Hey guys,
Not sure if anyone will reply, but i was just wondering what some of you guys would recommend as a good relatively easy shortboard to drop down to from a longboard. Ridden longboards my whole life and just craving something for those better days.
Ive looked at the fire sweet potato (5'6-6'0?) and tak scorpions??
Any advice??
Cheers (btw im around 80kg and 5'10)
Bloody hell a surf Q in a surf forum
welcome to the longroom 
depends where your going to surf... Points... beachies
but have a look at the 7S range
also go and have a chat with your local shaper he's the man that will help steer you into the right board.
Select to expand quoteweiry said..
Bloody hell a surf Q in a surf forum
welcome to the longroom
depends where your going to surf... Points... beachies
but have a look at the 7S range also go and have a chat with your local shaper he's the man that will help steer you into the right board.
From my end, I would say a sweet potato is right on! The kind of board that has plenty of volume so great for paddling nice and stable and throws around of the back foot really well! They go well in most surf too! I ride a 5'4 ECS Bulldog that is a similar shape (sorry to pimp here breezers ) and it is a cheaper alternative to the firewire, if you can afford the fire wire and you like them, by all means, go for it! Great boards and incredibly tough!
And as weiry says, have a chat to a local shaper or even email a shaper on something they will recommend!
Hope you find a board for a good change from a longboard!
Tom.
Look at a McCoy Nugget..IMO the're a good alternative for a longboarder...or as mentioned your local shaper.
Grant Miller Subx for an easy transition using a template more familiar to your eyes as a longboarder.
www.grantmillersurfboards.com.au/boards/SUBX
Also makes a waterskate with a hybrid/eggy planshape.
www.grantmillersurfboards.com.au/boards/waterskate
Or if you're after more of a shortboard planshape...
Michael Cundith islander.
www.mcsurf.com.au/products/islander-6-footers/1726/1
You'd talk to these shapers and let them know your stats and what you want to achieve in what kind of waves and take it from there.
I would go the potatonatnor over a SP - will give you a lot more wave range. I have only had mine a few weeks but really enjoying it. Had a SP for almost 4 yrs and love it. But you would ride that in similar conditions to yr Mal. It really depends, as others have said, on what conditions you are hoping to ride it.
I do not believe that you really need to talk to your local shaper - unless you surf with them regularly - I can not see how they can produce anything better for you than the loads of rack boards that you can get these days. So many options. In my experience all boards work and some perform better than others. Finding the right balance between volume, shape and the waves you will be surfing mostly should dictate things. If you want something that can handle the 6ft days then you need something suitable. Bare in mind though how many days you actually get those days. My big board a 6'6" got used just a few times in the last 12mths. My other boards were used multiple times on a weekly basis. If you want something from 2 to 5ft then there are loads of great boards out there. Make sure you get yourself some volume on yr first shortie . You can always get something a bit more high performance / lower volume in 6 mths time.
Loads of great second hand boards out there, I just picked up a CI Pod second hand for a mate for $120! Sold my one last month in pretty good nick for $200. Once you narrow down what you want hunt gumtree n eBay for a bargain.
Just make sure you look for any signs of delam or soft foam.
Select to expand quoteweiry said..
Bloody hell a surf Q in a surf forum
welcome to the longroom
depends where your going to surf... Points... beachies
but have a look at the 7S range also go and have a chat with your local shaper he's the man that will help steer you into the right board.
That's funny and some great advice.
I don't know why you would think nobody would reply welcome.
Not sure why I recommended lovely new boards.
Buying used is a good idea if you know what you're looking for.
Hopefully you can sort through our suggestions and have a clear idea of which way you want to go.
Was just pondering the idea of a 7S with the greenroom guru's during breaky on Sunday morning. Maybe a little while down the track.
Hmm..had a similar dilemma this year. Surfing mainly open beaches, when it got bigger or simply just more short board oriented break, a full mal was a mission to get out the back and surf (yes..I a gumby paddler), so I had a talk to a local shaper in town.
Discussed my ability openly (or lack there of) and where I surfed. Given greg surfed the same break it was very helpful.
