Upgrade from 8’ foamy

Go to a 7 ft foamie

 

Dude,
Get a 9'0" longboard.
Ride it in everything.

 

IMO, if you're just starting to do turns, you're still in the beginner category. As a replacement, I suggest getting an 8 ft mini mal or egg...poly or epoxy. You'll get opinions either way on the benefits and drawbacks of both materials. There should be plenty of used ones on the market.
http://www.surfscience.com/topics/types-of-surfboard/funboard/the-mini-mal

But going the longboard route is not a bad suggestion. Wave count is what you want right now.

 

If you weigh 140 pounds, are already surfing regularly, and want to progress to shorter boards, then get a shorter board. BUT get something with some width. I'd be looking for a board in the 6'10' - 7'2" range but an egg shape or small funboard. If you are already doing fine on an 8'0" then nothing over 7'6" foot, and definitely nothing that is "high performance." Unless you're going up and cracking the lip and doing full cutbacks (you arent), then the weight differential of poly vs. epoxy is not a factor you should worry about.

 

i still say 7 ft foam

 

don't listen to mitchell , he's kind of gray... just look at his avatar

 

Get an actual surfboard. 6'10" single fin for small surf. Learn how to surf. And stop wasting time. There's waves to be ridden.

 

Few even advanced surfers can turn on an 8 ft soft top. That, and the fact venice is a crappy surf spot, is going to exponentially slow your progression. You should drop down to a 7 ft soft top next (you'll get used to it) and don't even think about turns until you drop to a 6 ft soft top...and go to a better spot like el porto.

 

Any Board would be an upgrade from an 8' foamy haha.

 

No shit man...i paddled out last week on an 8' soft top last week in really fun waves just because a friend had one sitting on the beach. Brand new Almond "R-Series" board. A freaking $500 soft top! I couldn't believe how BAD it was. SO damn slow when I hopped to my feet and started down the line on a nice clean wave I almost fell forward over my front foot - it felt like the brakes were on.

 

Sounds weak and overpriced. I am definitely against the soft top revolution

 

Here you go. Board is in Venice. https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/spo/d/venice-custom-funshape-pintail-surfboard/6955437870.html

 

Yeah, but you can get used to them (the "stiff" ones w/ triple stringers, etc) and crank out some decent turns on the shorter models. Definitly not as forgiving as a hard board and hard bottom turns are particularly difficult ...you really have to in steep waves and be on your "A" game. I wish I could get back on my hardboards, but, after 3 years of this knee shit, doesn't look like that's ever going to happen.

 

thanks for the ride report.Iwas thinking about that board but my I kinda knew it would ride like a pig.

 

Obviously the performance curve on a softtop is not supposed to be like a HP board. The problem w almond's version and other companies is that it tries too hard to be a HP and therefore become overpriced. I don't work for Catch Surf, but I own a few of their boards and absolutely love the 8' log. 1ft days become ridable with the amount of volume packed into it. Any questions on the possibilities of what a softtop can do can easily be remedied by watching JOB ride one at pipe. And...ugh this thread is like 7 months old nvmd

 

I've been surfing for about 6 months and began w/ an 8 ft log (after renting/borrowing/etc) and really love it. As you say -- it catches everything and I've even become pretty adept at turning on it -- given the way they make it. While I'd still rate myself a beginner, I've picked it up pretty quick given I've been snowboarding for most of my life. The only issue I have with the east coast swell on bigger days is it's nearly impossible to get the log past the break with the volume it has. Any suggestions for a second or secondary board for bigger days as you kind of enter the beginner / intermediate category?

 

Try harder or quit. It's also shark season .
Surf season starts June 1 to September 30.
Always surf near a lifeguard.