Longboard or Quad?

getting a board based on what you saw someone else do on one might be a bad idea. Some of those local beach boys in georgia and south carolina grew up surfing slop on small boards...and they rip as good as anyone on earth. They have developed the paddle power, knowledge and technique to make those stubs go in just about anything.

imo, ease of paddling should probably be your main objective because, if you can't catch the wave, you cant ride the wave. Those little boards are hard to get going in slop for the beginner or weekend warrior. You may be buying into a big bag of frustration.

 

Especially being on the beginner side, IMHO, I would stay clear of the 5'2-5'6 quad of any sort, Regardless of the dimensions...@ the beginner level you are most certainly not ready for that short of a board. At your height and weight a wide/thick 8' board would do you good. It will allow you to master the fundamentals before you go so short. You will be surfing a longboard way more than you would a short board anyway.....Go with something longer and more stable, learn the right way, then keep your longboard and get something shorter with a good amount of volume. Again, just my honest opinion solely based on the fact you said you were on the beginner side.....You will never outgrow a good longboard, but riding something so short too early will most definitely hinder your learning and style.....

 

it sounds, to me, that you're still getting a feel for things, and a 5'2 - 5'4 is a pretty small board. i agree with an earlier statement that if you go that small, you might get yourself more frustrated. but what kind of surfing are you trying to get into? cross-stepping or boosting airs? personally, i love longboards. i have an 8'0 shorty by the greek and its killer. its a 2+1 setup and it holds down the line and turns with ease. if you wanted to go shorter, maybe stick to a stubby board close to the length of your board now. maybe a 5'10 - 6'2 sweet potato and those are quads with plenty of floatation. i think the best option is to go to a local shop and talk to the guys there and see what they recommend, because i'll be honest, i've never surfed georgia. best of luck with your choice!

 

What everybody has said is true, get the mini LB, I have one and it rules

 

if your ultimate goal is to be a performance shortbroad surfer then don't get the lb. a round nose fish could be a great board for you.

 

Yeah it really depends on how you want to surf. Also 5'2" is really short. I'm 5'7" and ride a 5'11" wide thick quad fish in anything from knee high to overhead. I would look into 5'7"-6'0" on short boards but as mentioned already the mini LB will catch twice as many waves.

 

I'm a few years in and my 8' is really a fun ride, it is shaped to float and catch waves too.
I have a 9' and 6'10" that I'm trying to switch to (LB to shorty) but right now the LB is still more fun. My friend can catch slop on anything, like a 5'8" sweet potato - so it's decieving watching him thinking I can do that, not really.
My boards reflect my surfng environment so like other's suggested talk to some surf-shops (In GA?) salty dogs and see what they recommend, and what everyone else has said is great info.

 

I agree, just get an appropriately sized quad. If you're already a shortboarder, you'll be fine. I have both and the poor longboard collects dust most of the time. I love surfing longboard, I just love surfing my quad fish more. So fast and catches just about all the crap I could catch on a log.

Here's my advice, GET BOTH! Buy the quad first though, they're so sick.

 

About that stuff about paddling, screw it. You'll get in shape and get used to paddling quickly surfing 3-5 times a week. I transitioned from a 7-8 down to a 6-4 (I'm 6-6 245), and sure it was a little frustrating at first, but within a few weeks, it was not an issue catching waves at all. Just gotta figure out postition and timing on the wave.

 

This is not an ad for ...Lost, but they are the boards I am familiar with.There are other shapers that make similar shapes, but if you go the shortboard route, I would look at the bottom feeder, lazy-boy, or couch-potato. As for the quad set-up, I am a big fan. Sounds like you are leaning toward the shortboard, just don't go to small, maybe 5'10' or somewhere around there. If you want to take a little road trip, Tom Neilson down in Florida, has some great shapes, should check out the blunt or flying floatey fish.

 

as i mentioned earlier, i'm a longboarder, but the uncle has a really great idea. my only short board is a 6'6 neilson fish. its super floaty and thick, not to mention its a quad. i just got it that big because i'm a pretty big guy. lot of good advice here, surprised someone hasn't turned negative yet.. haha

 

Get the quad!...I had a 5' 10" T&C Quad...awsome board...great in small surf...for your size go 5' 8"...no bigger.

 

I have a thick 6'5" Neilson fish, and love it. Has been my go to board for about 6 yrs now. Just picked up a 6'0" epoxy ....Lost Monkfish, quad this spring. A lot of fun in anything from waist high to overhead. Grew up on a twin fin so the quad set up just feels like it works better for me.

 

(see you edited your original post after I posted) Since you're only 5'6"/140 lb, a 5'2" stub doesn't seem that bad. It would be best if you knew the volume that suits you best - you don't want to go too big on a stub or you might risk swing weight and corkiness issues.

anyway, I wouldn't be caught dead without some sort of LB in the southeast...get both.

 

What waterbaby just said. Just don't try to split the difference and get a stub for a taller/heavier person. Of course, that's what I did and I can catch anything that moves on my 5'6" mini-sim, but forget about cutbacks and floaters. I'm only 115 lbs though, so 5'6" might work for you. But overall, I'd say go short. I have a 9' lb, but who wants to cart that thing around?

 

Love my quad, but a longboard is versatile. There will be days where the longboard will work and the quad wont. I ride a quad 90% of the time. I prefer a shorter board hands down, but you want to get rides right?

Craigslist Craigslist Craigslist...I just can't say it enough. Scored a dope longboard (Surfboards Hawaii for $275 intact), still had money to start looking for the quad right after it. Get a heavy longboard if you can. I don't care how much you go out, I rode that longboard religiously for a while. Now I ride the quad religiously. The longboard will improve your stamina and so too will your girlfriend/boyfriend (I don't know how you roll). My 2 cents but hey, rocking a shortboard looks cool

Longboard then quad