I learned to surf over 20 years ago, and during my time an old fiberglass board was the only way to learn. These foam top boards are great for learning, since the board is so much softer, making them safer. Anyone who surfs, and teaches someone to surf should know that the first safety lesson is not to let the board come between you and an incoming wave. The board can come back at you, and give you a bonk. We purchased this board online, and it shipped almost immediately out of California. It took several days to make it's way across the U.S. to East Central Florida. The owner of the company sent me a great email thanking me for my purchase, a great customer touch.
I personally have a few fiberglass boards at home, including a 7'6" fun shape, very similar to the size and shape of the Greco 8ft board. However, when teaching my daughter, who is 12 to surf, I learned quickly that a softer board would be better for a beginner. After receiving the Greco board, we didn't install the fins right away, laid it on the living room floor, and we practiced, practiced, practiced the "pop up". Popping up is the trickiest part for a beginner, and if you take a look on youtube you'll find a few videos that teach you how to properly pop up. Once I felt she had the right technique for the pop up, then it was time to install the fins, and take our Greco board out to our local beach break. I believe, the secret to learning is learning to surf the white water in small surf conditions, the less choppy the water, the better. Within about an hour my daughter was standing up, and riding the white water till the she was in about 6" of water on this board. What a great experience!!
I tried the board myself, and found it to be fun board to ride in 1-2ft (knee to waist) high waves. I caught some small waves easily, and the only thing that I noticed right away is the difference in the surface of the board during the pop up, and the flex in the board while riding. I'm used to a traditional fiberglass board with wax, but a soft top board seemed more sticky to me, and I found myself needing to use a little more effort to popup (release my body from the deck). We did put a little bit of wax on the deck of the Greco board, but for an intermediate surfer, I'm not sure it would really be necessary, since the deck has more stick due to the soft surface.
My personal recommendation is the 8ft is fine for someone under 150lbs learning to surf, but the 9ft board is probably better for someone over 150lbs since they'll need a little more float to help catch the waves, and give them stability while riding. I'm an okay intermediate surfer, so I could easily ride this 8ft board at 180lbs, but for a learner the extra float on the 9ft board would be better at this weight (rides would be longer and more stable).
Price wise, I really feel that this Greco board is a great buy. You might be able to find a reasonable used fiberglass board at a local surf shop that sells used boards, or you could look online for a used board at a similar price, but you'll really need to hunt around to find something that's the right size and shape for you. Ordering this board online, and having it delivered to your home couldn't be easier! This board comes delivered in a large cardboard box, and all you have to do is install the fins and leash, couldn't be easier.
Once you have it, regardless of your own personal surfing ability, you always have an extra board that friends and family can try, and it's about as safe as you can get.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 96 x 23 x 4 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 15 Pounds |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 96 x 22.5 x 3.25 inches |
| Item Weight | 15 Pounds |
