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11 Responses to “Is It Possible To Learn How To Surf With A Short Board?”

1. John F Says:
   October 24th, 2009 at 12:43 pm

   Sounds like somebody gave you a board? Well, that isn’t always the best “starting Point”, and getting a bad start can leave you discouraged. Surfing is way too much fun to pass up, if you take the time to leran the right way.
   Surfing is an actvity that should only be practiced by someone who is comfortable in the ocean, with its rips, currents, and sometimes BIG waves.There are already way too many dangerous people in the water. A danger to themselves and other surfers. Don’t join their ranks.
   Lessons are the best way to start, unless you are 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 don’t want to drown you), how to paddle and take off on a wave, and how to ride a wave. Be very careful of what you read here on line. Some of the folks who answer on this site are very nice young folks, but not really very experienced surfers. In fact some of the folks who are giving you advice may not know as much about surfing as you do. After I found this site, I figured that I could answer a few questions, and spread the ‘good news’ of surfing.
   Most people learn best on long boards, although I have seen lots of surfers start on a short board and master it. In the long run, there are NO RULES on what type of board you have to learn on. A board has to be bouyant enough to float you well enough for you to paddle and take off on a wave. A surfer’s board preference depends on three things: Their size (what will float them how much you weigh is what is important, not how tall you are), Their skill level (beginner to advanced) and the type of waves usually encountered at their local breaks.
   I have been surfing for 42 years, and I get my surfboard buying advice from good local surf shops in the places where I surf. Beginners shouldn’t even worry about buying a board. renting a board (either from the instructor or shop) while taking lessons is the best way to go. And don’t be fooled into a buying a surfboard on line. You don’t know enough yet, and will only end up disappointed. Once you have mastered the basics, try a couple different types/styles of boards, and then decide what you want to buy. Surfboards are a big investment.

2. Anonymous Says:
   October 24th, 2009 at 4:50 pm

   When you learn to surf there are many different types of surfboards to choose from, and for a beginner the features and characteristics can seem confusing. The best surfboard for a beginner is a funboard or an egg, which is a fairly wide and thick board from 7′ to 8′ in length, typically having a blunt or rounded nose. A good rule of thumb is to get something 14″ longer than you are tall, and at least 20″ wide.
   When you are more experienced a good surfboard size rule of thumb is the surf board should be 6 inches taller then you. Of course your wieght will influence the size of your surfboar and varying the length by 1-2 inches and increasing the thickness will compensate for a full bodied surfer.
   A longboard, a round-nosed board of 9′ or more length, is too difficult to paddle and control for most beginners, while a shortboard is typically too thin, narrow, and short, making it unstable and difficult to paddle. Generally if you are around 120lb 6′10″, 140lb 7′2″, 170lb 7′6″ and above.
   Start off by borrowing your friends board or rent a board. If you must buy one, look for a used board when first starting out. Most surf shops should have some sort of used board selection. Look in newspapers for boards for sale. Be sure to look the board over before you buy:
   Make sure there aren’t any dings, or holes in the board. If there are, you will need to repair them.
   Test the deck for soft, bubbly, delamination, which weakens the board and allows it to take on water.

3. Mushin00 Says:
   October 24th, 2009 at 6:27 pm

   If its exactly the same size, I would not recommend it, and I learned on a shortboard. I’m 5′8 and learned on a 6′1 so you want at least 4 or 5 inches. Oh the first 5 months I barely rode anywaves so if you want to ride waves sooner get a longboard, I did, so i could learn turns and traded it in. All and all if thats the only board you have, do it, people in 3rd world countries surf on any board thats available. if the board is really thick or it has a fish tail then youve got no problems, just make sure theres no cracks in it.

