Hello from Germany

[LandlockedDave]

Hi everyone.
I just want to introduce myself. I’m a landlocked surfer from Germany, who is currently absolutely hooked on surfing. Living more than 1.000 Miles from the next surfable waves that means, that I’m more reading about surfing, watching surf videos and surfskating than being in the water.
I started surfing in my late 20s. Since than I surfed every year for one to three weeks in southern France and try to convince my family to do on additional surfing trip a year to other places. I just came back from surfing in Marokko.
I would describe myself as an early intermediate surfer. I feel comfortable in wave up to head high waves, catch most waves I go for, trim along the line and do bottom turns. But I definitely need to learn and improve maneuvers.
You’ll find my first question on the surfboard advice forum.

Please excuse grammer or spelling mistakes. Trying my best

Thanks

[jaffa1949]

Great news a family growing up together to be surfing family
A good idea for your future selection of boards ( forget about volume) bothnyou and your wife need boards that youcan match the speed of the wave; Short doesn‘t do it , short puts you needing to be in the critical part. the steeper part to catch the wave, much more critical skills needed.

So how do most nose dives happen by the tail being lifted as the speed of the board is too slow.
In early stages of learning the paddler does not have the strength and endurance to maintain enough speed to catch the wave, length gives more paddle speed, going short bogs the paddle down, so finding the length is most important.
Concentrating volume in shorter boards make the small size more corky, which you will create another issue.
Other forum members will come on board ( pun intended) and offer their thoughts, don’t buy a board yet, when next you go to France see if there is some try before you buy or try multiple hiring options.
I note you talk about Torq. boards, many of the forum crowd are happy with them. Talk about the Torq range models that interest you.
Lots of help here before you pay out Euros.
I can also recommend several surf camps in France from my personal experience both of which have German speaking coaches and a variety of boards.
I know the travel involved. having to come from Salzkammergut, but is hard to keep an Australian surfer away from the ocean too long.

[LandlockedDave]

Hi thank you very much for the advice.
So I'll look deeper into the 7'4 or 7'6 area.

I surfed a 6'6 Torq Mod Fish in hip to chest high waves in Marroco and absolutely loved how easy it was to paddle, how stable it glided into the waves and how fast it was. Turning felt quite natural and smooth as well.

I know real fishes are not recommended for beginners. But a 7'2 Mod Fish with a Thruster set up and 53 liters is not really a fish. So could this be a good board for someone how knows at least how to pop up in green waves and struggles with catching waves? Maybe as Softtop (56l) to be saver in the crowded French spots? It's not available in longer sizes.


I'll try to get my wife to rent and try some different boards

[LandlockedDave]

I could not find an edit function, so I'll just post another reply.

I'll definitely take oldmansurfer (awnsered in the other thread) and your advice and look for longer boards. I just mentioned the 7'2 Torq fish, because you asked, in which boards Torq boards I'm interested.

The surf camps in France are great. I've been to an one week beginner course. It was quite intense, with two surf sessions and a theory lesson every day.

Can't wait until my kids are old enough for the family surf camps. Until then we'll just go to the camp sites ourselves

[jaffa1949]

A plus side here is if you post pictures of what boards you are considering the experience surfers here will guide you as to what may be the better board for you and your wife. much advice will be for the 7‘ 6‘‘ being the minimum 8ft better check the Torq range in trying, forget looking for soft tops to give volume the length will pull the volume up and give ease of paddling , I do recommend that as we offer you choices see if can get something like that to get the feel. again a photo of the one will help us help you!

[LandlockedDave]

There are currently so many options I'm thinking through.

I just found an amazing offer for a new Modern Love Child. A highly recommended, funshape/ mini Malibu, which is normally in the price range between 800 and 900€ for 590€.

The Board has gratis reviews and a German Board Shop, which ist writing it's own reviews istat of copying the manufacturers marketing description writes:
Lots of volume, flat rocker line, soft rails and straight outline for easy gliding, paddling pleasure and enough buoyancy in weak waves. This is combined with a rounded pin tail and a tail that is quite narrow for such boards, which ensures support and control in steeper waves. This is rounded off by the versatile 1+4 fin set up, which allows you to switch between single fin, 1+2, quad or thruster configuration depending on your taste and conditions. This makes the Modern Love Child one of the most versatile shapes in our board rack and is recommended to every surfer from beginner to advanced who is looking for an all-purpose weapon.


The manufacturer recommends the 6'6 for an intermediate with my weight. But I'm considering the 7,6 for myself and getting rid of my bic 7'3 " for the following reasons.
- You guys really made me thinking about getting a bigger board and work on my technique
- The Bic is heavy and not exactly a wave catching machine and a cheap beginner board.
- I'm surfing mostly small French summer waves and crowded line ups
- when the surf is better and good locals are surfing the crowded good peaks, I mostly waltk to the smaller peaks
- if only croeded peaks are surfable, I mostly sit a little bit closer to the beach and on the shoulder waiting for waves the locals let through. Therefore a wave catching machine could be good to increase board time.
- I'm still having my 6'2 "egg, which I love, if good surf over 4 foot is coming in
- after my wife restarted surfing on a rented 8'0 board, she may likes it as well

But I am concerned if the 7"6 may be to bulky and not maneuverable enough for me to improve my turns.

Another option would be getting the Live Child as the recommended 6"8 as one board quiver and replace the Bic and the egg.

Another wave catching idea would still be the torq 6"6 or 6"10 mod fish, I mentioned before. I absolutely liked the speed and maneuverability. But I have to admit that I had great chest high conditions and an empty line up.

An alternative would be the more expensive pod mod fish, which has more volume.

So many opportunities

[LandlockedDave]

Never mind. Found some awnsers in older threads. I should have used the forum search first. Got to excited. Sorry

[jaffa1949]

Alles kommt gut! The Modern is a good option maybe a little better thanthe Torq, realistically get with longer and more versatile going short will not give you the initial skills to go short, get really capable on long then you will be ready to know what you want and need in a shorter board.
Similar consideration around 8ft for your wife.