Surfing Waves

I keep going back and forth on whether I should get an epoxy or traditional glassed board. The two boards I’m looking at most right now are the Torq 9’6” Don https://www.oceanpulsesurf.com/2624-torq-tec-epoxy-9-6-the-don-longboard-surfboard.php, and this Black Fern 9’6” Noserider http://www.blackfernsurf.com/surfboards/long/noseride

About me: 40 Year’s old, 6’4” tall, 200 lbs, I’d say my surf ability is around a 2 on a 1-10 point scale, I can paddle into green waves and pop up and get into a turn. I live 4.5 hours from the coast,but I’m planning on taking a month long trip in the fall/winter to hopefully get decent at surfing.

The reason the epoxy board makes sense is due to cost and durability.

The black fern is just a bit more than the epoxy, but it is gorgeous and supporting a “real” shaper ( Im able to get the pretty blue board from that link) and should be a model that I need to get better for. I’d love to learn how to noserider and trim. My biggest worry is how much I’ll cry if I ding the black fern...

I’m wanting a board that will let me surf if I drive 5 hours plus and the waves are just big enough to surf, and will allow me to have a ton of fun when the waves are waist high.

Seems to me you want the black fern but think the sensible choice is the Torq.

In answer to which I say ‘the small additional cost will be forgotten every time you look at your beautiful board’

So, without knowing anything about the boards nor being a noserider, I say the fern is the one.

Dings etc might happen, but you can minimise with some care (good board bag, using it etc).

dtc wrote:Seems to me you want the black fern but think the sensible choice is the Torq.

In answer to which I say ‘the small additional cost will be forgotten every time you look at your beautiful board’

So, without knowing anything about the boards nor being a noserider, I say the fern is the one.

Dings etc might happen, but you can minimise with some care (good board bag, using it etc).

I just got off the phone with the shop and put down money to hold the Black Fern. Now I need to get a board bag so I can protect it immediately when I go to Portland and pick her up!

I have the Torq 9.0 but not the rounded nose so it doesn't nose ride very well. Even after surfing on and off for a couple of years now. I'm not able to nose ride.

My Torq rarely gets damaged unlike my friend's poly board. The board slipped off his hand while putting it in the board bag and dropped about 2 feet to the ground and it made a big crack on the rails. My friend dropped my epoxy torq and not a single dent, just tiny scratches.

unrooted wrote:Can't decide: epoxy or poly
The reason the epoxy board makes sense is due to cost and durability..

First your question is wrong. It should be can't decide between a MOLDED-EPOXY or a PU/Poly board. The Molded-Epoxy boards are like the Torq you referred to and also NSP, Surftech, Bic, Boardworks. Some people call them the derogatory term " Pop Outs".

In my opinion, you should get the Torq until you can do cutbacks and ride back side proficiently. WHY ? When you start to do rail maneuvers, you will make mistakes and take a rail to the shins or roll over and knee / elbow the bottom of the board. Which will leave big pressures ( or dings ). Not to mentions the irritating "shatters" that Poly boards get ( and Molded Epoxys don't, but get paint chips ).

unrooted wrote:I’m wanting a board that will let me surf if I drive 5 hours plus and the waves are just big enough to surf, and will allow me to have a ton of fun when the waves are waist high.

A sponge Wavestorm board from Costco can full fill that requirement just as easy as either of you two boards. Indian not the Arrow right ? But I understand you want a "better" board to be better, but that is not true. Better to save up your money for when it comes time to purchase your 3rd board ( and you're at a level #6-7 to noseride )

waikikikichan wrote:

unrooted wrote:Can't decide: epoxy or poly
The reason the epoxy board makes sense is due to cost and durability..

First your question is wrong. It should be can't decide between a MOLDED-EPOXY or a PU/Poly board. The Molded-Epoxy boards are like the Torq you referred to and also NSP, Surftech, Bic, Boardworks. Some people call them the derogatory term " Pop Outs".

In my opinion, you should get the Torq until you can do cutbacks and ride back side proficiently. WHY ? When you start to do rail maneuvers, you will make mistakes and take a rail to the shins or roll over and knee / elbow the bottom of the board. Which will leave big pressures ( or dings ). Not to mentions the irritating "shatters" that Poly boards get ( and Molded Epoxys don't, but get paint chips ).

unrooted wrote:I’m wanting a board that will let me surf if I drive 5 hours plus and the waves are just big enough to surf, and will allow me to have a ton of fun when the waves are waist high.

