Softtop Surfboards

[MidAtlanticNovice]

Weight: 155-160 lbs
Height: 6'1
Location: Midatlantic

Hey guys, I am new to surfing as I just started 3-4 months ago. I've been surfing 1-2 times a week since. The board I am currently on is an 8 ft foam board from liquidshredder. The fin setup is a thruster I believe, if that's important... I can catch almost all of the waves I try to, with the ability to turn and move up and down the side of the wave. Not entirely sure how to describe it, but I feel relatively confident with this board.

I was thinking of sticking with a softtop surfboard, or would that not be recommended? I figured I'd be able to move a step down to maybe a 7 ft board: like the Gold Coast Ruccus. I was also looking at the 6'6" Catch Surf Odysea Skipper... but that might be too big of a jump. Although, the volumes are relatively similar.

My goal is to work on a smaller soft board and maybe progress to a real surfboard sometime next year (2018). I'm not too worried if I can't quickly adjust to this new board, as I would still have the liquid shredder to fall back on.

At the moment I'm leaning towards the Gold Coast Ruccus, as their site recommends a weight of 150 lbs for a beginner... and that's pretty close to my weight. The Skipper also says it's for "beginners" but I imagine this isn't really the case in actuality? What do you guys think?

Appreciate the help!

[oldmansurfer]

I think the 7 foot Ruccus is the better of the two however Probably a more sensible board would be an 8 foot hard board not a soft top. The soft boards are going to have characteristics that are different from hard boards and you might as well get hard board and get used to it......unless you intend to stay surfing soft boards. I hear that often soft boards catch waves easily so switching to a hard board the same size will be a small challenge. Then you gradually go smaller. In general a one foot drop is pretty much. More than that will likely be a great challenge initially.

[RobSF]

I agree with OMS. One soft-top in a quiver is enough. I'd look at 8' "real" surfboards.

[MidAtlanticNovice]

Appreciate the help guys! As I've never ridden a hardtop board, that is invaluable information to have.

Unfortunately, I don't really want to get a hardtop board at this time as I do not really have a place to store my board at the moment. It gets thrown in the back of my vehicle, and I've heard hard surfboards ding pretty easily. That will change sometime in 2018, so I figured I'd hold off on a real board until then.

I would definitely like to try something new, and the first thing that came to mind was downsizing. However, would you guys happen to know of any soft top boards that don't have the standard 3 fin setup? Perhaps that's another route I could go for trying something new.

Otherwise I will probably end up with the Ruccus. I may still end up on an 8' hard board afterwards, but at least I will have something new to try in the interim. Worse comes to worse, I stick with the liquid shredder haha.

Oh, one last question. While watching friends/strangers pop-up on their boards... I've noticed there are two techniques people use predominantly. The one I adopted was pushing off the board near my chest and thrusting both legs under and whatnot. It's been working well, but I've noticed others seem to bring up their back leg and push off from there. Is there any advantage to either method, or are they about the same?

Thanks again!

[RobSF]

Get yourself a hard board! Wrap it in a blanket! Don't get two soft tops! For the love of God.

[MidAtlanticNovice]

Get yourself a hard board! Wrap it in a blanket! Don't get two soft tops! For the love of God.

Bahaha, alright. Will definitely look into it, hopefully I can find a good durable board. Will try and find a relatively cheap used one, to see how it goes. I'm not confident it won't get the living crud beat out of it... my trunk is not a safe place to be, that's for sure

[Big H]

Get an epoxy hardboard like an NSP, Torq or tuflite board and a board bag....will be tough enough to withstand banging around in the back of the car without dinging.....time to get off the foamie.....trust me, when you have real fins engaging the wave the experience is different and needed for progression....you can't really practice the all important bottom turn well with flexy foamie fins, at least not one that generates much power.

[Namu]

Well its unanimous, go get yourself a 8' mini-malibu shape. Like Big H said the epoxy composite boards are very durable compared to the traditional resin and fiberglass boards. Torq, NSP, and Bic make tough boards that are good for beginners. I had one channel islands tuflite board that got some pressure dents on the deck, but my other Yater tuflite longboard is still ding free.

Since the east coast suffers from weak waves in the summer a 9' all around longboard with a 2+1 fin setup would be just as good.

[MidAtlanticNovice]

Awesome, thanks guys! Will see what my local shops have. I will keep those brands in mind, and make sure I end up with an epoxy board.