Surfing Waves

Hey, just wondering the consensus regarding surfing shorebreak / shoredump type waves. Ive seen that guys like ben gravy, JOB, and others ride foam boards at places like the wedge. Now obviously theres a large marketing aspect in that, however I am wondering if it may be a good idea.


I guess my thought process is that a foam board would be safer in shorebreak type conditions because its foam (still can hurt you obv), and the fins aren't as sharp.The other concern is durability and ding-ability, if you will.


Currently I ride a 9'2 log, 7'2 fun/fish, and 6'8 higher volume shortboard

I ride the 9 footer most, followed by the 7 foot and lastly the 6'8.

I suppose I could just take the 6'8 out, but again I worry about potential damage to the board and myself.


Thoughts/reccomendations?

Blackvans1234 wrote: however I am wondering if it may be a good idea.

Why Not ? You're asking if it's a good idea. Then consider why it WOULD NOT be a good idea. I don't see any.

It’s not just the board, it’s you falling off in 6inches of water

dtc wrote: it’s you falling off in 6inches of water

Or Less........

Blackvans1234 wrote:I suppose I could just take the 6'8 out, but again I worry about potential damage to the board and myself.

Thoughts/reccomendations?

In that case, I'd buy a beater (any board you don't worry about damaging). Learn the spot and bring your better equipment once you know how to surf there without breaking things.


(Just make sure you're not the guy at the 5:30 mark. That's the recipe for spinal injury.)

As kids who couldn't afford boards we rode mats like this....

When I was a kid we would take a truck tire inner tube out into the surf and play a game of seeing who could hold onto it the longest while we tow it into the lineup. I guess the danger of shorebreak depends on your skills.

Did you end up getting one? I just tried my friend's 6'0 catchsurf log for the first time today. Fat high tide 2-3ft. Pretty fun, and it got into waves easily. It was a bit "floppier" than I expected though.

Nah, never ended up getting one. Saw the price tag and couldn't bring myself to do it.

I really wanted to like the CatchSurf soft boards. The one thing nobody tells you is how much they flex. When standing on a soft top it bends like you're standing on a sponge-cake! Maybe you get used to it? It's not a fun feeling when you're trying to enjoy riding waves and the board feels as mushy as the waves you're riding. Those boards are big expensive boogie boards with lots of branding and some very good professional surfers who could probably make riding a screen door look good.

Feel like I need to edit my last post on this subject. As It seems that the Catch Surf board that I bought used had a broken stringer! Or maybe the stringer was never put in? Either way, I since rented a 5'5" RNF Catch Surf Odysea board and it was actually quite fun! I little too small for me, but definitely didn't bend like the other one I had. I liked it so much I'm actually getting a 5'11" RNF! I'll let you know how I like it.