A sponge Wavestorm board from Costco can full fill that requirement just as easy as either of you two boards. Indian not the Arrow right ? But I understand you want a "better" board to be better, but that is not true. Better to save up your money for when it comes time to purchase your 3rd board ( and you're at a level #6-7 to noseride )

Thanks for the answer, it's probably what I should have done, but I went ahead and put down a deposit on the Black Fern board. . . I've bought things in the past because of cost and regretted it, and eventually went with what I really wanted later down the line. . .

Who knows if I'll ever be a 6-7 surfer, but I don't believe I'll be able to blame the board if I don't!

I’m in different camp to the others. I prefer PU boards, the way they feel and especially sound in the water. I like the colours you can get. A few dings don’t bother me, and I rarely get them anyway. Longboards generally have pretty heavy glassing.

When you get a board bag, make sure it’s 10mm padding (2/5 inch).

dtc wrote:I’m in different camp to the others. I prefer PU boards, the way they feel and especially sound in the water. I like the colours you can get. A few dings don’t bother me, and I rarely get them anyway. Longboards generally have pretty heavy glassing.

When you get a board bag, make sure it’s 10mm padding (2/5 inch).

Too late, I ordered this bag (https://www.curvesurf.com/collections/surfboard-bag-surfboard-cover-surfboard-coffin-surfboard-travel-bag-case-usa/products/surfboard-bag-longboard-travel-cover-surfboard-single-armourdillo-longboard-usa-by-curve) which has 20mm on the nose and rails and 7mm over the deck. I have several foam sleeping pads I don't use that I can place in the bag to help protect it as well. . .

What fin size would be suggested? I'm looking at either a 9.75 or 10.25 Tru Ames Tyler Warren Pivot. . . https://www.trueames.com/collections/noserider/products/copy-of-tyler-warren-pivot-1

unrooted wrote: I've bought things in the past because of cost and regretted it, and eventually went with what I really wanted later down the line. . .
Who knows if I'll ever be a 6-7 surfer, but I don't believe I'll be able to blame the board if I don't!

I'm not saying that the Blackfern noserider isn't a good board. It's a good board for someone that is a noserider. Someone that can do a classic drop knee pivot turn. As a level 2 surfer ( on your scale of 1 thru 10 ) most things on that board is opposite for you:
1) It's a "pig" shape, wide point back. It more fine tuned for trimming and noseriding, not learning how to cutback on.
2) The entry rocker is flat and the tail is kicked up, good for locking in the tail, but hard to control and not pearl for beginners.
3) It's a single fin. Nothing wrong with singles, but a 2+1 or thruster tend to not bump into things/reef/bottom as they don't stick out as much.

This Noserider is meant for noseriding. Something to work your way up to. Would you "regret" buying the Torq ? Not if you learn more rail technique and cross-stepping and didn't have to worry about dings as much and save a lot of bucks. I think more people regret getting too high advanced, Like purchasing a tricked out freestyle superbike, when they still haven't mastered clutch and counter-steering. Better to get a basic standard bike, learn the ropes on it first.

That said, it is a very nice board. Better that than no board at all.

unrooted wrote:What fin size would be suggested? I'm looking at either a 9.75 or 10.25 Tru Ames Tyler Warren Pivot. . .

Usually you go inch for foot. So if the board is 9'6" you go about 9.5" +/- , so go with the 9.75". Although I think that template is too hard for a beginner to turn.

That bag is a good choice - better than my suggestion. The key with the bag is to use it all the time - the vast majority of out of water dings are taking the board from the house to the car, or vice verse. Not when it’s in/on the car. So surf, board in bag, stays in bag until pulled out for next surf

Go and enjoy.

waikikikichan wrote:

unrooted wrote:Can't decide: epoxy or poly
The reason the epoxy board makes sense is due to cost and durability..

Better to save up your money for when it comes time to purchase your 3rd board ( and you're at a level #6-7 to noseride )

Just curious how do you count "boards"?

the number of boards mostly depends on spending capacity:)
I bought more like 10 boards in my surging "career" but don't cosnsider myself super advance and ready for poly noserider:)

OlegLupusov wrote:
Just curious how do you count "boards"?

the number of boards mostly depends on spending capacity:)
I bought more like 10 boards in my surging "career"

1st board is what you learned on after renting/lessons. Lot of them are 8’0 Wavestorms. But a lot of them were improper to to bring miss informed or too enthusiastic to get a board ( any board ).
2nd board is usually a more informed purchase.
3rd is when you know more of what you can and can’t do and what the board can and can’t do. ( maybe first custom order )

Most of your 10 boards were the same Softops. You had to get new ones to replace damage or broken ones. Not due to surfing level change.

Overall, would agree on reasons for my purchases. But just for the record I bought 6 hard boards (3 are still surfable) and 4 soft tops (1 still use for coaching girls and surfing after a long break).