Longboard or Softtop?

Question

i already have a fun size board but im interested in buying a longboard. does it matter if it's fiberglass/epoxy or a softtop board?

Answer 1

Fiberglass!!!! Soft tops are for the fake surfers just trying to look ligit in the water.

Answer 2

I would go for a fiberglass or epoxy. The reason is that softtops  are great for learning but will hold you back once you learn the basics. I would suggest buying an epoxy board because they are stronger and more buoyant than traditional fiberglass boards.

Hope this helps,

The Surfboard Man

http://www.thesurfboardman.com/

Answer 3

Soft tops are made for beginners. Since you already surf on a funboard, it would be a waste for you to 'move backward' in the quality of your equipment. My nine year old granddaughter rides a soft top.

I ride both long and short boards, and I love having a longboard on those flat days where the short boarders just sit on the Beach and get a tan. You need a nice board, and the choice between polyester resin and epoxy is just a matter of personal preference. I have been surfing since 1966, and being a bit of a dinosaur, I really prefer PE, but there are some good arguments out there for both.

Go to a good local surf shop and talk to the pros there. they will do a better job of getting you the right board for your, skill level, local wave conditions (and your budget) than any of us out here in cyberspace can Good luck!

Answer 4

yea go for fiberglass

Answer 5

Hi Laura,

if you are able to ride your fun sized board then i would recommend getting a fiberglass long board.

The softbaords are great for learning on and riding in the flags, however they have soft fins and will not handle off the bottom drives very well. You wont get a great response when surfing across a wave and trimming down the line from one of these boards. however if just for fun they can be a great alternative.

Epoxy is ok. They are light and float well, however they do not have the same feel or flex as a fibreglassed board. If you crack or damage the outer layer of the epoxy board the hollow inside can fill with water...which spells the end of the board.

I prefer a have a nice hand made fibreglass board. This is one sport that you can get a hand crafted sporting good at a great price. They look better, have better flex properties when surfing, and if you ding or crack the board you can get them easily repaired.

Hope this helps.

mesurf

[e-mail]

http://www.mesurf.com.au

http://www.shapersearch.com.au

Answer 6

Soft boards are designed for learning so if you can already surf go for a standard longboard.  Soft boards have weird flex and buoyancy properties which could actually adversely affect your learning curve since it will not ride like your regular board.

Answer 7

get a regular fiberglass board

soft tops are for training and are really heavy