Torq Mod Fun or Foamie?

[sriracha95]

Hello fellow surfers!

As a beginner looking to buy my next board, I would greatly appreciate some advice :3

I am either looking to buy a Torq mod fun 7'2 or a Wave bandit easy rider 7'0 for my next board! I am a 5'5 female and around 127 lbs.

I currently have a 9 ft foamie so I am not sure if I should buy the wave bandit. However, I did read online that beginners should stick with foamies. I am just afraid that I would develop my skills and end up with two foams... Does anyone else have the torq? Is it a good investment? I am not a great paddler so any input would be very helpful!

Thank yalls and stay safe~

[dtc]

Get the Torq. Beginners/advanced beginners dont 'need' a foam board - 10 years ago hardly anyone had a foam board but they still managed to learn. Sure they dont hurt as much if they hit you in the head (or someone else in the head), and they are big and floaty and good to learn on; but they arent needed and they arent the same as a proper board (there is a reason why good surfers surf hard boards)

That said, going from a 9ft foamie to a 7'2 is a pretty big jump - the 9ft foamie is a bigger/wider/higher volume board than a 9ft hardboard. So its like going from a 10ft to a 7ft hardboard. If you feel confident on your current board (catch 8/10 waves, bottom turn, cruise along the face) then you should be able to do it (especially given your size), but if you are still in the 'catch 4/10 waves and surf straight to the beach' stage, then its going to be harder, maybe frustratingly hard.

Dropping down size too quickly can stall your development at a time when you really dont want to. So my advice is to (a) keep surfing your current board for a bit longer if you are thinking you arent quite ready and (regardless) (b) keep your current board and be prepared to go back to it and surf it should you be struggling. There is no shame in going back to the longer board if it speeds up your progress. If it turns out you and the Torq work well, then you can start thinking about getting rid of the longer board

The Torq itself is a pretty good board - I think some of the guys on here have it and you should be able to find some threads about it through the search function. its not the only choice of course, but its a pretty good one (especially given the price)

[Jripper53]

After a little over a year on an 8'6 Torq longboard, I recently got a 6'10 Mod Fish. This is the exact same shape as the Mod Fun, but with a swallow tail, so it is a very similar board. I like the Torq line and they feel like quality equipment to me with better flex and lighter weight than cheaper epoxys. I also prefer the durability of epoxy over foam boards for longevity. You're getting something that could very well outlast you if it's cared for well. The transition was tough at first, but with the right waves and a lot of persistence, I can now paddle into waves and surf the board fairly comfortably. These are the most notable differences I have come across:

PROS
-more maneuverable when up and riding (quicker turning radius, faster reaction to rider input)
-you can now kick with your feet, so you "swim" the board instead of only being able to arm paddle
-able to "cut through" the waves and whitewater better (easier to get out in choppy conditions/breaking waves)
-fits better into smaller, steeper waves
-sits more "in the wave" than a longboard, so easier to bail out of bad situations
-easier to carry and transport

CONS
-more difficult to paddle (less buoyancy, smaller outline, pointy nose)
-more difficult popups (not as much support below you)
-steeper takeoffs (can't get into the wave is quickly as on a longboard)
-needs waves with decent push/power
-less stable when up and riding (felt "squirrely" at first, the faster the wave the harder it is to control)
-it will be hard to sit on at first (less stable)

Overall, I would suggest that if you are serious about surfing and want to dedicate a lot of time to it, you should go for the epoxy. Foam boards are fun to start on, but just don't have the same feeling. The transition to a shorter board will be tough, so you have to be realistic about your abilities and how much work you want to put in. That said, I still see my longboard as a very important part of my quiver and wouldn't even think of letting it go for those smaller days when the waves don't have as much push. This is just my experience, I hope this helps.

[sriracha95]

Get the Torq. Beginners/advanced beginners dont 'need' a foam board - 10 years ago hardly anyone had a foam board but they still managed to learn. Sure they dont hurt as much if they hit you in the head (or someone else in the head), and they are big and floaty and good to learn on; but they arent needed and they arent the same as a proper board (there is a reason why good surfers surf hard boards)

That said, going from a 9ft foamie to a 7'2 is a pretty big jump - the 9ft foamie is a bigger/wider/higher volume board than a 9ft hardboard. So its like going from a 10ft to a 7ft hardboard. If you feel confident on your current board (catch 8/10 waves, bottom turn, cruise along the face) then you should be able to do it (especially given your size), but if you are still in the 'catch 4/10 waves and surf straight to the beach' stage, then its going to be harder, maybe frustratingly hard.

Dropping down size too quickly can stall your development at a time when you really dont want to. So my advice is to (a) keep surfing your current board for a bit longer if you are thinking you arent quite ready and (regardless) (b) keep your current board and be prepared to go back to it and surf it should you be struggling. There is no shame in going back to the longer board if it speeds up your progress. If it turns out you and the Torq work well, then you can start thinking about getting rid of the longer board

The Torq itself is a pretty good board - I think some of the guys on here have it and you should be able to find some threads about it through the search function. its not the only choice of course, but its a pretty good one (especially given the price)

Awesome, thanks for the advice! I am definitely planning on mastering my 9 ft before I hop on the torq train.

[sriracha95]

After a little over a year on an 8'6 Torq longboard, I recently got a 6'10 Mod Fish. This is the exact same shape as the Mod Fun, but with a swallow tail, so it is a very similar board. I like the Torq line and they feel like quality equipment to me with better flex and lighter weight than cheaper epoxys. I also prefer the durability of epoxy over foam boards for longevity. You're getting something that could very well outlast you if it's cared for well. The transition was tough at first, but with the right waves and a lot of persistence, I can now paddle into waves and surf the board fairly comfortably. These are the most notable differences I have come across:

PROS
-more maneuverable when up and riding (quicker turning radius, faster reaction to rider input)
-you can now kick with your feet, so you "swim" the board instead of only being able to arm paddle
-able to "cut through" the waves and whitewater better (easier to get out in choppy conditions/breaking waves)
-fits better into smaller, steeper waves
-sits more "in the wave" than a longboard, so easier to bail out of bad situations
-easier to carry and transport

CONS
-more difficult to paddle (less buoyancy, smaller outline, pointy nose)
-more difficult popups (not as much support below you)
-steeper takeoffs (can't get into the wave is quickly as on a longboard)
-needs waves with decent push/power
-less stable when up and riding (felt "squirrely" at first, the faster the wave the harder it is to control)
-it will be hard to sit on at first (less stable)

Overall, I would suggest that if you are serious about surfing and want to dedicate a lot of time to it, you should go for the epoxy. Foam boards are fun to start on, but just don't have the same feeling. The transition to a shorter board will be tough, so you have to be realistic about your abilities and how much work you want to put in. That said, I still see my longboard as a very important part of my quiver and wouldn't even think of letting it go for those smaller days when the waves don't have as much push. This is just my experience, I hope this helps.

Thank you! I heard great things about Torq. I just picked mine up so hopefully I get to try it after I master a 7 ft foamie!