About
the Soft Top
If you're new to the sport, then you should start off with some sort
of "mini mal" shaped board. These come in a variety of forms
and the Soft Top is probably the most ideal board to start on. In
fact all BSA approved surf schools have to use them for their surf
lessons, as standard.
Effectively they're heavier than a traditional custom board and
therefore serve a limited purpose as progression with them is limited.
But to get going (for the first time particularly), then they're
ideal. Like custom minimals they're geared up for catching waves
and provide superb stability when trying to stand up. They have
the added benefit of having the soft deck which reduces the risk
of accidents.
Soft Tops are ideal for first timers, but if you're serious about
getting your own board then perhaps a slightly more progressive
board would be more suitable. Soft Tops are fairly hard to turn
and lack any real control compared to custom boards, they're also
fairly heavy. This is why you wont see nearly as many Soft Tops
for sale new or second hand, as you will compared to a custom shapd
board.
However, for youngsters (under 12's in particular) they're possibly
the best "learn to surf" choice as they're the most user
friendly, due to their soft deck.
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