanegarden.com/cms/surfboards

[cj001f]

Buy a thruster.

There's tons of shapers in Santa Barb/Ventura/Oxnard - go talk to one or more. They'll give you much better advice for the breaks you surf regarding dimensions and shapes. Why buy a shitty off the rack board when you can go custom for the same $ ?

[kneedropper]

In terms or shapers, I just figured that I'm not really even sure what I want or like at this point, so having a custom built wouldn't really be worth it. Honestly, I'd probably be happy with anything that will float me, but the idea with the fish is that I could be on a shorter board catching more waves and improving faster. With a thruster I would struggle a bit more.

When you don't know much about boards, shopping is tough. I'm trying to read as much as possible, but I think in the end you just need to figure out what works for you over time through trial and error... which means buying more boards.

[tuffy109]

yadda yadda yadda, all the stuff you just said you're unsure of would be answered by a shaper (who could probably do any type of board you want).

remember that most fishes have little to no rocker, which might not be too cool for your first shot at a shortboard.

[peterslovo]

Why buy a shitty off the rack board when you can go custom for the same $ ?

What he said.

You'd be surprised how, with the right questions asked and answered with a shaper, hammering out the right dimensions, rocker, fin configurations, etc., can make substantial improvements in your surfing, and in turn, your joy on a surfboard.

With that said, in my opinion, fish tend to surf much, much looser than a standard thruster, which would feel very different from what you are used to riding. I'd recommend a larger thruster vs. a fish...

[kneedropper]

Thanks for the info and suggestions... this is what I needed you hear. Any suggestions on shappers who are reasonable and willing to work with a noob in the SB area?

[tuffy109]

here ya go: cisurfboards.com

[kneedropper]

and again I say... reasonable. CI is a bit pricier than I'd like to go at this point. On that note, what do you guys typically pay for a custom poly thruster?

[GheePup]

Ok, you live in Santa Barbara. What breaks do you frequent in the area during the winter? What breaks during the summer? Do you want this for a year round board? What are you surfing on right now? How long? How thick? How wide? Fin cluster? Concaves? Rail shape? Tail shape?

I have shaped a few boards for myself. Every one I love because I shaped it for a purpose. I have had boards shaped and loved those boards too. Each has a purpose. Some are more versatile than others. All of them I love in the right conditions.

PM me for more specifics on shapers in your area and ideas on what might suit your needs. 1,2,3,4,5 fins can all be fun on shorter to short boards. The shape, thickness, bottom contours, rails and tail are also huge factors. Foam density and fiberglass weight also come into play.

Get a custom board! Be honest with your shaper when describing your abilities and where you surf or where you want to surf on this board and how you want it to perform. I don't care how much of a surf jong you are. Talk to some shapers and get a custom board shaped for your specific needs, period! You will be more happy and progress faster with a custom board than with a stamped out production board that some saleskid sold you off the floor of the shop.

Good luck and I hope you find that magic board.

[kneedropper]

pm sent..

[robnow]

Listen to the guys. A shaper should be able to steer you in the right direction.

I'm about the same size 6'1" and 195 lbs. I was fortunate to live in Oz for over a year where I was able to progress my surfing.

I started out on a 8" mal.

From there I went to a Miller Waterskate. http://www.waterskatesurfboards.com/waterskate.aspx

This is the type of board i would recommend you go next. LOTS of volume. My board was 6'5" x about 20 1/2" x about 2 3/4". To get better you want to be able to catch lots of waves and this shape will allow you just that. You'll catch way more waves and have a forgiving thruster like shape to perform on.

From there I moved onto a Webber Afterburner 6'6"X19 1/2"X2 5/8" which is more of an all round shortboard probably a lot like the Flyer you tried.

I'm definitely glad I had the Waterskate and would recommend it to everyone who is progressing from a mal into a shortboard.

Have Fun!!

Oh, and when you get more of a performance shortboard, the bigger egg shape would work well for summertime ankle high sessions.