When's it time to move from a soft top

[Kieran151]

I'm currently surfing a 9ft softtop , I use the perfect storm single fin on it and usually ride the foamie as a 2+1 setup, I can pop up on waves up to 3-4ft and easily go down the line , can pump the board , do slow turns etc , is the softtop hindering my improvement or do I just keep with it

[dtc]

The time to move is when you feel like moving.

If your assessment of your abilities is right, then its probably time to move. Dont be too keen to go down in size - a 9ft hardboard is more difficult to surf than a 9ft softboard in many ways (lower volume, less float, less stable). So stay in the 8-9ft range probably, at least for a few months (depending on how often you surf)

if you want to stay on the softboard then you can certainly continue to improve your skills, it wont be holding you back for quite a while

[waikikikichan]

I was on my 9 foot BZ soft board for the first 2 years, it helped me a lot to feel the wave and use my rails instead of the fin. But use should try borrowing a hardboard from a surf buddy for a wave or two.

A little off topic, but could you clarify your fin set up ? You have a Perfect Storm Single fin, but use it in conjunction with the two stock thruster side fins ?

[Kieran151]

Ah perfect , ye I've caught a few waves on my freinds 10ft pintail hardboard and it flies along , was great fun on a nice 2ft day , I tend to swap between the perfect storm fin on its own as a single and then with the side bites , I kneeboard a bit , and found that the side bites gave me more hold in the hight parts of the wave for doing turns or trying to do floaters , it also has more hold on the steeper days , however on the smaller days I ride it as a single as it tends to turn easier and when kneeboarding the bottom turn just flows with the single , also when I was starting out surfing standup a couple of months ago , the side bites made it way more stable , I don't notice it now though

[Ratfinksurfer]

Kieran151 If you're going down the line and turning on 3-4 ft waves you can definitely get a hard board! Just reading your post is making me think about how I need to work on my turns! Get an 8' hard top fun shape board. I have a 7'6" Firewire Submoon and it's a blast to surf! You sound like a beginner who's more of an intermediate than a beginner now. The best part about riding a hard board I'm sure you'll start engaging the rails more and your turns will become more clear and defined, less soft and fuzzy than on the soft top.

The Submoon is kind of a weird board so I'm sure some will balk at my recommending it. I'm not actually recommending it. (Unless it interests you!) I just like how well it turns, it's got such a thin tail it helps me turn better. It trims beautifully too.