Hi all,

I'm quite new to surfing, i've done about 5 lessons on foam boards and am quite comfortable on the shortest ones they had (about 7'2) plus have done a few random beach days on random boards.

My uncle gave me a really old shortboard that he used to use, and i'm hoping you guys can help me decide whether the dimensions of it are ok for me.

I'm a fairly athletic build, 181cm tall and 75kg heavy. The surf i most often get into is 2-3ft.


The dimensions written on the board are faded and hard to read, but look like: 6'4 x 19 1/8 x 14 1/4 x 11 1/2

by measurement it seems to be between 1.5" and 2" thick.

I had a few attempts at using it a few months ago (before 4 of the lessons) and didn't have much luck, but that said i know shortboards are tricky to get used to.

Anyway, do you think this board is close to what i should be using, or should i be looking to replace it?

Listen to GPA because his 'GP'AS on surf know how is spot on. Grab a shorty thats about the same dimensions as the boards you were learning on and by all means keep that other board. If you're game, head out when there is swell which makes it much easier to catch waves on the smaller boards (bit of juice to get you going). Just be sure that you're surfing in your comfort zone. Surfing can't be learnt overnight cos it takes practice to perfect.

If you need any help just post here. The guys on these boards (even the longboarders) are great blokes and have years of knowledge behind them that is worth listening to because it will help not only your surfing but understanding of waves to make you a better surfer. Go catch some waves!

Chalk and Cheese...

Fibreglass will be stiffer and more responsive, and will have a much better 'glide' in the water - ie smoother with less effort. Plus the fin placement and fins themselves will be a whole lot better. Fibreglass boards are designed to be turned. I don't know, but I would say the foamies are designed less for performance and more for stability and straight line surfing (in the white-water??).

NSP (New Surf Project) offer a great range for the beginner... ie they have specific shapes that give the novice the best chance of getting better sooner.

Otherwise, any of the 'fun board' type shapes are the go - as they are generally a wider template.

Check the NSP website...

I still think that's too short as a starter board - but if it's a very good price, grab it. If it doesn't suit you now, it's something that you can work up to.

What's the brand? Jacks and a couple of others are cheap new - they have good shapes and spray, but not designed to last... (thin glass jobs to keep them light).

NSP are designed to take some knocks and I have not seen one in bad nick...

Again - look for something around 20" wide and nearer 3" than 2" thick. If it's 20.5 or 21 that's even better... (my fish board is 22" wide).

At your stage, the difference between a thruster (3 fin) and quad is neither here nor there.

$130 is VERY cheap - and although I cannot see obvious signs of damage (like a snap), have a very good look at it. Check around the tail area deck for 'bubbles' or bulges in the fibreglass where it has separated from the foam blank.

Google the brand and see what you can find out... as there are no dimensions on the blank around the stringer I'm a little suss on it. But at $130 you will not get anything else around that price - not even a second hand foamie.

Buyer beware. Having said that, if you get 12 months out of it you will have done well.

When you talk about frustration with shortboards, is it because people can't catch waves, can't stand up or can't control the board well/for long once they're up?

I though a fat semi-fish would mean easier paddling and easier to catch smaller waves. These are the main things i'd want to be easier.

With my current shortboard there have been good days where i've been able get on a wave, and once i'm up i'm fine. My problem is that i haven't built up enough paddling fitness to be able to get onto smaller waves, so i exhaust myself covering 10m or water in the impact zone 30 times while trying to get onto waves.

I'm determined enough that as long as i occasionally feel close to catching the waves i won't give up. The challenge is half the fun; otherwise i'd stick with foam boards.

BudgySmugler said...

When you talk about frustration with shortboards, is it because people can't catch waves, can't stand up or can't control the board well/for long once they're up?

All of the above.

A semi fish will be better than a typical short board, but will still be hard to start with.

Not sure of your $$$ situation, but $130 is cheap. Grab it, and keep your eye on the classifieds for a 7'2" NSP.

Well i saw the board today and bought it.

It was different to what i was expecting in a few ways. It was more like a bat tailed shortboard than a fish, but the price was too good to turn down.

It's thinner and only a little wider than my current short board, but if you measure from the rear point of the tail rather than the cutout it is actually almost an inch longer (it barely fits in my 6'4 board bag). Much lighter though.

The reason i couldn't find any info on it was that the guy who sold it shaped it himself. That said, the condition was excellent. The only damage was a small crack on the side of one of the fins which had been nicely glassed over.

I can't wait to take it out and give it a try sometime soon. Even if it turns out to be too small for me right now it is definitely something i'll want to work towards.

Thanks for all the help and advise guys. I'll report back when i get to the coast and let you know how i go.

I cannot speak highly enough of the NSP boards for beginners. I'd say the 7'6 would be perfect for you to lean and progress on. I bought one myself a few years ago as a stuff around board on small wave days but it is now probably the most used board in my quiver. They're capable of a lot more than I guessed and will certainly allow you to progress and develop your surfing. If the minimal shape doesn't appeal to you then go for the 7'2 which looks more like a regular shortboard. My wife has one and it's also very stable, easy to paddle and predicable through turns.

I admit I learned to surf on a very thin 6'3 shortboard and picked it up quickly so it can be done, but if you've been using the foam boards from the surf school you will find shortboards very twitchy, especially if it's very short. I'm 175cm and 80kg and the smallest board I use now is a 6'6 bourton psudeo fish.

Definately don't get a foam board. The fibreglass and epoxy boards have the stiffness you need to turn confidently. You do have to wax them but you will also find that a waxed firegalss board gives you a bucket load more grip than you get on a foamy. The NSP boards I recommended are epoxy boards which as a beginner you may prefer as they tollerate being knocked around. Fibreglass boards are easily dinged whereas tha epoxy boards can handle being bumped and knocked around a bit without damage. :)