Surfing Waves

So I'm looking to progress from a soft board to a hard(Ish) board, I have done 10 2 hour surf lessons and I am pretty confident now with paddling out and I have managed to catch a few green waves and I am now looking to improve my skill level but I was just wondering if I should stay on a soft board or try and challenge myself with a hard board, if you guys or girls can give me your thoughts on this subject that would be great.

Are you renting buying or borrowing? and are you rich? In my opinion......If you are renting you might try a hard board. If you own the softie then stick with it for a while more untill you don't fall down much then go for a hard board unless you are rich then buy a custom made board or two or three. A new board isn't going to improve your skill level so that isn't what it takes. It takes lots of time surfing.

SurfingIsAmazing wrote:I have done 10 2 hour surf lessons and I am pretty confident now with paddling out and I have managed to catch a few green waves

Time for a real board

When you say 'soft board', do you mean the completely foam boards (like you've probably hired in Devon/Cornwall) or a soft-top board (foam on the top, hard board on the bottom) ?

If you've been on a foamie, its definitely time to try a hard board.
If you mean a soft-top, then you could stick it out for a while longer, but assuming you've been hiring them, I'd be going shopping quite soon.

And, yes, surfing is amazing

Nothing wrong with getting a hard board. But it won't make you progress any faster. You'll probably get beaten up more with a hard board. If you're a female, you'll get bruises by your hip bone. If you're a male, then bruises under your ribs cage will show up. Ever bang your chin on the softboard when your hand slipped off the rail ? It hurts more on a hard board. That's one advantage of the a softboard when you're learning. Plus softboard absorbs some of the shock of the wave, where on a hard board you get bucked off.

Question 1 - on those ten 2-hour lessons you took, was your instructor setting you up and telling you when to paddle ? Being on your own in the ocean is a big difference. Being a few meters off the peak means catching the wave or not.

Question 2 - What size hardboard is going to fit in your car, apartment, stairwell ?

But as others have said, get a hard board. You'll eventually get one. But just don't expect it to increase your skill level. I surfed a softboard for my first 2 years.

I say go for a proper board. Something with a little more flotation. A funboard or mini mal will give you the flotation you need and should also give you the ability to move the board around when you start to get some skills. That being said you can progress pretty far on a foamy.

waikikikichan wrote:Nothing wrong with getting a hard board. But it won't make you progress any faster. You'll probably get beaten up more with a hard board. If you're a female, you'll get bruises by your hip bone. If you're a male, then bruises under your ribs cage will show up. Ever bang your chin on the softboard when your hand slipped off the rail ? It hurts more on a hard board. That's one advantage of the a softboard when you're learning. Plus softboard absorbs some of the shock of the wave, where on a hard board you get bucked off.

Question 1 - on those ten 2-hour lessons you took, was your instructor setting you up and telling you when to paddle ? Being on your own in the ocean is a big difference. Being a few meters off the peak means catching the wave or not.

Question 2 - What size hardboard is going to fit in your car, apartment, stairwell ?

But as others have said, get a hard board. You'll eventually get one. But just don't expect it to increase your skill level. I surfed a softboard for my first 2 years.

The lessons at first where the instructor telling me when to paddle and everything but after a few lessons I went my own way and paddled on my own and I found it quite easy really.

Car size isnt really a problem as I can borrow my Grandfathers car which is big and has a roof rack I also wouldnt be buying just renting as I can't get in the see very much.

oldmansurfer wrote:Are you renting buying or borrowing? and are you rich? In my opinion......If you are renting you might try a hard board. If you own the softie then stick with it for a while more untill you don't fall down much then go for a hard board unless you are rich then buy a custom made board or two or three. A new board isn't going to improve your skill level so that isn't what it takes. It takes lots of time surfing.

I will be renting my board as I cant get in the water very often I've been surfing on a complete foam board in the lessons.

drowningbitbybit wrote:

SurfingIsAmazing wrote:I have done 10 2 hour surf lessons and I am pretty confident now with paddling out and I have managed to catch a few green waves

Time for a real board

When you say 'soft board', do you mean the completely foam boards (like you've probably hired in Devon/Cornwall) or a soft-top board (foam on the top, hard board on the bottom) ?

If you've been on a foamie, its definitely time to try a hard board.
If you mean a soft-top, then you could stick it out for a while longer, but assuming you've been hiring them, I'd be going shopping quite soon.

And, yes, surfing is amazing

When I say soft board I mean completely foam boards. Thanks for the advice.

SurfingIsAmazing wrote:I will be renting my board as I cant get in the water very often I've been surfing on a complete foam board in the lessons.

Then go for a hard board. it's about time just don't expect your surfing to improve much because you have a better board. It takes time in the ocean. I am still amazed at all the things we do absent of thought while we surf. There is just so much that goes into surfing it's amazing to me that anyone can do it.

Go for the hard board on your next outing. You're renting anyway so if you end up not having a good time or struggling you can go back to the foamie on the next trip.