Soft surfboards today

Softboards For every level of surfing

Author: Michael Laielli, of Primal Surf School Owner/Operator 25+ years in Brigantine, NJ.

In my 25 years of teaching surfing, I’ve seen the evolution of the soft board come to what it is today. Softboards started out being crude in shape and weight, but effective for teaching surfing. Soft surfboards have evolved to the point of being able to ride them in serious high-performance waves, as proved by many pro level surfers who now have their own models of softboards out on the market. Choosing your first surfboard it’s quite easy for a beginner. What you need to consider is the following; riders height weight and age, experience level, and how often rider will be using the board. A good surf shop will have someone available to guide you with your choice. In my experience over the years, the learning curve is accelerated if you choose a board in the right size range to float the rider properly, giving them plenty of paddling speed and flotation to enter the wave. Most adults will benefit from 8 to 9 foot full volume softboard such as Catch Surf Odysea Log. or Surftech Softop, Surfers that are experienced or young children would be in the 5 to 7 foot range depending on age and skill level or preference. For the advanced Surfer, there are quite a few options from companies such as Softech, Catch Surf, JJF Funformance, Surfers with a good amount of experience are choosing boards from all the categories, which allows them to catch waves early because of the higher volume they contain. Experience surfers also enjoy the level of fun they provide in conditions such as crowded beach breaks, or smaller summer surf conditions, but not limited to those days as the boards will handle performance waves as well.

Whatever your level of experience is, we will help you choose the right softboard to suit your needs. Stop in our shop at Primal Surf, 3106 Revere Blvd., Brigantine, New Jersey. When fully stocked, we carry approximately 150/200 soft surfboards in inventory. Soft surfboard brands that we carry are: FCS Softech, Surftech Softop, Odysea, Catch Surf, Beater, Wave Bandit Ben Gravy, JJF Pyzel Funformance, and Stormblade.

We also have an excellent surf school program running June through Mid September. We use top quality brands of boards and wetsuits in our school and have the areas best beaches to surf. Brigantine has more surfing area littered with sandy bottom beach breaks that are also guarded in season.

Get a board and get out there!
Mike Laielli