Advice on buying a soft top board? Surftech, INT, Catch?

[enduroevoz]

Hello,

Thanks to everyone in advance for your thoughts. I was hoping to get some advice about buying a soft top board. Basically, for some background, 30 y/o guy (5'10, 160), grew up bodyboarding (reef breaks, etc), and am a competitive open water swimmer, so I have a pretty decent feel for the waves and know how to paddle, etc. Unfortunately I never tried surfing as a kid, so am trying to learn as an adult. I bought a 6'2 fairly thick fish last year and surfed for a few months on it in San Diego (where I now live), but never really got comfortable on the board. After a few months I would get up on the board fairly consistently, could go down the line, but needed more practice turning, etc. If i'm being honest with myself, one thing I noticed was that after a few months I got pretty frustrated that I wasn't catching that many waves and was still falling off a decent amount (30%), so I ditched surfing and went back to swimming on my masters team.

This time around I'd like to give surfing another shot, but I was thinking maybe I should switch boards to something that would make surfing more fun and keep me out there. My family said they'd buy me a board as a present, so cost isn't a huge issue (within reason). I've heard some good things about soft top boards (e.g., Surftech, INT, Catch Surf Odysea) being a good board for those with more advanced beginner/intermediate skills who don't want to rock a 9' wavestorm. Have any of you guys ridden these boards? Do you think they would be a better place to start for someone like me? Would it be significantly easier to catch stuff on relative to a fairly wide fish? Ideally, I'd like to ride a short board with more float, unless the consensus is in order to effectively learn I really must start with a long board...

Thanks!

[BaNZ]

I rode a 8' foamie Odysea. Hated it, it feels much worse than a wavestorm.

Started with a surftech soft top 9'. Really enjoyed it.

If you were able to catch some waves and ride on a 6'3. I would say just get a hard top. I would if I'm at SD. I also got a torq 9'0 in SD if you want to buy one Torq and NSP are the brands I would recommend. If you have good paddling and aiming to go for shortboards, then I would suggest to get a 7'2 or 7'6.

[dtc]

Do you think they would be a better place to start for someone like me? Would it be significantly easier to catch stuff on relative to a fairly wide fish? ..Thanks!

yes.

bigger boards = more stable, easier to paddle, much more margin of error for positioning, pop up speed, foot placement and all the rest.

Whether you go for a soft top or a hard board is up to you; either type of board will suit. And so will an 8ft wavestorm - dont dismiss them out of hand just because they are cheap and ubiquitous. Soft boards are usually much more floaty than a hard board, which is good for beginners; they obviously hurt less if the board hits you or someone else, which is also good. But there is a reason why few good surfers surf them - they are limited in terms of fins (often), they have very thick rails, can be heavy (depends on the brand), generally have poor bottom contours etc. That doesnt make them unsuitable for beginners, but hard boards are generally a step above.

If you truly consider yourself an advanced beginner/intermediate, then I suggest getting a 7'6 funboard/mini mal board (cheaper brands include Torq eg modfun or bigboy, GSI; or a locally shaped and second hand). Something like 7'6 x 22 x 2 3/4. Or if you want a softboard, then also look at Torq as they use future fins rather than a proprietary system (so you have greater choice of fins), and have a good variety of boards.

There is no reason against getting an 8ft or 9ft longboard either.

short answer: yes, get a bigger board. Suggest a fun board or long board. Up to you whether you want a softboard or a hard board - either will suit; probably the hard board is a longer term prospect, but if you want to flip the board after 6 months then softboard tend to sell for good prices

(also: same as BaNZ!)

[waikikikichan]

I've heard some good things about soft top boards (e.g., Surftech, INT, Catch Surf Odysea) being a good board for those with more advanced beginner/intermediate skills who don't want to rock a 9' wavestorm. Have any of you guys ridden these boards?

Yes, I have ridden/owned all the boards on your list ( plus the Wavestorm 8 footer, Water Rampage Amp surf stick, Morey Doyle, BZ softboards and FCS Softech ). The limiting factor with most of the sponge boards are the flexy rubber fins. The flex in the board is a good thing though since it absorbs some of the wave action that otherwise might buck you off on a hard board. Some models of INT have Futures and a hard bottom, so those are more a hybrid of soft and hard. Surftech just came out with a new signature series line of Softop boards with shapers like Donald Takayama, Bill Stewart and Marcio Zouvi of Sharpeye ( the shaper for Filipe Toledo ).

Screenshot 2018-07-11 at 9.42.29 AM.png (286.49 KiB) Viewed 3330 times

I'm planning on picking up the 8' Stewart Hydro Fun when I go back to Hawaii.

[nooshie]

Hi! So I recently bought a 9’ Catch Surf Odysea. I really like it! I was surfing a 7’6 Modern board and was not catching very many waves with it. I surf at Rockaway in NYC so 1-3 foot waves most days, onshore winds, you know all the perfect conditions one dreams of Since switching to the Odysea my wave count per session has increased dramatically. I can catch a ton of waves with it and it is big and stable. I’m at the point where I just want to catch as many waves as possible, hopefully make the right decision about going right or left, and have a little ride down the line. The Odysea has been perfect for that. It has its own unique fin system but they are much closer to real fins than other foam boards. They are thick and not flimsy. I haven’t ridden the other foam boards on your list so can’t really compare the board to those, but as a beginner looking to up my wave count, this board has been great. I also like the styles and colors they come in too

I rode a 9’ Torq longboard for a week in California and that was also a good board for my skill level.

[BaNZ]

Hey another surfer at Rockaway We got a group going every weekend to Rockaway now. Feel free to join us. We tend to go super early in the morning to avoid the crowds and rent a good board.

[nooshie]

Hey another surfer at Rockaway We got a group going every weekend to Rockaway now. Feel free to join us. We tend to go super early in the morning to avoid the crowds and rent a good board.

Hi! Which beach do you surf out? I go to Beach 90 usually b/c I have a locker there. Would love to join one day!

[sirkook94]

Catchsurf skipper is a fun board. Take it out on weak days, or days with plenty of juice, and she’ll work well.

Super thick so you can paddle pretty quickly if you are in good shape. I’ve taken mine out on days 2-3 feet overhead and mine flew down the line; I have the quad setup. Soft rails make it a little harder to make quick maneuvers, but you know what they say, it’s not the arrow it’s the Indian.

Hope this helps!

[pmcaero]

Catchsurf skipper is a fun board. Take it out on weak days, or days with plenty of juice, and she’ll work well.

Super thick so you can paddle pretty quickly if you are in good shape. I’ve taken mine out on days 2-3 feet overhead and mine flew down the line; I have the quad setup. Soft rails make it a little harder to make quick maneuvers, but you know what they say, it’s not the arrow it’s the Indian.

Hope this helps!

I would not recommend Odysea Skipper for beginners, the short length and corky feel take some getting used to and to me it feels very different from any other board I've ridden.

[pmcaero]

Catchsurf skipper is a fun board. Take it out on weak days, or days with plenty of juice, and she’ll work well.

Super thick so you can paddle pretty quickly if you are in good shape. I’ve taken mine out on days 2-3 feet overhead and mine flew down the line; I have the quad setup. Soft rails make it a little harder to make quick maneuvers, but you know what they say, it’s not the arrow it’s the Indian.

Hope this helps!

I would not recommend Odysea Skipper for beginners, the short length and corky feel take some getting used to and to me it feels very different from any other board I've ridden.