l am 5 10 187 lbs
i skimboard frequently and can pump out there far enough to catch a lil surf back in, but l wanna take up surfing
i do not want a begginers board, the local waves are pretty sick
what size short board do l need?
o and what is better, polyester, or epoxy?
ps, do they make carbon fiber surfboards?
hey john im not tryin to be a dick here bud but chill out with the alpha-surfer talk aiight cuz we both know skimmin is harder than surfer for the sheer fact of timing, running , your throw and then pumping out, finally, the ride back in.
i probably should have put up here l have already rode my buddies 8footer and l am no surf master by any means, but l could tell the long board was not responsive enough for me

what l really posted this question for, was to give my heigth and weight,
-187, 5'10''
and see what the level of buyoancy l need is.
AKA how tall of a board?
and second, there is a local here by the name of eric swanson that makes his own boards, but they are polyester.
i wanna get either, one of his boards, or an
NSP epoxy shorty.
advice? plz answer the eheight question.
thnks ppl

They make carbon fiber surfboards- they are super expensive though.

At least get a funboard, if not a high performance longboard

Epoxy is better but more expensive.

The Surfboard Man
http://thesurfboardman.com

l usually try to be nice to be who want to learn to surf. It is like sharing something. But u need a reality check. Skimboarding is not surfing! So, since u r a beginner, u should look for a board suitable for a beginner.

That is not to say that it has to be a longboard.Most people learn best on long boards, although l have seen lots of surfers start on a short board & master it. In the long run, there r NO RULES on what type of board u have to learn on. Long boards r ideal for learners. There r also good internediate length boards to learn on, funshapes, mini-mals & some hybrids. That is why instructors use long boards or fun boards (or even softtops).

Lessons r the best way to start, unless u r a young adult or adolescent with surfing pals who can teach you. You have to learn surf etiquette (so the experienced surfers in the line up do not want to drown you), how to paddle & take off on a wave, & how to ride a wave. There r already way too many dangerous people in the water. A danger to themselves & other surfers. Do not join their ranks.

Go to a real surf shop. The folks there can hook u up with lessons, & even rent u a board to learn on.). Just work on ur basics, & after u feel good, think about buying a board, but do not rush into anything. And, please do not waste ur time (or money) buying something on line. Do not be in a rush to buy a board! TRY before u BUY. Rent a variety of types of surfboards, or borrow them from ur friends who surf. A surfboard is a big investment. You would not be asking the questions u are, if u knew anything about surfing.

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. Get ur REAL advice from a surf shop. However, if they think u r just a 'kook' tourist out to rent a board, u wo not necessarily get the best attention.

Good luck!

ha ha internet fights are funny. im on John F is side on this one

i would like to see you paddle out on some nice double overhead + waves on a shortboard and not get killed. there is no way that skimming is harder than surfing. especially shortboarding

dude first of all how old are you . you should NEVER EVER EVER start with a short board. if you no nothing about surfing its bad to start like that. you can always rent a board till your good enough for a smaller board. trust i've been surfing for twelve years.

Oh hell there r so many of u people that i've met like u who think just because they can skim or can bodyboard they r automatically great at surfing. if u want to get an epoxy board at least be one of those annoying rich buggers that does not care because if u ha vent surfed much before u r going to damage it & they costa bomb to put right. And trust me u will suck on one. get a long board or a foam board & get good. Never ever start on a brand new shortboard. Its just stupid. l teach about 40 people each summer to surf & they come down the beach with they re brand new boards & the minute l take them to somewhere where the surf is actually kicking they immediately ding them or crack them or just full on break them. dude do not be one those people that is too proud & has to take it so seriously, surfing is fun & that is it. Go out get get good on a long board then advance to a different board like maybe a 6'8 fish or something. Or go & talk to ur shaper & see what he says cos he will definitely know what he is talking about

You're probably really good with a skimboard, & could recommend a good skim board for me, if l asked u to. The u received so far r just an encouragement to seek advice from a surf shop. You know a lot about skim, but not surfboards. Yes, there r carbon fiber surfboards, but they're very expensive.Handmade fiberglass is reasonably priced & very responsive. Epoxy boards r very buoyant & will float u easier. You can get the best of both boards by asking Eric Swanson to use epoxy resin on ur custom board. Whatever u do, do not buy an NSP. See Eric instead. If you're sure that u want a shortboard, a thicker, 2.5-3'' thick 6'6 may work for u depending on ur break. Swanson would be ur best ''go to'' guy. And John F was not talking down to you. He was just giving u the advice of experience.

Many decades ago l started surfing on a short board. l surfed every day l could. l got pounded, free fell over the falls, would be in the water for hours & lucky to catch a single wave.but l hung in there. l was determined.and had the focus & desire to learn. Eventually l got pretty good.not pro-level.but good enough.

If l had to start over. l would do it differently with what l know. l also teach surfing now..and would never start anyone on a short board.

With that being said. l do know u can learn on a short board. The road is longer & alot more difficult.but it can be done. You have to have a strong desire, determination, spend alot of time in the water, be in decent shape & not be the type of person that gives up easily.

One of the problems with surfing.is balancing how well ur board FLOATS u & how RESPONSIVE ur board is. Generally the thicker the board is.the less responsive it will be.

Since it sounds like since you're pretty decent on a skim board u r probably used to alot of responsiveness. You tried ur friends 8 footer & found it not responsive enough.(when l surfed my first longboard. l found it soooo easy to catch waves.but had a hard time figuring how to turn the darn thing).

Learning on a short board u will not have much float. That means harder to get into waves.which means less waves. If u can live with that.then go ahead.

As a starting point.what Surfammo said on the dimensions seem reasonable.thickness - 2.5 to 3 inches.height - 6'6'' to 6'10''. But l think talking to ur LOCAL SHAPERS in ur area would be the BEST ADVICE.

good luck to you.
- mahalo -

rent a softtop and try it out. start with a longer board. no need to be too greedy. if the board is too short you will get very frustrated. very quick.

JUST DELETE YOUR Y! ACCOUNT !!! JOHN IS RIGHT SKIMBOARDING IS NOT SURFING< EAT FOAM AND SHIT RESIN !!!

and dont be saying AKA HEIGHT when its not just that

and just cus you can time waves (not that hard) doesnt mean you can ride shorties right from the start