RealSurf Surfers' Forum

realsurfers,

i've just started surfing after bodyboarding for 13years (finally seen the light) and have been surfing on a 7'10" Inner Circle mini-mal.

i had some dramas with my board (surprise surprise) and while it was in the shop getting fixed i impulse bought a 6'10" x 20 x 2 7/8 fibreglass webber afterburner.

I don't know too much about board sizes and was wondering whether this was probably a stupid purchase. I was thinking that going down a foot but keeping the same width and thinkness would help me transition, but i still seem to have a lot of trouble getting up.

i'm 5'10 and between 80-85kg depending on how much surfing i've been doing.

Should i have looked at a different model board? is this something that i'm going to be able to surf in up to head high waves? Should i have gone with a fatburner? I've been told they have a little more volume towards the nose which would help me.

What do you think?

give up now.

I'm with Salty on this one. The Afterburner you have is a good size for a learner moving to intermediate.

Mini-mals are good for catching waves and for riding mush, but after 13 years as a booger you shouldn't need assistance with catching waves.

A real shortboard such as the Afterburner will actually ride real waves. When you get better you'll probably find that 6'10" is too big for you, but for now the size makes it more steady and should help you getting into it.

Just keep trying (a lot) and eventually you will get the hang of it

P.S. do lots of push-ups too because it is your arms that get you up - not the board - there was a thread on this a while back.

Cheers boys,

Good feedback...

Giving up's never an option Wanto...

I was warned that surfing was full of di#@heads... seems the bloke that warned me was right.
You might want to keep you negativity to yourself next time.

JET01 wrote:You might want to keep you negativity to yourself next time.

why would i want to do that?

Ringmaster wrote:

wanto wrote:

JET01 wrote:You might want to keep you negativity to yourself next time.

why would i want to do that?

Unfortunately, mate, he's right................

Most surfers are C#NTS.

I should know as I've been a rude one for about 28 years now.............

p!ss off ringmaster .....

wanto .. go suck a dick ......

jet ... do what salty said ... for your size that is more than enough surfboard and should be easy to get up on so just keep trying and trying ... but keep an eye out for me, wanto and ringers 'cause if we see you out there we're comin' after ya

ha, more like desperately trying to dodge your jettisoned oversized craft

wanto wrote:

JET01 wrote:You might want to keep you negativity to yourself next time.

why would i want to do that?

That's wanto sharing the love. You don't want to see him when he's paying out.

If you guys are half as good at coaching as you are at shooting your mouths off, you guys could have me on the pro tour by the end of the year. hahaha

i like to surf at south narra to keep out of everyones way.

Come after me, it's cool, but i don't waste my time fighting or arguing... to much surfing to be done.

you sarcastic banta was cool, and thanks for the tips.

yeah....wat salty said

if your having heaps dramas standing up

u might find it's more a case of misjudged timing ( something i know alllll about ) or you just haven't adjusted too the new board (that can take a while also )

ingnore tonto.....in fact disregard anything a naturalfooter saids

i.e "my wave", "oi", "hey", "stop dropping in"...etc,etc

for full clarfication on this point watch thomas carroll

Hey good thread, it's on the lines of something I'm starting to put more thought into lately.

Slight hijack...

Currently riding a 6'8 x 19 1/2 x 2 5/8 swallow tail and by what I can tell, double concave. I feel there is a lack of responsiveness and it rides a bit sluggish for me when I'm up and looking to move around. Granted a lot of this is due to my ability, but I'm starting to put a bit of thought into my next board.

I'm 6'1, 89kg, and will be surfing in and around Biarritz (mainly La Grande Plage) from next month for at least 6 months - so beachies mainly.

What's my best 'general' changes to put into the next one? I'm thinking 6'6 and changing the tail shape as a start. I don't want to lose a lot in paddling ability, so hoping to get a bit of volume hidden in there somewhere. Really I just want it a touch more responsive. Not after a magic board, just a small step closer.

Also, I'll get the board over there - anyone have any thoughts on Barland boards?

Dae wrote: a 6'8 x 19 1/2 x 2 5/8 swallow tail ?

hmmmm....big board would feel slugish in anything under 6 ft

consider.......6'6 x 19 3/4 x 2 1/4.....squash tail or rounded pin

take the concave out and put a nice flat bottom in

p.s i'm not a shapers tescticle....just works for me

^^^^

2nd that ....
that's a big swallow tail, more like for a bloke about 6'4"+, ....

that 6'6" sounds ideal for your size and ask for a little extra area in the tail in a rounded pin to loosen it up a bit and it should make for a nice all-rounder from small to medium sized surf ... a little extra thickness in the upper 1/3 towards the nose will assist the paddling side of things if that's what you like about that big swallow ....

I'm 6'5" and 96 kgs. best board dimensions are usually 6'8 x19 x 2 1/2 or a quarter inch wider.

Thanks for the input. Yeah she feels a little sluggish, haven't had it in over about 4 foot, but it did feel better on the bottom turns at that size, especially backhand. I need to find some longer waves to see how it really goes down the line as it's hard to work the speed up near the pocket, but I think I'll trade her in when I get a new one.

don't b scared go thinner and wider and shorter
a skilled shaper will figure that volume too your own needs
take a full 4'' off and go 6'4

roundtails are the crack

Fongles, you went from suggesting a squash or rounded pin to round. You're thinking like Surfin said and add some width to the rounded pin? What's your thought?

What will I notice if I go 6'4 and play with the volume/width/thickness, or stay around 6'6 x 19 3/4 x 2 1/4 like your first suggestion? Plus what if I go middle ground and go a 6'5 and compromise between the differences?

i agree with smoking turfs idea about a round tail with a bit more area....

round tails are wat alot shapers have been working hard on for a few years now

and there got results ( i'll prefer a little more pin too it...but thats me)

i stand by my 1st suggestion (6'6 x 19 3/4 x 2 1/4 )


differently take some thickness out take the slug out it