Choosing the right short surfboard...& Firewire Surfboards??

Question

I am a young advancing surfer. Iam 17, 150 lbs, and 5' 9". I have been surfing a 7' 2" funboard for several months and i think im ready for a shortboard. I will be buying a Flexfire, Firewire surfboard at 6" ft. I am not sure if it is right for me and I would like some outside input on this. I live in NC.

Thank you in advance!!

Answer 1

people mistakenly think shorter is better. It depends on your size, how quick you want to turn and the waves you are riding.

Shorter boards are slower to paddle, thus it is more difficult to catch waves (esp. big waves, which travel faster)

Step down to a shorter board if you feel you cannot turn fast enough on your current board. A good step down from 7'2", if you want to progress to a smaller board, is around 6'8", but no smaller. Getting a smaller board too early will mean that you will not catch as many waves, you will have difficulty standing up, and also balancing (limiting the waves you can surf in).

The alternative is to get a short but very wide board (e.g. 6' but minimum 20 inches wide, with lots of body). This will allow you to turn faster, but still has same limitations about catching waves, and is difficult to use in larger waves. Also, they don't turn like short boards. Speak to the people in the board shop as well. Tell them how long you have been surfing. This was my progression:

year 0-1: 7'3" minimal

yr 1-2: 7'3" hot buttered

yr 2-3: 7'2" gun (I was riding larger waves)

yr 3-6: 6'8" O-shea (fish)

yr7-9: 6'2" John Carpenter (semi-fish)*

yr 9-10: 5'11" shortboard*

 

(*small steep waves allowed me to go this short, but I still use the 6'8")