DosXX, what do you think is holding you back on the smaller board? Sometimes it's just a matter of positioning yourself a little better on the board, or getting into a better position to catch the wave. Also might need to take an extra stroke or two to get into the wave that wasn't required before, I use to give up on a wave too early, gotta scratch it out till you get it.
like shredsled said, just get out more...that's the fastest way to make whatever you're ridding to cut it better. personally, i'd say if you don't own a decent wetty yet that can get you through the whole winter and your goal really is to get better, invest in a closeout winter wetty now and save your dough between now and january up THEN splurge on something your really ready to step down to. i think you find that it's worth the patience and the investment...besides, right now and until at least august (when hurricanes might be sending some moderately okay conditions this way) you won't need a real performance stick anyway. summation...get good at what you have and master that while investing in a adequate (and cheap - comparatively) wetty now. you can make due now with the board you have. then once you start hitting 2-3 sessions a week and you see some progression with the knee-high mush, you'll be all set to carry on through the winter with your wetty (maybe with a better board to handle the more consistent waist to head-high sets) then step up your game with a step-down board. good luck...
Good call. I appreciate the input. I really should be saving the dough. I am just really anxious to get something sweet. Bad habit.... This raise I just got doesn't help either. As far as the wetty goes. I just bought a 4/3 so that should get me through pretty far in the season. I'm sure I'll end up getting something thicker as I start to shiver in November.
The dude has a 98% positive score on ebay, and he said he "took it out last week" Somehow, I have trouble believing you when you say it's "waterlogged" when you don't even know what "waterlogged" feels like... I don't even think you "checked it out"...
Lol you don't have to believe me. I'm not bidding on it anymore so its all you. But the guy lives right down the road from and yes I did check it out.
I think it's a combination of all those things. More me than the board. Plus, I keep going back to the larger board due to the small surf (0-2 ft) we often have here. I was told just stick with the smaller board and keep at it, but when surf is so small, or a little larger but rolling and not steep, only long boards (and maybe the soft tops) seem to catch anything. The 8-4 board is almost like a crutch I can't give up. I have little trouble catching waves with that board. Today around noontime, it was less than 2 ft, choppy and disorganized, and I was getting rides (nothing to write home about). I almost didn't go out, but it had been 6 days while recovering from a injured wrist. Just had to get wet before the storm front came in.
Yup. Usually go out at Dam Neck (I work on base), Croatan, or northern part of Sandbridge. During the winter, I'll include 1st Street.
Right on. My girl and I are going to Busch Gardens for the 4th. I might just be able to make my way around there. I've only surfed at OCNJ and OCMD. Need to start exploring.
I hear ya, ride whatever is the most fun, and if you are catching waves your having fun. Don't give up on the shorter board but wait for better conditions to take it out while you get your wave count up. Don't look at it like a crutch, look at it like you have different tools for the job. I always bring two boards to the beach, one long one short and I usually give them both some love, whatever is the most fun is what I ride for the rest of the day, hope that helps.
I've been taking two boards with me lately as well. I might use one in the morning before work and the other later in the day after work.