4. Anonymous Says:
   October 25th, 2009 at 1:05 am

   I learned to surf with a shortboard which was 6′4″, while I stand at 5′9″. As others have said, it’s not impossible, unless of course your board is not buoyant enough to support your weight.
   If you have plenty of money, I’d suggest buying or renting out a longboard or foamie. In addition, find yourself an instructor or surf class, in order to get down the basics. When you have those down, fiddle around with your shortboard.
   If you have limited money, I’d suggest enrolling in the surf class or finding an instructor. They usually let you borrow a board during class sessions, or you could be taught how to use your shortboard. OR you could buy yourself a longboard, read plenty of surf tutorials (especially the ocean safety and etiquette), and teach yourself.
   If you’re broke as a joke, read the plethora of surf tutorials you can find online like http://www.surfing-waves.com and http://www.expertvillage.com. Watch videos and scrutinize their technique. It’s essential you learn about ocean safety and etiquette, as you don’t want to put yourself or anyone on the beach in danger nor do you want to get in a fight with one of the local surfers. When you’re ready, head out to the beach, keeping everything you learned in mind.
   Learning on a shortboard is tough, yet quite rewarding if and when you tackle the challenge. It will take you considerably longer to stand up on a shortboard than a longboard. The key is practice. I learned to use my shortboard in a year, going about once a week. If I could do it, so can you. Have fun and be safe!

5. surfer Says:
   October 25th, 2009 at 6:55 am

   same height as you?
   that’s a reaaaaalllllllyy bad idea
   shortboards, yess you can learn on them but its almost near impossible
   you will get sooo frustrated its not even funnny, maybe you should go with a bord bigger than you but smaller than a longboard
   like an egg, or funboarddd
   soo you can enjoy it, then eventualllly move down to ur shortboard
   good luckk and have funn out there

6. celebrat Says:
   October 25th, 2009 at 11:23 am

   I learned on a whole bunch of different surfboards to surf. I did not have to own any of them.
   As far as windsurfing, I first started on on a long and large white board in the dinosaur days. We could only take the board out when my friend’s sister was not home. It was her board and rig. They lived right on the beach in Lanikai. Being sneaky was not difficult. The set up was expensive. Later, a friend and I invested in a “jumping” board with rig. It was no fun. You needed a lot of wind to get it going. Half the time we flew over the board while trying to surf out into the waves. I gave up.
   Move forward into Germany, it is fre#king cold here. I got my kids windsurfing. They took a course at a windsurfing school. The owner and I got to talking. We argued more at first. He talked me into taking a advance course. He had really good boards for beginners and better advanced boards which were also easy for beginners to ride. Windsurfing was very easy and then fun.
   I borrowed a thin board once to go out with some friends off diamond head. I was working with a youth church group, and I had not surf for a few years. I did not want to be a party pooper. It was the only board that the pastor had, and it was very thin and narrow surfboard. It was hard to ride. I got wet, but it was not a lot of fun. I think it was the pastor’s first surfboard that he ever owned. He was older than I. I joined the teenies, and they had fun.
   The point is and the guy above said it. If you don’t have fun on the thing, you may be discouraged.

7. Andrew K Says:
   October 25th, 2009 at 11:37 am

   Yes, but it would be very very hard.
   Try using a longboard or a softboard they are good to learn on.
   You could hire a longboard til you are ready to move onto a shortboard but you mite be aswell to buy one, or a softboard (they are quite cheap)
   Hope i helped =)

8. Fierce Lobster Says:
   October 25th, 2009 at 6:21 pm

   The pros use boards about the same height as them… that’s actually SUPER short. Maybe if it was a little longer you might have a fighting chance, but it’ll be really hard and take away from the fun of surfing.

9. Capt. Frank Says:
   October 25th, 2009 at 8:31 pm

   Yes, I did. A longboard may be easier, but what kind of waves are you riding? I never rode a longboard or a funboard until I had been surfing 15 years. Then those boards were ridiculously easy to ride.

10. The Surfboard Man Says:
    October 25th, 2009 at 10:29 pm

    I would take a few lessons and try to learn on a longboard first.
    The Surfboard Manhttp://www.thesurfboardman.com/

11. Abbie Says:
    October 26th, 2009 at 3:17 am

    Always try dude. It is possible but it is also difficult. Good luck.

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