l am a 5'5'' female and l usually surf my dads old 9 foot funboard, but l am looking into buying a shortboard.

l have really good balance and l learn very quickly.

l weigh 125 pounds if that helps.

l also live in West Palm Beach, Florida. The waves are usually pretty choppy around here, but during the winter we actually get pretty nice waves that are not from the offshore hurricanes lol.

But yeah, recommendations please! (:
l am considering a Channel Islands board... A Flyer in particular...

What do you think?

well l just got a new shortboard, but im pretty experienced. l would reccomend a t patterson surfboard. mabe even if your a beginer borrow your friends board see if that feels goog if you can shred with it get a board around that height.

the flyer is a very good board but its wayyyy overpriced. Go check out I.S.W in lake worth they have a good selection of boards there & the staff r good people. l live down by south beach & l get my boards shaped by ''C-shapes'' u can check his site too he makes amazing boards..that could be another option if u want an awesome custom.

going from a 9ft longboard to a 5-6ft shortie is a HUGE difference especially if u dont surf everyday..i would suggest getting something in the 7ft range like a funboard or mabey something in the 6'8-10'' range.

Well l learned the hard way never touched a longboard in my life. why? because they cost a Sh!t load. l do not live in Florida so l do not no any surf board brands around there but l think for someone who is your height 6'4,6'3,'6'2,6'1, and if you really think your good 6'0 ( size of board )

P.S Well john maybe some people are just faster learners then you, so maybe for her the transition might be EASY and you just copy and paste those paragraphs so use your own words

Only a fool would try to recommend a 'specific' size surf board to anybody on line. Only a bigger fool would take that specific recommendation.

Be careful of what u read here on line. After l found this site, l figured that l could answer a few questions, & spread the 'good news' of surfing. l started surfing in 1966, & it has been a constant source of pleasure since. get ur REAL advice from a surf shop.

THE REAL BOTTOM LINE IS: Go to a Surf Shop, not a computer. l have been surfing since 1966 & l get my surfboard advice at good local shops at the places where l surf. The pros there can give u the right !! There is no way anyone could accurately recommend any particular surfboard for u on line. But the folks at the local shop know the local wave conditions, & can match ur size & skill level with the right board for local waves.

l Think that DangerNik made some real good points. Pay attention to him when he says that the transition from riding a log-like long board to a super short performance board is really tough. Plus, there r lots of more reasonably priced boards out there (not that the Flyer is not a neat board).
Good luck!

I'd suggest buying used.

If you've been riding a 9 footer, I'd suggest moving down to 7-8ft. Then down to 6'6, then down to 6'2.

John said it. Go to a local shop. Also, the transition is pretty difficult from a longboard to a shortboard. For example, with a longboard, you're turning using the rails, but with a shortboard, u just use the back & the middle. Your first shortboard should be very big, in height, thickness & width. Flyer is r good boards to learn on, but again, go with what a surf shop reccomends. The one thing l will say is that it may be better to get an epoxy board, simply because it will last longer & floats a bit better.

John F has the right advice. Go to a surf shop, ask them. l jumped into a performance shortboard right away, 6'0 and l am 150lbs. and learning to use it right is a lot of work, but l enjoy the challenge.
Try getting a used board if you can, no matter what size you choose.
good luck and have fun!!

ok. be sure u like shortboarding first before u buy the board. a lot of people buy the shortboard & then dont like shortboarding. rent one from a surf shop first.

a bigger board would be better for u because u r used to surfing a 9' board, so l suggest a shortboard around the 6'6'' area. a nice fiberglass board would be ideal too because it would give u a smoother ride because the waves r choppy where u r & fiberglass has more flex.

for best results, go to a surf shop & the guys there will happily get u the right board & equipment for you. they will get u the best size of board too.

for the boards, just get what ever board that u want, but make sure its not a pop out. ask John F about pop outs because he seems to have the best info about pop outs. l have been shortboarding for 6 years & out of all the boards l went through, my favorites r JS, rusty, & Al Merrick
those r just my favorites.

hope this helps. have fun surfing!


message for colton s:

dont be dissing John man. those r his own words & he can copy & paste what ever he wants if he wrote it. l bet he has much more experience than u so l wouldnt try him. & u have never trasitioned from a long to shortboard so u have no idea how difficult it is. neither do l but still, John does.

Leave John alone. l used to thing it was kinda lazy to paste the same answer but now l think he is actually on the right track. People ask the same freakin' questions everyday because they're too lazy to search the resolved questions section.

Transitioning from long to short is really hard. It is hard the other way too, but not as much. l started out on a midsized funboard & now ride long & short boards, & fish. None ride like the others.

Your best bet is to just go to a shop & talk to someone there. They know ur local conditions, Al Merrick doesn't. Yes, he shapes great boards but do u really need that when you're learning?