The difference between long board surfing and short board surfing.
I think I've said this before... on a short board you basically stand on your board in one place and use your body weight to maneuver on the wave face. On a long board you move your body weight on the board (stepping forward and back) to maneuver on the wave face. A simplified description, there's more to it than that of course.Both have their own set of difficulties. Learning one or the other is pretty much a personal thing. Being able to do both is a noble endeavor... at least from my perspective.
If you're an advanced short boarder and that's all you've ever done moving to a long board may seem easy but fine tuning your moves and learning the ins and outs of trimming, moving up and back on the board, nose riding in smooth fashion will take practice.
Knowing long boarding and moving to short boards is pretty tricky. Best done in stages. Moving down to a mid length and stepping down from there is how it's done.
I learned to surf on a long board... that's all there was back then. As my surfing abilities advanced that big board seemed limiting so I went shorter. Note, there were no short boards so they had to be made and tested in the process. From 9'0 to 8'2. Then 7'6 and 7'2. Shorter still, 6'8 then 6'3... maybe 6'4, not sure on that one. Then stayed around 6'0 to 6'3 for a decade.
When I went out on a long board again after riding short boards for a dozen years it was like I'd never even stopped riding long boards. Jumped right up and hung 5....?? yeah that's an exaggeration.... at least not on the first wave anyway.
Going from short to long is easier than long to short. Long to short you've got to work your way down. Short to long you can jump right in. But dealing with all that foam?? Can take awhile to figure out.If you do both moving from one long boarding one day or a few days then getting on a short board can take a little adjustment. Just seeing the radically different board in front of you while paddling and the over all feel may take a few waves to settle in. And the reverse. Short board to long board… suddenly there is this long rail line and foam in front of you. But the ease of paddling can put a smile on your face.
Now days with the alternative smaller boards transitioning from a shorter board to a longer boards can be pretty effortless, and a lot of fun. When the waves call for a shorter board you do that. When the waves call for a long board you take out the tanker. Never missing a beat.
If you can do both then the question is what about a mid length? They are for days that call for the board that paddles well and has plenty of maneuverability.
Don’t forget the mid length.
D.R.
