Saw some threads about how people shouldnt buy soft top boards etc. Well a week ago a soft top foam board changed my 8 year old daughters life. Here's the first wave I ever pushed her into, first wave ever, and I would be willing to bet she's got more style than half the guys on the site who are riding $700 Merricks, but at least they have real boards. Kams First Wave by jblacks, on Flickr My daughter never fell she just laid back down, turned the board around and started paddling back to me. MY 8 year had one complaint about the 6' waterlogged rubber fin soft top she was riding though, she said she tried to turn it like her Sector Nine skateboard, but the board wouldnt turn. Long live soft tops.
Foam surfboards are great for teaching people. My girlfriend came to visit the beginning of this month and you think I set her on my fiberglass board so she could crack her skull open on it? Give me a break. Foam boards serve a purpose in this world. Some people are just too thick to recognize it.
Nice story & great picture. Foam tops are great for people trying to learn and they are a lot of fun in shorebreak waves. I just ordered the "beater log" yesterday. Can't wait to ride it at high tide.
Yeah the day beofre it was dead flat in Nags Head, I just started pushing her parallel to the beach so she could practice popping up when I said "POP" just to get the basic transition down from belly to feet. Next day we had a weak shin high wave breaking on a bar about 40 yards off the beach. I paddled her out there. Shoved her in and bam, kids up putting preessure on the inside rail and riding down the line. We got really lucky had someone out there with us with my GoPro and thye happened to accidentally switch the camera to "burst mode" instead of "video mode" and got the entire sequence of her popping up and starting down the line, this shot is Number 9 in a sequence of 10. Yes Daddy is proud of her smooth style for her first day out.
For real? What size did you get? I tried a friend's "Beater" and had a blast. When I went on their site, I saw that they had other shapes and sizes. Can't wait for my log to get here. I am going to tear the fins off on shorebreak and I am going to like it.
hey that's great I've been wondering what to try my 8 year old boy on. So that's a 6' is like a bz thing or beater. Where did you get it? thanks.
Beater boards are more upscale foam boards. They are advertised for surfers to use on all sorts of waves, including high tide shore break. It sucks when dead high tide is in the middle of the day - "Beater" boards will fix that. Can't wait to get mine. Check them out: http://catchsurf.com/index.php/beater-surfboards.php
Bushwoods - Thanks for posting, that is a great story and a KILLER picture!! She has excellent style, great positioning!! Your are a proud Dad!!!!
awesome for her first wave! oh and who said soft tops are strictly beginner boards? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D5ugxEVBXA
See video of week for another great use of foamies. LNF: LOWERS RAID 2012 http://www.swellinfo.com/video/lnf-lowers-raid-2012
The board my daughter is on is a BZ its like 6'-2" maybe. I bought it for $65 at the end of the summer from The Pit in Kill Devils Hills (outer banks) Best thing to do is call local Surf Schools or Surfboard Rental places, ast the end of the summer they dump their old beat up boards so they dont have to store them, one last cash out before the tourist go home. I got my kids foam board for $65 at the end of the summer years ago for my oldest daughter. I actually ride it too, when I have to get wet and its shore break or if its rolling and weak and just breaking its like a longboard almost it floats so well. Doest turn worth a crap with Rubber fins but its fun