Transitioning to shorter board from 6'9" hybrid...Advise please? Thanks

The 5'10 board seems way better for you in terms of catching waves and gaining confidence.The 6'0 at 19 may make the learning curve a little tougher and you may get more frustrated at the speed of the board and the more difficult transition. The Sashimi should be ridden 2 to 4 inches smaller than your typical shortboard and its good for small wave riding.

It seems like you have a lot of opportunities to surf (3-5x's a week) and to me the ability to get out there consistently and pay your dues will lead to ur success. I like CI Boards, however, nothing compares to a FIREWIRE in my mind. I have about 12 boards in my quiver and it blows them away.

 

I've never found old school twinnies (deep swallow tails, keel fins) to be "skatey" and i've had at least three or four of them over the years as short as 5'5", but the best was a 5'10" x 21" x 2 1/2"

With regard to pumping, IMO there is nothing more fun in surfing that pumping frontside down a nice lined up chest high wall on a good twin fin.

Oh, and dont mutilate a good retro twinnie with some sort of center fin box fiasco. Its not needed, and you certainly dont need more fin area on a 5'10" than two keel fins.

 

I haven't been on a twin in a long time, but I seem to remember that pumping them is pretty much the same as on a tri.

A tri-fin is basically a twin fin with an added stabilizing center fin. The center fin keeps the tail of the board from sliding out on hard turns and allows you to dig into a bottom turn and drive you straight up the wave to bash the lip

I've been using only a small "trailer" center fin on my tri for years. The trailer fin works perfectly in waves even over head high, without the drag of a full size center. I don't like riding without a center fin because it's too loose. Slide outs don't happen every turn and the spontaneity can make you fall...I don't surf enough to be able to afford falling for that reason. I'm not saying you should retrofit a twin with a center fin, but twins are kinda sketchy/not for beginners.

 

I was in just about the same situation you were in when I started surfing. I did a summer on foam rentals, then got my first board, which was a 7 foot fun board. Then, after a year and more surfing, though less than you, i transitioned to a 6'2"x20.5x2.5. The guy at my local shop recomended it, it was a Kechele UFO, great board for mushier waves, low entry rocker, came with the 5 fin set up. I've surfed that for about two years and it's worked incredibly well. Just last week I got another board, a 5'10" WRV, but I'm definitely keeping my Kechele. Matt Kechele makes boards mainly for the east coast, with a lot of volume. There were definitely challenges at first, but that's just like anything when you stray away from what you're used to. I'd say go for the 6'2 to 6'4 range with a good amount of volume

 

You just have to be prepared to sux for a little bit. I was a solid longboarder and had to say that I am gonna b the scrub for a few weeks before I adjust to the speed, less volume, paddle differences and other changes. Remember if it was that easy, everybody would do it. I personally love my quad for pumping and solid top turns.
I feel like I can catch a lot of waves and its solid in performance.

But what exactly are you looking to do on a short board?

 

Twin Fins

Great thread. Read only some of it. Watched Mark Richards blow away the competition & Buttons play around in double overhead North Shore both on twin fins. So when I hear a friend say its toooo big for that, I chuckle. Just back off a little on the bottom turn on big days & its game on – speed, release, and for cut backs – start high & as Mark Richards said “Find the soft spot to rebound” in big white water. This is the east coast. I learned a long time ago how much fun one can have on a twin fin. With heavy waters around the world I’ll fall back on my trusty tri. Around hear, twins fins like long boards can make a mediocre day soooooo fun! SHHHH Don’t tell anybody. The problem with finding that magic board has been and always will be one’s ability, style, experience, weight, quality/frequency of surf, and open-mindness to what can be really fun. I’m sure I’ve missed something but I simple wanted to put my 2 sense in. Until the next gooooood swell…..Lates!!!!

 

A simple square knot or something like this http://www.animatedknots.com/doublefishermans/index.php?Categ=scouting&LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

Just make sure the loop isn't so long that the extension cord will dig into your rail when you're being drug along by the wave after you've fallen. The rail saver portion of the leash should be what contacts the rail.

 

Its good to get advice on what other people suggest but you have to get what works for you and your conditons. Its not the board holding you back, its you. What I mean is if your not pumping down the line, doing floaters and tight turns, which you should be able to do your not ready yet. I have a 6'10 Orion fun shape I got for my girl that take out when its small that have a blast on.

 

Yes. If not that little piece of rope can slice a nice gash in your rail if you get drug by the whitewater and your leash is wrapped around your tail. Won't happen always but in bigger surf it will happen eventually.

I don't know if this pic will format right on all screens but here ya go

Code:

()=======================[||||||||]---0
leash^_____________railsaver^_____plug^

  you want the rail around here^