First Board Dilemma: Foam or Hard?

[DelReyNoob]

I'm brand new to surfing and just had my first lesson. My coworkers who are experienced surfers said "don't buy a foam board" and think I should start on a hard board. But everything I've read and employees at surf shops say I should start on foam / soft top.

I plan on surfing about 3-5X per week in SoCal since I live on the beach - I'm 5'5" and weigh < 120 lbs. In my late 20's.

I'm not sure whether to go with:
1. 8' Wavestorm (used on CL for $100)
2. Torq 8' Mini Longboard for ~$450 - epoxy w/ fiberglass cloth

Is a Wavestorm the obvious choice? Not sure how the Torq is going to hold up in white water and worried that in the first few sessions I'll either damage the board or myself.

Does any one here recommend starting on a hard board and skipping the foamie stage - or has anyone done that as an adult?

[BaNZ]

Just go for the Torq. Wavestorm will become waterlogged if you beat it hard for a couple of months. I think it's all personal opinion really, I'm sure some forum members will recommend to go softtop

You will end up going from soft to hard after a couple of months. So you can just spend more money now.

[DelReyNoob]

Just go for the Torq. Wavestorm will become waterlogged if you beat it hard for a couple of months. I think it's all personal opinion really, I'm sure some forum members will recommend to go softtop

You will end up going from soft to hard after a couple of months. So you can just spend more money now.

Thanks @BaNZ, that was the answer I was hoping for but wanted to hear someone say it!

[dtc]

The benefits of a softboard
- cheap in the short term and a great way to get started
- you wont hurt yourself
- you wont hurt other people
- big and floaty, which make it easy to get started paddling and catching waves
- hard to damage, its just foam

Softboards were created for surf schools, where you have a lot of beginners with no idea all in a confined space. So they are designed to help people stand up and not hurt others.

Disadvantages
- if you continue to surf, you will buy a hardboard (although having a spare softboard around is fun for guests)
- they are harder to turn (great for going straight, harder to turn)
- limited ability to modify set up eg fins


A wavestorm is a great starting board, 'starting' being probably first 20-30 sessions. For people surfing once a week or every summer holidays they are brilliant.

But if you are serious about surfing 3-5X per week, the major benefits of a wavestorm will only last a month or so; then the disadvantages start becoming prominent.

So I agree with BaNZ - for you, just go straight for a hardboard. A Torq is perfect. Why spend $100 and then buy the Torq a month later

It does mean you need to learn things like falling safely, etiquette and being careful not to run over people, straight away (obviously on a wavestorm you should as well, but if you dont then you at least wont hurt someone). This might mean spending your time away from the crowds for a while, until you can control your board.

Keep in mind that softboards have really only been popular, outside surfschools, for maybe 8-10 years; so pretty much all experienced surfers learnt on hard boards and (hence) see no reason to use a softboard.

[SnakePlissken]

I've been surfing for a couple months, the beach where I go is usually pretty small. I keep 2 different hard boards in the truck but I will never go without a foamie. Sure it doesn't have the cool factor and it can't do the stuff a hard board can do, but it will catch even the smallest ripple. So when the guys with their high speed low drag boards are out on a small day looking g all forlorn and dismayed waiting for a wave for 30 min, I'm actually surfing.

That being said, a foam board is super easy to learn on, super stable, but will not last as long. Wavestorm is one of the better brands. I say get the foamie and learn on it, if you're surfing that frequently you'll probably move on in a month or so, but in my case I still use mine pretty frequently (mine is a dolsey, 1/2 as much but lower quality). Once you're ready to move on you'll have enough experience to make a more informed decision on what grown up board to get. And on flat days you can still surf!

Standing by to be chastised for my rookie opinion...

[waikikikichan]

Wavestorm is one of the better brands.

So which brands in your opinion are "Lower level" than the "better" Wavestorm brand ?

[DelReyNoob]

Keep in mind that softboards have really only been popular, outside surfschools, for maybe 8-10 years; so pretty much all experienced surfers learnt on hard boards and (hence) see no reason to use a softboard.

Ah, now I understand why my coworkers see no reason to use a softboard - they were not as popular when they started surfing. Thanks so much for this valuable advice. That makes sense about the need to control the board and learn the etiquette right away if learning on a hard board.

[SnakePlissken]

So which brands in your opinion are "Lower level" than the "better" Wavestorm brand ?[/quote]

Like I said in my post, I have a dolsey soft top. It's not as durable as the wavestorm. But it costs half as much. I like it.

[DelReyNoob]

I keep 2 different hard boards in the truck but I will never go without a foamie. Sure it doesn't have the cool factor and it can't do the stuff a hard board can do, but it will catch even the smallest ripple.

I like that approach - having a softboard in your quiver cannot hurt! Thanks!

[Ratfinksurfer]

Here's a couple of decent brands of soft top:
https://surftech.com/nsp-soft-school-long/
https://www.ridershack.com/surfboards/s ... 17425.html
I think the wavestorm is the bottom of the barrel. Stormblade is a little better than the wavestorm but not much. My buddy SteveyLang learned on one. Only heard good things about NSP but I don't see them for sale around. I'm sure you could special order it from Rider Shack. They will get you sorted, I see you're in SoCal, RiderShack should be close by you. I love my Catch Surf board. They're surprisingly decent boards.

[DelReyNoob]

@Ratfindsurfer, yes RiderShack is 5 mins from me. I've been in their store - they're great. They don't carry NSP, but they had a good selection of Torq. Huh I should've checked their website bc those soft tops weren't in the store. Thanks for the helpful advice!

[Ratfinksurfer]

DelReyNoob, let us know what you end up going with. I used to think a soft top was significantly going to limit my performance too. But Soft tops are pretty fun. I especially like them for charging beach breaks, I find myself more fearless on a soft top!

[nooshie]

I started on a 9 foot Catch Surf log and I loved it. They have a shop around Laguna I think and a lot of the shops around here carry them. For me, the major benefit of the foamie was that I didn’t have to worry as much about the board hitting me or the board hitting someone else as I was learning how to control my board. Also, my log would catch anything and I was able to get into waves earlier on it. I haven’t used a Wavestorm but even if you only use it as a month, it’s a great board for a guest. I’ve since transitioned to a hard top longboard and I’d always choose it over the foamie except on the tiny days but still glad I have it.

You won’t regret having a foamie even if you’re ready for a hard top soon. I rode mine for a good 6 months before making an investment in a hard top.

Good luck!