"Standard shortboard height"

Discussion in 'Surfboards and Surfboard Design' started by Hash Slinging Slasher, Jul 15, 2013.

  1. Jul 15, 2013 #1
    Hash Slinging Slasher

    Hash Slinging Slasher Active Member

    37
    May 8, 2013
    Whenever I look at boards online I seem to always come across something in the description along the lines of "Surf this board 4-6 inches than your standard shortboard." This isn't really a problem right now because I have a perfectly fine board, but I figured I would ask the question while it's still in my head. I'm about 5'7" and 130-140 pounds. What would be my standard shortboard height?
     
    Hash Slinging Slasher, Jul 15, 2013
    Hash Slinging Slasher, Jul 15, 2013
  3. Jul 15, 2013 #2
    stun36

    stun36 Well-Known Member

    76
    Apr 20, 2011
    Check the the firewire or Al Merrick website. They have a program which helps you pick a board according to your height, weight and level of fitness.
     
    stun36, Jul 15, 2013
    stun36, Jul 15, 2013

  5. Jul 15, 2013 #3
    ND081

    ND081 Well-Known Member

    900
    Aug 7, 2010
    what most people would consider a "standard" shortboard is usually about the same height as the rider, give or take a few inches unless there is a large weight difference. for you i'd say about 5'8"
     
    ND081, Jul 15, 2013
    ND081, Jul 15, 2013
  6. Jul 15, 2013 #4
    Hash Slinging Slasher

    Hash Slinging Slasher Active Member

    37
    May 8, 2013
    Cool. And thanks to both of you. I figured it would be important to know that sooner or later.
     
    Hash Slinging Slasher, Jul 15, 2013
    Hash Slinging Slasher, Jul 15, 2013
  7. Jul 15, 2013 #5
    Thewaternerd

    Thewaternerd Well-Known Member

    141
    Feb 16, 2013
    5 9 DFR according to CI
     
    Thewaternerd, Jul 15, 2013
    Thewaternerd, Jul 15, 2013
  8. Jul 15, 2013 #6
    frontsidecrotchgrab

    frontsidecrotchgrab Well-Known Member

    91
    Oct 29, 2012
    No "standard shortboard" is generally the same height as the rider. Grovelers/performance hybrids have dropped the height and added volume in other ways. But a true thin and narrow outlined board is usually at least a couple inches longer than your height.
     
    frontsidecrotchgrab, Jul 15, 2013
    frontsidecrotchgrab, Jul 15, 2013
  9. Jul 16, 2013 #7
    LBCrew

    LBCrew Well-Known Member

    6,024
    Aug 12, 2009
    Yup... Today, "your standard shortboard" is exactly that... YOUR standard shortboard. IOW, whatever performance shortboard you ride in decent surf. It used to be that the most popular length was 6'2... and the average American male is 5'10. Now that boards are becoming generally shorter, wider, and less rockered (and for good reason), that standard length has dropped a couple inches... like 5'10 to 6'1, for most experienced surfers, in chest to head high surf. Once it starts getting overhead, most guys like the more traditional "shortboard" that's got more rocker, less width, and touch more length.
     
    LBCrew, Jul 16, 2013
    LBCrew, Jul 16, 2013