The solution... and I do love it was 6.8 x 22 x 2 11/16 Tail is thinned out as it the nose to lose some volume. Me 6'3" x 90kg
Board is great up to 4ft..after that it is big in size, but my ability does become limited there. Plan will be to update in 6mths time, trade it..or perhaps keep it too
I had the same problem, rode 9footers my whole life and was sick of getting nailed by the airlines when I traveled. Bought a mctavish sumo 6,10x 22x2&3/4, great board, paddles great, doesn't feel scitchish when I go to turn & really easy to surf. Had to go a bit longer as i'am a bit of a fatty 6'4 100kgs but works well for me. Cheers
Select to expand quoteTheclown said..
I had the same problem, rode 9footers my whole life and was sick of getting nailed by the airlines when I traveled. Bought a mctavish sumo 6,10x 22x2&3/4, great board, paddles great, doesn't feel scitchish when I go to turn & really easy to surf. Had to go a bit longer as i'am a bit of a fatty 6'4 100kgs but works well for me. Cheers
so what size are you riding atm?
My 2c
Go short, wide and keep plenty of volume up front. Wide in the tail too.
Also depends where you surf , shorties, points? If it steep get something with some rocker, if it's fat get a flatter rocker.
Don't buy new, chances are you'll go through 3-5 before you find one you like.
And the BRAND does not matter....
Have a chat to Murray Bourton as his Fat Bullet could be what you are looking for. When I was looking at a new board I had a great chat with him, really helpful. I think his boards are really reasonably priced too. PM me if you want his number.
Here's another option;
Tracker;
Lowish rocker, and moderate volume. Easy to paddle, and catch waves with. Can duck dive.
Another option again, would be to go for a Custom Tracker, with harder, more modern rails.
Even have the option to add side biters.
I honestly think that you'll have the most fun on a Tracker, at say 7'2 to 8'0. 7'10/8'0 will feel quite friendly. Not a massive step down, compared to going from 9'1 to 6'10... A 7'10 tracker style board will also give you that nice glide you are used to, from a Longboard... (think fun midlength, not shortboard!)
Tracker v Tak Scorp - my thoughts...
Tracker templates will handle the juice far better than say a Tak Scorp. In a way, I think the Tak Scorp suits a short boarder, who wants a fun board, for weak waves. Steeper drops, juicier days... I would want The Tracker, not The Scorp... Just my thoughts.
Also look at the Bobsled (McTavish). But be warned, the Quads are pretty loose, and love to be ridden hard... If you prefer more "trim & glide", then Singles, and Singles with Side Biters (1+2), is going to feel friendlier... Feel more familiar/similar to your Longboards with 1+2.
Here's my tracker insipred gun / semi-gun / longboard gun... 9'0...
An over sized tracker. Blue thing in the middle... Plus the shaper! 
It looks like their speed down the line is where their strength is.
Having said that, he did manage some good turns.
Nice work Simondo. Quality info and images.
I also like the look of the 7'2 ish Mct Carver. (Have the 8'1 and love it, and have a very flat-rockered 7'2 from Classic Mal which is a 2 plus 1, not unlike the Tracker in shape.) But then I am at the stage where mid-lengths are my favourite short boards.
www.creativearmy.com.au/alternative.html
message josh tell him your story he will set you straight no bs
Select to expand quoteE T said..
Your not pimping there are you Jas?????
ET.
nah just helping
I've just rang up, and ordered my Tracker!
I've been looking at this for ages!
They put a few other Trackers on sale, and I asked if I could have the sale price. They even threw in a T-Shirt!
8'6 x 22 x 3 - my fun sized Tracker!
http://www.mctavish.com.au/surfboards-buy/traditional-logs/tracker/tracker-19810
McHenry,
The Clear Volane Tracker above, is 8'6 x 22 x 3.
The Blue Gun/Semi-Gun/Tracker is 9'0 x 22"1/2 x 3
My 9'6 Occasional Pin is 9'6 x 22"1/4 x 3"1/8
And I have a 9'1 EvoII, and the 9'4 Involvement...
I could sell the rest of my boards!
Those 5, that's all I need!
Select to expand quoteobct said..
Having said that, he did manage some good turns.
Thats because he rips and could probably surf anything. I really would not think this would be the best solution for a first time short boarder! I think he wants something to have some real fun on
Select to expand quotekaneando said..
Not sure if anyone will reply
A few have so far - what you reckon ?
^^^ Nice tint....
We need more pimping from you Jase. Those creative army boards are pretty...
