"High performance" softboards?

[shaunthebon]

Does anyone have direct experience with some of the "high performance" softboards out there? I'm looking for info, reviews, or comparisons that are based on experience rather than "it's just a softboard". What was good? What was a compromise?

I'm thinking mainly of the boards that are dual-sided slick and/or take FCS fins. The Softech Tom Carroll boards are prime examples:
http://www.softechsoftboards.com/60-tc- ... -softboard
http://www.softechsoftboards.com/58-jl- ... -softboard
Their sales pitch make it sound like they ride nearly as well as a hard board if you add good fins. I've only found a couple sort-of reviews that just say they ride surprisingly better than most foamies but the reviews don't give a lot of detail or objective comparison.

I'm thinking about one of these as a travel board where I won't have to worry about tossing it in the back of the car with the luggage, or checked in on a plane. Seems like they'd be pretty hard to damage and relatively easy/cheap to repair if something does happen. However, the prices approach those of similarly sized epoxy pop-outs, so this would only be worthwhile if they actually surf close to as well.

[jaffa1949]

Tom Carroll could make a table high performance!
Since you are in Sydney see if you can try one at a surf school or as a trial board at any of listed outlets!
How experienced are you? How high performance is your surfing on your normal board?

[Big H]

I would key in on that "surprisingly better than foamie" comment....an epoxy board fits your requirements for durability probably better than that soft thing....BTW, don't thumb your nose at epoxy "pop outs" (especially if you are considering a hi tech foamie); Surftech's tuflite lineup includes some great boards for what they are designed for as do other companies (Jimmy Lewis, NSP, Southpoint)....I would take any of them over a soft board. The one thing that I could see is for someone to learn how to ride a shorter board who was paranoid about getting whacked....but then that's all part of the game isn't it.....

[dtc]

I don't know, but soft boards are generally much heavier than hard boards, as the foam used is heavier than for a PU board (and much heavier than epoxy). This affects the surf to some extent. Also the rails on foam boards are always pretty basic as the material doesn't allow anything fancy, so you do lose out on the benefits hard rails offer (like easier turning, even more stability as the rails suck into the wave). However the rails might not be anything to worry about too much, depending on your skill level.

the fin system in the TC board does overcome one of the main issues with soft boards, being the soft fins

However for a v similar price, I would be more confident with something like a torq fish.

That said, as a fun chuck in the car board for a bit of fun without high expectations, it would be great and survive minor damage probably better. And you can surf near the flags! And let the kids use it.

[Big H]

And let the kids use it.

My kids don't have the same attitude to getting whacked that I do....little girls are like that I guess....they would appreciate the soft cover.

[waikikikichan]

Does anyone have direct experience with some of the "high performance" softboards out there? I'm looking for info, reviews, or comparisons that are based on experience rather than "it's just a softboard". What was good?

Boards I have ridden:
Morey Doyle
T&C soft longboard x 2
BZ soft board 9'0" x 3
Szabad soft 7'0"
INT 5'10" fish
NSP Softboard 6'8"
NSP Softboard fish 6'0"
NSP Softboard 8'0"
Softech 4'6"
Amp Stick Design / Water Rampage 5'0" SF-50HM ( currently in use )
Amp Stick Design / Water Rampage 4'0" NSF-40 ( currently in use )
El Nino " Moke" 53" or 4'4" ( still in wrapper next to the couch )

Definitely the Amp Stick Design are the most "Serious". The INT's with the hard bottom and Futures fins are not really "soft".

What was a compromise?

Compared to what ? What are you currently riding and what type of wave ?

[waikikikichan]

Here's Amp Stick Design "version" of the Firewire Tomo Vanguard.

[shaunthebon]

Thanks for the replies. I've been lurking on the forums for a few months and appreciate the replies from very knowledgeable folks.

@Jaffa1949:
I'd love to, but I haven't found anywhere to ride one. The surf schools I've checked have the standard large, heavy foamies. Several of the shops around Manly have these boards in stock, but they are all shrink-wrapped and nobody will let me take one for a ride. Other suggestions appreciated.
I deliberated about whether to include info about my surf level, but left it out because I was hoping for some objective comparison. But, here we go:
I'd consider myself a level 4 surfer I've been surfing 4-5 times per week since moving to Sydney in July. I mostly ride my Wavestorm and I'm very ready to move onto something smaller and more maneuverable. I've borrowed or rented a variety of other boards, all the way down to a thick 5'8" twin fin fish that I can ride OK if a little unstable. I'm thinking something about 6'6" (give or take 6"), plenty of buoyancy, and some width and volume is about right for my next progression. The complication is that I leave here in six months and go back to Seattle where I'll have to either drive 3 hours (with kids, luggage, and dog) or fly to surf, so this board will have to endure lots of travel and hence the desire to get something durable. It also means that it will arrive at the beach when my calendar allows and not necessarily when the conditions are optimal, so I need something that can handle a range of surf conditions. I'm about 145lbs/65kg so I don't need a lot of board in order to float me.

@Big H:
Thanks a bunch for the advice. I'm definitely not thumbing my nose at a pop-out. If I don't get one of these softies, then a Surftech, Torq, NSP, or similar is almost definitely what I'll get. In fact, a used Torq just showed up online that I'm going to go look at.

