When to Transition to Surfing Hardtop after Soft Top Board
Beginner surfers learn easily on a soft top board because they are good for both foam and real waves. The beginner starts in waist deep water to catch foam waves and ride them to the beach. Oceanside has a good beginner area at the Pier.
A soft top board has high volume and floats the surfer on top of the water to make the board easy to paddle, catch waves, and ride. As boards lose volume, each of those 3 become more difficult. The advantage of a hardboard is sometimes more speed catching a real wave and then better maneuverability. It takes a long time for the surfer to learn enough to need these two advantages.
Master the Fundamentals Before Changing Boards
The beginner masters riding to the beach after learning to time waves, learn the timing and rhythm of catching and popping up, and then riding without falling off. Ater this he paddles out to start catching bigger foam waves and then smaller real waves. The smaller real waves on some beaches are reformed waves after breaking on the outside. This gives the surfer an opportunity to learn on an easier wave.
Once the surfer starts paddling out to real waves in the line up, the soft top still performs well. It can catch up to 7′ waves, accelerate in the pocket, do bottom turns and cutbacks. If the surfer wants to rip the lip or do 360’s and aerials, the soft top is not the right board. Most surfers transition before this advanced stage.
The idea is not to go too short too fast. You lose all the advantages and fun of a soft top and make everything difficult. The first step is to a fun board at 7’6″ long, 21+” wide, and 2 3/4″ inches thick. The surfer can do most anything he wants on this board and have a lot of fun. If he wants to go shorter, then it should just be 6″ at a time maintaining the width and thickness. Don’t lose the ease and fun. There are still big challenges. Perfect the style. Shorter boards do not make surfing easier. A surfer has to have better skills to take advantage of the lower volume.
Learn More:
How Surfboards Are Constructed
Read Other Posts:
Beginner Surfers Learn on Soft Tops
5 Steps to Improve Surfing Performance
3 Ways to Catch Real Surfing Waves
Training to Ride the Surfing Short Board
Short Board Surfing Techniques
For the following services call 760-696-7149: Individual Surf lessons in Oceanside, private group and family surf lessons, Oceanside surf lessons for kids, package lessons for vacations and more in-depth learning.
For Surf Lessons in Oceanside, see the Home Page
Visit me on Instagram
See me on Facebook
For getting in better shape for surfing see GetFittoSurf.com
-Book
Lose weight, get fit, and learn to surf. All in one concise summary of 3 books, Combines The 3 Week Plan, Get Fit to Surf, and Learn to Surf Guide.
Buy E Book on Amazon for $6.99
The Perfect Start for losing weight and getting fit is the E Book The 3 Week Plan
Buy on Kindle for $2.99 or Paperback for $6.95
Get my new book Get Fit to Surf
Its time to get back in shape. This book discusses strength, flexibility, stamina, and nutritional needs for getting in shape and losing weight. It is the great guide to get back to fitness for all your recreational desires. If you can surf, you can do most anything.
Buy on Kindle for $2.99 or Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
Get the Free Audio Book on Sound Cloud
Get the Learn to Surf Guide Course in Kindle, Paperback or Audio
A great 29 page course on the fundamentals of catching waves, doing beginner and advanced pop ups, riding real waves, how to do maneuvers on real waves, which surfboards to ride, and how to progress. Great for lesson preparation, after lesson review, or learning on your own.
Kindle price $2.99 on Amazon. Paperback price $6.95 on Amazon. Audio download price $6.95
Seniors Get Fit to Surf
Description:
Seniors often ask if it is too late to learn to surf. Age is functional not chronological. If people have been exercising and maintaining body strength, surfing can be accomplished. If people have not been exercising, then getting in shape to surf could be a life changing move. Learn how to develop strength, flexibility, and stamina to learn surfing. If you are in surf shape, you could pursue most any recreation.
Buy the E-book on Amazon for $2.99
Buy the Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
Read a Book in the Markap Series
Self-Leadership, Happiness, Start Now.
Start Now is the process of losing weight, building strength and stamina, developing cardio fitness for surfing, recreation and health. Buy the E-book on Amazon for $2.99 and the Paperback for $9.95. Get into surf shape, start a new lifestyle, and enjoy life at a new level of health.
