Surfing Waves

Hey, im trying to get my dad into surfing so he will take me more.... and he is 50 years old, in great physical shape with the exception of knee pains every once and a while. So basically he will be a longboard if he gets into it. He doesnt want to rent one very much cuz its too expensive.

So what do i get him?

A softop board so that he doesnt hurt himself any more and can learn safely for a few weeks or more, (you cant teach an old dog new tricks.... so it will take a while.) Another benifiet is i can keep the Softtop for some of my friends if they want to try it sometime.

Or an Epoxy board. I heard these are great for beginners, i only used a NSP once and i hated it, but then again it might of been since it was a longbaord and im use to a short. One thing i fear is epoxy boards tend to be very heavy right?... wont that effect performance?

Now my thought is have him rent once or twice to get and idea for it, and then buy him a regular glassboard. But isnt it dangerous becuase he will probably snap the nose off in a week. and thats like 800 bucks down the drain.

Any opinions or thoughts will be very helpful.

get him out on a rented softop a couple of times teach him the basics ,i wouldnt go for a new glassed board straight out as you said probablly money down the drain ,and i would'nt buy a soft top just cos he may get board after a while ,and i currently ride an nsp 7'6" and i doesnt weigh anything and a lad at my local break treid it (longboarder) and was quite suprised with it ,suppose its just personel taste really how about a second hand glassed longboard after hes progressed at bit just my thoughts........

Ok, thanks that help a lot.

Buy a used longboard-soft top will have little or no value after you use it whereas a used longboard will. You can always re-sell it, probably for what you paid for it.