This 100% depends on your weight, height, experience, conditions and style of surfing... Give us yours and maybe you will get a semi-helpful answer, otherwise it's all just useless numbers.

I suggest if you can to go talk to a local shaper, they are usually pretty helpful and knowledgeable on this stuff.

Unless the people are a similar weight, height, experience and style of surfer to you I can assure you they will be pretty useless...

Well I'm 6'3ft, 85kg of average ability (try and do airs and big punts etc.) mainly I ride kind of head high type stuff and I would say I'm more of a back foot heavy type of guy.

My all-round board is probably my 6'0 x 19 1/8 x 2 1/4, round tail with a slightly wider nose and tail outline and a slightly reduced rocker line to the contemporary short board.

As I said, these numbers are all just bullsh!t though because you could make a million different type of boards with these round about specs...

That is a massive question. Do you want it to paddle, kite or combo. Check out Mat Biolos lost surfboards website
lostsurfboards.net/surfboards/
Listing from performance paddle to fun models....Sub scorcher--sub driver--v2 rocket--blunt. I either have an original or boards based on these amongst others in my racks. I am into shorter boards for both kiting and paddling, even when it's big with a bit of nose width. At 73kg I don't paddle anything over 5'11". The rocket was one of the most copied modern boards in the world. The site give you an idea of dimensions outlines and volume. Buy a board by volume. I ride 25-26 c.u. At the moment I paddle a 5'4" x 18 x 2 1/4 Tomo dark star, and kite a 5'2" x 17 1/2" x 2 Tomo Vader. They are unbelievably good and I have not touched my regular shapes since getting them. Beware the firewire vanguard models, they are having durability issues for surfing, let alone kiting. At the end of the day, it really is a personal taste thing. From most boards looking similar a decade or so ago; there now is some innovative shaping going on. It's all fun. I was once told by mate that was a pro, "stop trying to clone your favourite board, it's gone (snapped); go and try something completely different". Best advice I ever had. It's fun, keeps your stoke, and completely changed my mind with what I thought was 'my best shape'.

pearl said..
Beware the firewire vanguard models, they are having durability issues for surfing, let alone kiting.

Well that wouldn't really be a first for Firewire would it... I never understand why so many people stick up for them when all I see is broken or faulty boards. Not to mention I don't even really like how the Firewire boards I've tried surf.

Just picked up this beaut from Kim @ S&S Gero, similar outline to the WAM but with a slightly bigger rocker, fitted with FCS PG 5.0's and dakine pad. Will go easy to start with but I'm sure they'll be a few ariels going down soon enough Looks a beast, can't wait to give it a thrashing out at Barrys tonight

AL Merrick Flyer 5'10" : Weight: 70kg, Style: Strapless unhooked
N: 11 1/2???
M: 18 1/4???
T: 14 1/4???
TH: 2 1/8???

these work well

Surfers have debated the best board question since surfing began. Shape, design, materials, hand over computer, etc....
ben Wilson on his site dioes board design comments and what he and his test riders like.
My option as a kite board / surfer for surfing waves under 6' is a bit short, I like the feel of bottom turning the longer rail.
If jumping is your thing the shorter wider board would be better.
But they all work

mind u sometime at kina road i think i could do with a board with way more rocker when big to slow it down and stay in control, don't ride there often tho.

Plummet said..

Good info men.

What is the difference inride tail ends. rounded, straight. swallow....

theres a dozen shaper videos on youtube that explain each tail and what it does and why etc. i found it very useful.

you have gotto be better off buying 2nd handers these days anyways. there like cars matey the more effort you put into it and more it costs you the more likely its going to blow up and disintergrate in some freak accident. every time i wash my car i need a new exhaust system or battery or rocker gaskets.