Bic 7'9" Natural Surf 2 review

[Broosta]

Hi, just thought I'd contribute a short review of a board I recently got - Bic 7'9" Natural Surf 2 (2011)

I used to surf loads but pretty much gave up due to family and work commitments for the last 10yrs.
So I've surfed very little, like 2 times this year, which makes me basically a newbie surfer all over again.
My biggest issue is not being surf fit - I can't paddle much and my ribs hurt after each surf so far!

I know how to surf pretty well but can't actually do it now.

I tried to get back into surfing a bit last year but all my boards are too small.
My quivver was:- 6'5" rounded pin, 6'2" squash, 6' rounded squash, and 5'6" squash with this being the floatiest at 34l volume. (I'm about 85KG btw).

So I went and bought a big board to learn again - the Bic. Wanted something cheap and mass produced so I could rely on the dimensions and reviews and know what I was getting. I also wanted durablity as it would be second hand.

I've only surfed it twice so far but here are my thoughts on it.

It's a big plastic log that seems almost indestructable. Polyethylene ACS (plastic shell with foam inside). DIMs are 7'9" X 22"1/8 X 2"7/8 with 58 litres of volume.

I struggle to put the thing under my arm to walk it to the water which is annoying for me, but once in the water it seems smaller. It is not super floaty which helps despite pretty big volume but I suppose it's relatively heavy at 6.7KG. The weight does not seem much on paper but when you're carrying that thing about it sucks!

It feels quite flexy when just sitting on it too which is bad.

To be fair I'm not used to longish boards and I'm way way out of shape for surfing so many of the bad points may not be that bad for others.

But... when I'm sitting out back waiting and a wave comes and I go to turn it seems like I'm trying to turn a supertanker! So after I manage to have the board pointing in the right direction at the right time to be able to catch a wave things get better! I find popping up so easy, and this was probably the biggest problem I had been having with my old short boards since my return to the water. This was so nice to be popping up and not having to think about it at all that it totally justifoed the price alone (£134 second hand but very good condition off Ebay).

And then when up and riding with a bit of wall to work with it goes like a dream - holds the wall nicely and even turns quite sharply! It seems to defy the laws of physics - heavy big log that is not at all stiff with rails that are a bit vague rather than super precise and sharp and yet it goes down the line like a beast!

It is not big enough (for me) to catch every hint of a ripple but it does what I need and catches the normal waves pretty easily and even makes taking off on the bigger sets easy as it's quite long - I know from when I surfed a lot that on tiny boards I struggle a bit on the bigger sets but this was easy.

So to summerise:-

Plus points - not too floaty, rides nicely, is cheap, is very durable, takes FCS.

Minus points - heavy, flexy, can't duck dive it, too big to put under my arm comfortably and only just fits inside the car but no room for passengers.

Final comments: a good board to have as a beater for small surf or visitors. Although my board is a 2011/12 model Bic still make it (now the Bic 7'9" Malubu) and very little has changed - different graphics and construction now (Dura-tec) despite same specs.

I think I still need a different board though for my situation - want something stiffer, slightly shorter, and lighter but with similar durability. I'm thinking Torq M2 7.0 in blue but £££...

[skasteppa]

Good points!I'm also a returning surfer and a big bloke..so my old boards are staying out while I get my 8ft roger cooper to reestablish fitness and basic skills again..itll come and is just another adventure to try.
All the best with your surfing too and dont move down too soon..smash everything your bigger board has to offer first