Would these boards be Ok for my children? Thnx

[11kerrie11]

Hi I'm sure you get this a lot and I have read your very helpful information for beginners but I was wondering if someone would be kind enough to look at these boards for me please on the link below.
My children have had lessons and now want their own boards. My son is 16 and 5' 6" and my daughter is 10 and 4' 8", they are both slim build.
They learnt to surf on 8' foam boards which they got on very well with although my daughter could not carry hers and was most embarrassed by having her mum help her.
I was wanting to know if these 7' boards would be Ok?
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thank you
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewit ... 0900916067

[dtc]

Keep in mind that softboards are designed for one thing, which is to teach beginners in a relatively safer manner (because the board is soft), particularly in large groups where they might run into each other (surf lessons) or crowded beaches where beginners may not be able to control their boards or - like your daughter - are not yet strong enough to control their board.

However, in general softboards are limited in terms of what they can do - maybe think of them like a bike with training wheels. Great for beginners and fine if you want to go in a straight line, but as soon as you want to do anything like fast cornering (turning) or whatever, you soon hit the limit. That said, there are some higher quality softboards but they are much more expensive.

Osprey are at the cheaper end and probably wouldnt last more than a couple of years with regular surfing; but that is ok because if anyone is regularly surfing for a couple of years they will want to move away from a softboard anyway.

Thus for total beginners and young kids, then softboards are good. I think for your daughter its a really good choice and should keep her going until she is about 12 or 13.

For your son, if he is a total beginner and only surfs now and then (on holidays perhaps) then its a good board for him to have fun on. By surfing that infrequently the limits of the board wont be an issue, because he wont develop the skills to test those limits. You might even want to get him an 8ft version, as he will probably grow a bit over the next few years. If you arent sure if he will continue surfing and dont want to spend a lot just in case he gives up, then its ok as well as a tester board.

However, if he is surfing regularly or you are confident he will continue to surf (say more than 15-20 times per year) then I suggest you skip the softboard and get him a 'proper' board ie a hard board. Lots of people learn on a normal board - I did - so being a beginner and learning does not require a softboard. If you get him a softboard and he surfs regularly, then I guarantee he will want a normal board in 6-12 months or so.

So, in summary in my view:
- good choice for your daughter (not saying its the 'best' softboard she could get, but it looks fine and its a good price) and will keep her going for a couple of years unless she turns into a total grommet

- for your son - good choice if he is an infrequent surfer or if he has just started surfing but you arent sure if he will continue (in which case, you are getting a 'cheap' board as a try out board). If he is a regular surfer or will be continuing his surfing, you will be springing for another board in 6-12 months for sure, so you may want to consider skipping the softboard.

[surfinpc270]

im 5'3 105pounds and i surf a 8'0 soft top and was looking to move to a diffrent board, but where i live when the waves get biggish* (5-6 ft) they are very steep does that change anything? -

[11kerrie11]

Thank you so much dtc, that is so very helpful.
I'll get one for my daughter.

[dtc]

No problem - I hope your daughter enjoys it, about to buy something similar for my kids (8 and 10). They will probably just do the whitewater thing and then go back to bodyboarding, but hopefully they will enjoy a few stand up rides.

I should have added - woe betide any parent buying a teenage boy some sports equipment without first getting teenage boy approval of exactly what is being bought! I can still remember my poor parents trying their best to buy me things that just werent quite what I wanted... so I probably would suggest not buying your son a board unless he has approved it anyway.

That said, you probably should, if needed, influence his decision making away from the latest Kelly Slater model into something more appropriate for a beginner - say a 7ft6 - 8ft mini mal/fun board. I'm sure a "gift certificate" for a board up to whatever you are prepared to pay, then tell him to do the research and track it down, will be appreciated.

Second hand boards are by far the best first board, unless you have money spare for a new one. Most surf shops will sell second hand ones, just figure out what you want and then contact a few.

[11kerrie11]

Haha Yes I will def get my son involved with the board buying.
The info you have given me is invaluable, thank you so much for your help