Going from SUP to soft top board?

[KennyN]

Hi. I am 37, 1.82m and 82kg. I am living in Brunei. In the last two months I picked up surfing during the Monsoon. Initially only board available was a 12feet, 25" SUP. Now I can also use a 9ft, 32inch surf SUP. I am enjoying it quite a lot and able to pop up, catch waves including the occasional green wave and do some simple turns / ride a small section along the wave. I am keen to change to something smaller, but for the rest of the season only a 7ft redback revolution malibu soft top board is available to buy. Redback advertises this board as a soft board comparable to a fiber glass board performance wise. My surf location is beach brake with waves varying from 2 to 4 feet with sometimes larger waves.

Will the switch from the sup to this board be a good switch? Will the board be the right size for me or too small (only 7ft is available all the bigger versions are sold out and new ones will only arrive in Sep/Oct this year). Will a soft top board like this still provide a good learning curve or should I continue using the big wide SUP and buy a hard board next season?

Thanks for any advice!

[jaffa1949]

The redback softboards at that size are pretty much considered surf toys! :
At the level of skill you describe for yourself the 7ft toy would not help you at all,
You would probably not be able to pop up.
On a SUP you are already standing or are you riding the 9ft as a standard board?
I would suggest a normal board next seasonal delivery , pre order maybe a 9ft standard board or if you are not ready for hard.... a 9ft soft.
Iam amazed , surf in Brunei always consider any coast can have day of surf. Nice!
Pantai Tunku?
I put a rider on everything though, I don't know what boards are easily available there.

Look at the NSP orGlobal Surf industry ranges in epoxy. 9ft

[KennyN]

Thanks for the useful advise! Decided to wait for next season and stick with the sub. Now have found a 7.4feet 51liter secondhand rip curl board that I can try before I buy. Hopeful this board will work!

[saltydog]

From a 9' long and 32" wide sup with probably 100+litter to a 7'4 long 51litter surfboard is a HUGE drop in volume. I think it'll be safer to go with a surfboard in 8-9' x 22-23" x 3" range. NSP surfboards that Jaffa has mentioned are good options. At least check out their sizes to give you an idea of what kind of surfboard to look for.