Surfing Waves

Hey guys!

I’m a beginner, 180cm heigh, 61kg weight. I was learning to ride for ~3months on Tribord 8.0 softboard which I was renting. Im able to ride green waves, going streight but not the face of the wave yet.

Looking to buy my own board now, please let me know shoud I stick to softboard to develop more basic skills (maybe buy Sorfech 8.0 or even 7) or I should better choose epoxy board, something like bigger mini mal 7.6 or 7.10

I’m a bit confused
Need your advice, thanks!

Most people will say buy an epoxy, at least 8ft. A softboard is a perfectly fine choice but they are heavier, less mobile, less performance than a normal board. Some are even less stable due to poor bottom contours. For the first say 100hrs of surfing you wont notice the difference at all, indeed a soft board might be preferable as you will fall off a lot and they dont hurt as much. During the next 100hrs you might start noticing the limitations. If you are only surfing twice per month (4hrs), then you can use the softboard for 2 years easily before you will really notice anything - and you will learn just as well (ie it wont be the board that is the problem, it will be you!). If you are surfing 10 hours a week then you might start noticing issue within a few months

I bought a used 8ft softboard off an hire shop after one three hours lesson, kept it for ten months then replaced with an 8ft Torq ep, I've made defined progress since.

hippers wrote:Looking to buy my own board now, please let me know shoud I stick to softboard to develop more basic skills or I should better choose epoxy board, something like bigger mini mal 7.6 or 7.10

Well you should consider your options:
1) Keep renting: + don't have to store / bring board to the beach. - waste of money
2) Buy 8'0" Softboard: + familiar size/feel/ comfort, won't hurt you or others as much. Won't damage dropping it or bumping walls - not as cool or fast/responsive as a hard board. Foam is susceptible to sharp cuts
3) 7'6" - 7'10" Epoxy funboard: + Easier to store and bring to the beach - meant for intermediate surfers that can already turn on the open face, dings need to be fixed.
4) 8'0" molded-Epoxy mini-tanker + familiar size, not as flexy as sponge boards, more durable than regular glassed boards - more expensive than sponge boards, dings need to be fixed.

hippers wrote: Im able to ride green waves, going streight but not the face of the wave yet.

Going "straight" is not "Riding" green waves. You may start to paddle on a open face, but you're riding in WHITE water, which is not GREEN. If you can't TRIM and ride along the face of the wave, then you shouldn't be on anything less than 2 feet over your head ( and better closer to 3 feet over your head ). Even though you've been on a 8 footer, those are overly thick and have boxy fat rails. I would look at a 8'2"ish board and don't move down in size until you can bottom turn and top turn going backside.

Don't sell foamies short. I see guys ripping on Wavestorms. There's one guy I see who actually inspires me with his Wavestorm surfing. My theory is he's probably a down-on-his-luck surfer who broke his main board and can't afford anything but a foamie. I also see groms out there pushing their foamies to the limit. I think they're riding Mom and Dad's last Christmas present until they save enough money in their piggy bank to buy a hard board. I actually enjoy riding my Wavestorm. Lately, I've been wanting to take it out again just to see what kind of crazy things I can pull off with it.

foam boards are bad, you have lost all respect if you like them

Nice start there, we have lot of beginners and all sorts situation to learn surfing in.
They are all over the world!
For some soft boards are appropriate equipment.
Base your respect on behaviour not equipment!