Short Softboard or medium hardboard?

[lucilejom]

Hello!

I'm about to spend the winter surfing in the Mediterranean, which does have some wave at that season and wondering what board to choose?

I'm a beginner/intermediate, female of 160cm (5'25) height and 55kg 125 lbs). I've started surfing last year in the Caribbean on long foamies, quickly moved onto a hard, large 7" catfish that I had for a couple of months. This fall I've been surfing rivers in Canada with a hard, large 5"8.

Someone wants to sell me their Mick Fanning's catfish, soft 5"8 33L for half the price it is when new. For the same price I could get a hard 6"1 from a brand I no nothing of. I'm wondering whether I should take this one, or choose a little longer hard board.

It seems like the pros and cons are
- the short foamie would be easy to paddle out and could help me have equilibrium on a wave
- Ive read the good foams are literally as performant as non-foams, and that there's no reason for not taking that option
- the short foamie would be solid and I wont be scared to break it, break my neck or someone else's
- But Im afraid a foamie would be harder to duck dive? I already have a lot of struggle duck diving, I know the best is to avoid having to duck diving by learning how to avoid the break. I promise I am giving priority to learning how to read the surf, but I still often end up facing some big waves that I cant go around and Im smashed away.

I'm not even sure about the pros and cons, I would love to hear from you!
Thank you!!

[Naeco78]

The Literage on the 5.8 MF seems kinda low for a softop. You might notice that a lot more with paddling in the ocean. River surfing has much shorter boards because of the shape of the wave etc.. from what I understand. The MF dims seem much closer to what would be expected on a traditional hard surfboard.. but it does seem to have more of an edge on the MF softop, so that should help with performance like you were saying about the emerging similarities to hard surfboards.

The Softech boards seem to have more volume packed into similar length boards, if you find any available in your area. But I would probably stay away for the Catch Surf and similar foamies, if you're looking for performance. They just dont have the more ridged edges or hard rails, like the boards you mentioned that are comparable to traditional hard boards.

[jaffa1949]

I am both a a river surfer and an oceanic surfer, I have the same Mick Fanning I weigh 100kg, and. as we can acid or rope drop into the various river waves her in Austria, there is no need for length or volume for paddling.
Most river surfers have no idea how lacking in paddle quality in the ocean they will be.
90% or more is paddling out and paddling onto waves, manouvreability is about skills not just board. The MF has edges that allows you to lay your turn more strongly but may well lack paddling power, but less so for you than me! My paddle level is 9ft and i can turn all over the wave backhand and forehand.

I have been covid prevented from getting to surf in Sardinia this year but 9ft it would be.
What is the brand of the hard board you want we may have heard of it.
it is in a range that you might be able to surf... Duckdiving is a skill you can improve, foamier are a little more corky volume versus volume so a little harder.
Turtle roll is a skill too, ,

Next thought, a jump up to hard board can involve, damaging yourself or the board or someone else, That’s thoughtful but no matter what you ride if you ride well much less likely!
Come back again and let’s talk your need through a little more

[lucilejom]

Thank you so much for your answers !

Jaffa that's a great picture! I surfed in a river in Montreal and the current after the wave is insanely strong, so I've been working on my paddling power a lot (you can watch that video its pretty fun

the current that's taking the girl to the wave is twice as much stronger after the wave, when you're trying to get out and reach the shore). I learned surf in the ocean, in the Caribbean and on the French Atlantic coast so I have experienced how much paddling matters I've found myself in waves abt 2 meters I couldnt paddle through with 8" board, and through currents so strong I couldnt swim.

So my experience so far is riding 7-8" foam and hard in the ocean, and a 5"8 hard in the river. Generally, I have a pretty good paddling power for a beginner/intermediate but I cant turtle/duck dive yet, and I tend to lack a bit of equilibrium when taking off.

I've been looking at those hard boards because they're just a little higher than my budget and they're made close to home http://spiritofwave.com/#boards something between 6 and 7 might be what I need.

[jaffa1949]

Hi lucile, had a look at those boards and thought about the Mick Fanning.
Depending on where you go,and how you get to the Mediterranean waves, I would consider the 7ft board, even though when you read the measurement it say 7’9” this would give you good paddle float, smaller I would consider the 6’4”, the kevlar carbon epoxy means stronger than a PU board (normal glassing ) .
About duckdiving or turtle rolling, they are skills you get better.

Light and slightly easier would be he bigger Mick Fanning boards but I think they would be lacking in paddle power for wave catching
So my money is on the 7’ can you get somewhere to try it! I don’t know the brand.

I looked further on the Mick Fanning softboard site, the re is mention of a 7ft Pukas design softboard I think would really suit, come comes out of Pukas in Bidart so in your country, it was made for the designer’s daughter, is it available , don’t know!
i will go to Puka and check

Doesn’t look like they do any soft boards!