@dtc:
I've handled a few of these in the stores and they are surprisingly light, actually. Light enough that I think they might skip around on chop like an epoxy. Funny you mention the Torq fish. That's exactly what's at the top of my list if I decide on a hard board.

@waikikichan:
Nice, thanks for the info! It looks like the AMP / Water Rampage boards are only available in Japan, but they do look sweet. Any of those others you'd recommend that might be available in Australia?

[waikikikichan]

Sponge boards don't hurt things eg. your head, your ribs, your friend's knee caps, walls and door ways, etc. But most things hurt it. Tree Branches, corner of tables, Sun and Salt air. The sponge deck tears easily where on a hardboard things would just glance off. They actually don't travel well. I would get a Molded Epoxy Fish the max size ( with travel case ) that the airline allows.

[shaunthebon]

Ah, that's good info waikikikichan.

Sounds like a molded epoxy board is the right thing for me.

[jaffa1949]

Further on sponge damage , corners of car doors rip., hot sun causes de lamination bubbles, a small in noticed one becomes an immense one on an airline service ( btw airline luggage handlers and surfboards = natural enemies) , hard board , board bag or sock, roof rack car transport fixed !

I'd walk the TorQ

Save money too, buy the board when you get back to the states!
I'm going to question you a bit further, level 4, hmmm , but what can you do in your surfing, most self evaluation either under or over rates their skill.

[OlegLupusov]

I have been riding soft board for more than a year. It is considered high performance board.
I also surfed hard boards and Wave storm.

Doyle is definitely better than wavestorm and you will see the difference. Doyle is faster and handles better.

Hard board is not that better than Doyle. It is faster and handles better. But the difference is to a lesser extent than between Doyle and wavestorm. And it is harder to catch a wave with a hard board. And, the increased concern about safety of youself, the board and everybody else destroys the fun. In a crowded line up, the soft board is definitely more comfortable.

[jaffa1949]

Hmmmmmmmmmm?

[RinkyDink]

And, the increased concern about safety of youself, the board and everybody else destroys the fun. In a crowded line up, the soft board is definitely more comfortable.

That is probably one of the main reasons I like softboards. If you're a beginner, it's nice to know that you're riding a board that tells other surfers you don't know what you're doing and that you are attempting to prevent injury to others. In my past surfing experiences, I have been hit in the head by my hard board and I've landed painfully on my board--not pleasant. So a softboard is a good choice for me in my kook stage of surfing.

[OlegLupusov]

Jaffa, why "hmmmmm"?

[jaffa1949]

Just a statement about performance of boards and perception of performance matched to levels of skill.

My take is there is a hierarchy of soft boards with increasing performance potential. ( surfer dependant ) the bottom end of hard boards could be matched by the softies. When you get up into he personally tune hard boards with designed rails , bottom contours, distribution of foam to vary performance.

So with the cars analogy, there are volkswagens and formula 1 vehicle as there are good ordinary drivers and specialist race track drivers.

The really capable surfers can make a dog of a broad perform, a " performance board cannot make a beginner become outstanding . Only lots of surfing will do that!

Your advice on foamies will help everyone on them!

[scottnorby]

It may be a bit early to let the "cat out of the bag".
I am on the design team, and a team rider, of a revolution in surfboard manufacturing.

When this does circulate it is definitely going to change everything.
There will be other announcements happening very soon.

The boards being produced are eps core, epoxy glass top and bottom---but covered with a skin which is smooth on the surface but soft to the touch.
Imagine your steering wheel of your car.
Soft on the outside----for grip and safety---but there is an eps and glass board on the inside.
Soft for comfort, landing airs, no deck pad needed, and you wax the deck like any board.

Just like you trust your steering wheel at high speeds---you trust what is under the soft grip.
The skin on the deck and bottom have an 1/8" to 1/4 " cushion depth depending on your preference.

70 percent of bad injuries in surfing occur when the rail of the surfboard comes in contact with the rider.

For this reason the rails have an ADDED amount of cushion.
The rails have a softer feel (than the deck and bottom) when you press into them.
------------And no I can't tell you how they did that.

A rider will have increased confidence in a barrel, or landing a critical air, knowing that the board, especially it's rails, won't crack skulls.

The designs have been tested in Hawaii, Tahiti, California and the pacific northwest USA for a few years now. (surfing and kiteboarding)

The hand made boards have a beautiful glossy rail because the rails are also coated with a special flexible aerospace material for protection.

The weight is similar to a typical epoxy or glass board as the skin is ultra light and ultra durable.
Cost is similar to any high perfomance surfboard.

Here are a few photos of them in action.
Be looking for them in the near future.
Or contact me directly for details.
silencersurfboards@gmail.com

[Kook777]

Sponge boards don't hurt things eg. your head, your ribs, your friend's knee caps, walls and door ways, etc. But most things hurt it. Tree Branches, corner of tables, Sun and Salt air. The sponge deck tears easily where on a hardboard things would just glance off. They actually don't travel well. I would get a Molded Epoxy Fish the max size ( with travel case ) that the airline allows.

It depends on the board. A Wavestorm (etc.) can get dinged up easily. Something like the Surftech Softop is apparently far more durable, and less prone to dings than a hardboard, because of the way it's made.

[jaffa1949]

Hi Kook 777, I think you have a soft spot for soft boards

Life doesn't have to be hard!