Surfing Waves

Hello I am looking to buy a softboard because I need to return my current one to a friend. Now there are full of options online/in store, I am confused should I stick to the same one, or settle for a cheaper board (e.g. Elnino).

Skill level: starting to catch green waves
Paddling power: 2-3/5 (has great room for improvement)
Weight: 54 kg
Height: 160 cm
Surfing waves: 1-3 ft, beach break, short ride, often close-outs. Surf 1-3 times per week.
Currently using: Softlite 7'0" SOFTBOARD 7'0" X 21" X 2 7/8" 52L

I am looking at an Elnino board, 7'0 X 22" X 2 7/8" 63L, which I realise has more volume (and also cheaper). To improve (i.e. catch more green waves), should I stick to the dimensions/volume of boards I am using now, or opt for a higher volume board just to catch more waves? To be honest, I am not catching a lot of waves on the Softlite because my paddling is fairly weak.

Thank you very much! (Ready for honest feedback coming in)

Best
Jet

Help to you Jet, a little more volume helps and since you are still at the soft phase imwould suggest going to 8ft.
Consider, improvement requires catching waves, morevwaves means more chance for improvement.
Paddling more means building stronger paddling muscles and learning the smart parts of catching waves, positioning, timing and reading how the wave you are paddling for works.
8ft 22" wide and 2 and 7/8 inches of soft sounds good to me. Don't go the cheapest option go what suits your current and into near future surfing needs.

Check out the surf schools at Bondi, use their boards try a few different boards, see what matches your needs by actuall,riding them!

jaffa1949 wrote:Help to you Jet, a little more volume helps and since you are still at the soft phase imwould suggest going to 8ft.
Consider, improvement requires catching waves, morevwaves means more chance for improvement.
Paddling more means building stronger paddling muscles and learning the smart parts of catching waves, positioning, timing and reading how the wave you are paddling for works.
8ft 22" wide and 2 and 7/8 inches of soft sounds good to me. Don't go the cheapest option go what suits your current and into near future surfing needs.

Check out the surf schools at Bondi, use their boards try a few different boards, see what matches your needs by actuall,riding them!

Thanks Jaffa!
I'd love an 8" but it is hard for me to carry and walk to the beach / move around in the future. There is always this struggle

jet528 wrote:Paddling power: 2-3/5 (has great room for improvement)
(Ready for honest feedback coming in)

Can't give you "honest" feed back because you are not being absolutely honest with your paddling power/technique. You sure you not more in the range of 1 ( maybe 2 ) on a scale of 5 ? Honest question.

jet528 wrote:I'd love an 8" but it is hard for me to carry and walk to the beach / move around in the future. There is always this struggle

jet528 wrote:Weight: 54 kg
Height: 160 cm

I'm 56 kg and 158 cm and carry a 9'0" x 22.5 inch wide board to the beach. There are techniques and products that can help you more easily carry your board.

waikikikichan wrote:

jet528 wrote:Paddling power: 2-3/5 (has great room for improvement)
(Ready for honest feedback coming in)

Can't give you "honest" feed back because you are not being absolutely honest with your paddling power/technique. You sure you not more in the range of 1 ( maybe 2 ) on a scale of 5 ? Honest question.

jet528 wrote:I'd love an 8" but it is hard for me to carry and walk to the beach / move around in the future. There is always this struggle

jet528 wrote:Weight: 54 kg
Height: 160 cm

I'm 56 kg and 158 cm and carry a 9'0" x 22.5 inch wide board to the beach. There are techniques and products that can help you more easily carry your board.

Hhahah you got me.
Maybe 1 out of 10 days, i will have a 3/5 paddle power. Otherwise mostly 1.5-2?
Do you use a surfboard cover or a sling to carry it around? I tried to find a sling but those big surf shops don't sell it, not even on gumtree, weird.

How far is the walk/carry from pick up to put down on the beach ? How many meters ? ( or Km ? )

How are you currently carry your board ? Just under your armpit ? Nose forward or tail forward. Deck in to the body or deck away from the body ?

waikikikichan wrote:How far is the walk/carry from pick up to put down on the beach ? How many meters ? ( or Km ? )

How are you currently carry your board ? Just under your armpit ? Nose forward or tail forward. Deck in to the body or deck away from the body ?

The walk is 20 mins
I carry it this way

jet528 wrote:I carry it this way

exactly opposite of the way you should. Try carrying the board fins forward, deck towards the body. Yeah, yeah, "but I'll get wax on my swim suit and someone walking by might bump into the fin", don't worry about that. Better to not drop your board on the sidewalk. By carrying it fins forward-deck in, it allows your fingers to clinch onto the hard edge on the bottom versus the round dome of the deck.

The 2nd method is to carry it flat, horizontal to the ground fins up. If you got shorter arms or if it's windy, this is preferred. Make sure to pull it into the body above your hip bone.