Surfing Waves

Hey all, long time no post.
I just moved back to south florida (broward county), and am looking to find a good beginner board.
In 2011 I bought a 6'8 fish (bad idea), so Im looking to start over and do things right.

Where Im at: Can barely pop-up, and 195 lbs, I get pretty worn out paddling out (fairly constant waves in so flo)

I am stuck between getting a foam board (8'0) or a longboard around that size.
The foam board is $129.99 from the shop, and the longboard is $299. Both very reasonable.
(I dont know if this foamie is junk) https://www.surfstationstore.com/shop/scott-burke-fun-shape-80-soft-surfboard-%28fins-leash-included%29/dp/59769

The foam board looks ok and might be worth it while you learn ie your first 6 month or 80 hours or so. However, as a longer term board foamies aren't that great - they are heavy, don't turn very well, you have limited fin selection and the fins are usually not great (eg you screw them in through the foam, so they aren't very solid). Foam boards are good at one thing - limiting injuries, particularly in crowded areas eg surf schools...(this is why surf school use them, not because they really assist in developing skills, but because they assist in not injuring the participants when everyone is crowded together without knowing what to do). Foamies aren't great in terms of every thing else. For $160 it might be worth it, and you can always keep the board for friends when you have progressed

A 'proper' board is not so good in crowds, until you have the control skills, but otherwise offer far greater advantages - turning, tuning your fins, your board will rarely limit your skills or development. So this is a much better long term choice, but the benefits really start accruing after you have a modicum of skills (can catch a wave, pop up and starting to learn a bottom turn). If you bought a foam board, you will end up buying a longboard anyway.

However, its very definitely possible to learn on a regular longboard and most people do this. The foamie is only a safety stage, if its something you think is relevant ie you think you might hit yourself or someone else with your board because everywhere is crowded. But presumably its possible to find somewhere not crowded.

If you intend to surf seriously, get a proper board. If you just want to dabble and try now and then, a foam board is a reasonable choice.

At 195lbs I would really suggest going to 9ft or even 9ft6. There is no real benefit of 8ft - its not short enough to add significant manoeuvrability over a 9ft board, but its just short enough not to offer the additional volume and ease of a 9ft+ board.

If you think you can control the longboard at this stage, then get that. I agree, a foamie is just a safety stage so upgrade to a longboard (or other board of choice) as soon as you can once you feel you are in control of your board. The maneuverability is like night and day. Of course, the first thing you need to learn is to pop up, and then staying "popped up" and that doesn't matter whether you're on a foamie or longboard.

Hahahahaha.....good advice
PurseStrings except this advice is 5 years too late! Good on ya though.

I rented a longboard (8'6" x 3 18" x 22 1/2" - 67L)the other day and had fairly good success.
I'm torn between a $299 funboard (8'0" x 3 1/4" x 22") - 61L
or 9'0" x 22 1/2" x 2 3/4" for $599 which is a little expensive.

The guy at the shop was recommending the 8 foot fun board because ''it'll still float you and will be more maneuverable"
I don't know if I agree with his recommendation, I definitely do NOT want to make the same mistake (too small of a board) twice. And it'd be nice to be able to paddle out on tiny (2 foot) days and be able to catch some waves.
What do you think?

A third option; search the local pages for a used longboard in the 9'+ range.

Go a real 9ft board , the manouvres come from you not the board , if it floats you well and you can catch waves , the more often you go surfing, the more the skills come. Easy catch easier to next stage!
If you seriously want to surf , Commit to what you want to do, half measures limit your success.