Torq Tec Big Boy 23 7'2 or Torq Mod Fish 7'2

[CroydeFan1]

I have been trying (emphasis on trying) to learn how to surf for 6-8 months or so now. I'm 43, 83kgs, reasonably agile but not overly fit. My local break is Shoreham on Sea although I have been to North Devon & Cornwall probably 6 times and to Hendaye Plage in France twice in that time. I bought myself a Bic Magnum 8'4 which is very easy to catch waves on and very stable but just weighs a ton and is a nightmare to carry around. I want to get a smaller board that will be a little more convenient and will be something to progress on for a couple of years. I'm thinking of the big boy 23 or the mod fish both at 7'2? Has anyone ridden either of these or stepped down to them from a larger minimal-style board like the bic? I know I will have a nightmare of a learning curve on either of these probably but I'm pretty sure I want to give one of them a go. My wave catching/pop-up aren't bad...my weaknesses are more focussed on fitness (lack of) and lack of confidence in the water more generally.

[BaNZ]

I'm 64kg, 35 and the smallest I can go is 7'6. Anything smaller and I really struggle. I've also surfed for a couple of years now. So I hope my experience will help you decide.

Torq are good boards, I've got a torq 6'3 hybrid. The big boy 23 7'6 does look appealing to me. And I find Torq to be lighter than BIC.

[RinkyDink]

I really prefer light surfboards. I wouldn't go for a smaller length board if you're not happy with the weight of your current board. I'd just find a lighter board in the length you feel most comfortable with. Firewire surfboards are pretty light and there are other boards with similar construction out there. You just need to shop around.

[CroydeFan1]

Thx for the feedback guys...useful info.

[steveylang]

Both boards are pretty wide with volume, there's also a 7'6" big boy if you were worried about adjusting to a smaller board.

I recently switched from a 7' Stormblade SSR (almost 24" wide with lots of volume, learned on it for a year) to a 7'3" hybrid style PU board with a lot less volume. The new board felt a lot different at first- loose, skatey, hard to even sit on while waiting for waves. But it wasn't impossible, and after a couple of sessions I knew I'd be fine on it. Ideally I would have gone with something like the Torq Fish around 7' or a minimal, but my board was a Craigslist find and things have worked out.

I am 47, weigh a little less than you. My guess is that you'd be fine with the new board after an initial adjustment period. As long as you're not totally lost on it, you will gradually get more and more comfortable on it. I find that my new board is a lot less tolerant of bad/lazy technique, which I take as a good thing.

[Big H]

Personally I’d get a board around 8ft that isn’t a bic. To progress, really progress you need to be comfortabe in the water....be able to surf bigger waves because it isn’t until you feel comfortable on a wave large enough to have a face and power to harness, you won’t “progress” until then. Build your water confidence until you can charge bigger waves......I surfed Padang2 this morning and ditched my board and swam back 300m with the board in tow when I was done just to remind myself I could do it even after a 3h sesh. Doing stuff like this is where you will find gains; not in product sourcing and market comparisons. I will say that you should probably ditch the bic; I’ve heard a lot of negative comment RE the weight of that board.. Just remember; progression is on you, not the board under you.

[Beginner77]

I'd highly recommend trying before you buy. I notice from your username that you like Croyde: there's a surf shop there that have a huge range of boards to hire, so you can try what suits you best: https://www.croyde-surf-hire.co.uk/. I've never used them, but I'm going there in the summer for a week and may check them out. Porthcawl Surf School at Rest Bay also have a large range to hire and have very good prices; I've used them many times and can recommend them.

I'm a beginner at surfing, so am still just hiring, but have found that different boards feel quite different. My other sports are flatwater SUP and windsurfing, and I own boards for both. For SUP and WS I hired a vast range of boards before buying and found this to be the best tactic. You'll find some surprises along the way - volume and length don't tell the whole story.

[jaffa1949]

Beginner 77 that is the sort of Lica Lisen advice needed, why not, get together, surfing,if possible will progress faster and be more faster with friendship and on hand critique! Buddy learning pushes you faster!

[CroydeFan1]

Thx for all of this guys. I have held off buying for the moment...think I will be back at Woolacombe soon so will rent a torq modfish 7'2 as I found somewhere that hires so will see after that.

[pmcaero]

Stuck with the Bic, you'll get ripped
Also, the plastic ones last forever.
And when you learn to shred it's extra satisfying to do it on a beginner board and defy everyone's expectations.

[CroydeFan1]

I know this post is from a while ago but as I've just bought a Firewire Addvance Timbertek 7'6 I thought I'd just give my feedback. I'm a beginner still, 43 years old, 83kgs, have been going on surf trips for a year mostly to North Devon/Cornwall but also to Hendaye in the South of France. I am basically working on being able to consistently catch green waves and trying to surf down the line rather than straight towards the beach. My paddle fitness is xxxxx although my paddle strength for short bursts is ok. I've just got back from 3 days at Fistral Beach with forecasts between 2-3ft and 3-5ft. First impressions are that it is very easy to catch waves on the addvance. I was riding a bic 8'4 before with loads of volume (72l). I tried a 7'6 cortez with quite a lot less volume and had a much harder time catching waves. I therefore decided to go for an addvance as it's light but high volume. I would just say that this is a board that is suitable for beginners if you are able to consistently able to pop up on a large bic or foamie-style board. Don't worry about the advance reference in the name...this isn't a board for advanced surfers. I am very happy with it and after this first trip I can already feel it's going to be a great board to progress on.