Choosing a new Board

[Jamie_magee1234]

Hi
I've been surfing for over a year now on the west coast of ireland where the waves can be very good:)
I've been only using a 8ft soft top and want to progress onto something better. I'm 14, weigh 9 stone and I'm 5ft 9. I was looking at the bic 7ft3 mini mal but have heard bad things about it. I have also been looking at the Torq 7ft 2 funboard but it has a lack of info on the Internet. So anyone with experience using them it would help to know what you thought. And the Nsp 7ft 2 funboard. There are quite a lot of rocks around we're i surf so I wanted a board that's a bit stronger than other boards but doesn't take away from its performance:)
Please let me know what you think is the best choice or suggesting a different board:) I have a budget of £300 max!
Thanks:)
Jamie

[jaffa1949]

Jamie what's happening in Ireland? You posted this before and got quite qa few answers.
Did they not work for you, any decent break on a point or somewhere will have some rocks and all boards will get dinged in their life.
A BIC will be a progression from the soft top and will see progression, the NSP would be the next strongest and be several notches up in performance than the BIC.
Searching the net I think the Torq may be similar in strength to the NSP and on a par in shape and performance.
The sizing suggested in the answers to your previous posts is pretty accurate and leaves a little room for growing the pricing is out of your range on all of the boards about £500 +.

You might need to check secondhand for that price or soft surf a little longer and save!
Keep talking to us and your local surf shop!