Starting again - 2 foamies to choose from

[LittleSkink]

Hi folks - first post here, so please be gently, dont intend to be a kook

Grew up in SW UK and my parents surfed so spent my youth at Perranporth etc (alas, mostly bored and cold cos we couldnt afford wetsuits)

Now I have kids of my own (and we live miles from the sea) but they have got a real taste for Bodyboarding and we get to the beach as often as we can. This year they want to progress to "proper surfing" so I have done some research and chatted to a few folks

Basically I am looking at a Tribord 7ft Foamie or a Wavestorm 8ft - both similar prices in UK

My girls are 9 and 11, both less than 35kg - so the 7ft seems like the better answer for now (partly driven by having a decent 7ft board bag in the garage)

Any thoughts?

[dtc]

Do you think they will be surfing independently or will you be out there helping with board control etc? The bigger board will be harder to handle in the surf for their size, not that the 7ft will be that easy (in terms of getting out past the white water - they will be fine on the wave itself).

If you are going to be helping out then it probably doesn't matter too much. If you aren't or expect them to still be using the board when they are a bit more independent, then the 7ft is probably better. It's also 25% lighter

That said, the wave storm is a pretty well regarded board for its price, I don't know anything about the other make. It looks fine for a learner board board however, wooden stringers and a reasonable design.

[waikikikichan]

You have 2 girls, so you'll need 2 boards. Buy the 7'0" Tribord AND the 8'0" Wavestorm.

[LittleSkink]

thanks dtc

initially we were directed to a 6ft Alder Delta (again c£100 in UK) but I felt they would learn better and progress quicker on a 7ft - and I didn't like the idea of a board without stringer(s). I suspect the shop just wanted to sell that board

hadnt really thought about what I would be doing - when bodyboarding I mostly try and let them deal with stuff and only step in if they get in trouble (my youngest is a trouble magnet) - you are right though, cant see either of them getting an 8ft foamie out that easily, they are barely 5ft themselves!

[LittleSkink]

thanks waikikikichan

alas we have a non-surfing mom in the house who sees this as dad trying to relive his youth - even the conversation about getting one board was close to causing a domestic. But the kids are pretty determined to do this, even without my interference

you are right though, if they do find the 7ft and surfing is for them a Wavestorm would be a good next step

[Big H]

I'm a Dad with two girls, 7 & 8. We tried taking just one board when going to surf....doesn't really work.....the one not on the board wants to be part of the action and the beach is too far away, especially if we are out on the reef (150-200m+ from the beach). So what winds up happening is the non surfer is on my back UNLESS we have a second board....then we alternate; I still push them into waves but send them spaced apart so that one is coming back as the other is going on the wave. Taking turns is brutal for kids that age and if out in the sun you are on the clock in terms of how long they can last anyway. It also isn't much fun and if you want to keep their interest, it HAS to be fun.

Seriously consider taking a set on the head from the wife and taking both......in for a penny, in for a pound.

[dtc]

Good points re 2 boards and two kids. If you get the wave storm then that can be a board for you to use as well - so win/win

[Lebowski]

If I was going for a small foamie, I'd be tempted by something like the Tom Carroll range.

http://www.softechsoftboards.com/60-tc- ... -softboard

They take proper FCS fins and would offer more longetivity than a regular foamie (in my opinion at least). I am even tempted to get the comp one in the link above for myself. It looks like a lot of fun.