At only 5'3 on a good day, near 100lbs, the 6 foot Surface water angel surfboard has proven itself to be my new favorite beginner surfboard!
Originally practicing on the famous 8 and 9 foot Costco wavestorm surfboards, I was skeptical to try such a small board. The 6’ Surface looked like it was meant for a young little girl, but being that I’m pretty tiny myself, I figured it could work. The thought of having such a small, easy to manage board seemed like heaven. So, after chatting with a manager at the local surf shop who convinced me I wouldn’t regret it, I decided to give it a shot.Turns out, I couldn't be happier :)
Pros
- Effortless Transportation: One of my favorite things about this board is how simple it is to carry. With shorter arms, I could never carry the wavestorm down by my side because it was just too wide. The Surface is just the perfect size for me, making the longer walks to the beach totally painless. It also fits much easier into the car!
- Floatability: Unlike many other foam boards I’ve tried, the Surface floats extremely well, particularly for its size. With only 6 feet of board underneath me, I was afraid it might be difficult to stay steady and paddle out. The extra thick board makes it extremely buoyant and left me pleasantly surprised!
- Control Factor: The smaller size of this board make it exceptionally easy to control in the water. I’ve been able to erase the look of panic on my face when I’m about to get knocked out by a wave. Not only can I dive through them easier but it’s much simpler to manage when the giant waves come smashing down onto me. I can thank the Surface board for far less bumps to the head!
- Balance: Even for its size, the Surface boards balance my weight extremely well, letting me ride waves way better than I could have imagined.
Cons
There’s just one little thing wrong with having such a smaller board, which the surf shop did happen to warn me about..
- Catching a Wave: Because the board is much smaller that most foam boards, it’s inevitably a little harder to catch a wave when practicing in small waves and white wash. They don’t pick you up and take you as well as an 8 foot board would, making it a little frustrating at times. All this really means is you’ll have to step it up a little and paddle out closer to where the bigger waves are breaking.
Price: The boards range from $100 - $200 depending where you find them. I was lucky to get it at $115 w/ tax, which for the quality, definitely beats out the Costco board at $100
Recommendations: For the 6' - beginners, up to around 100lbs. It’s also available in a 7’ and 8’ which would be great as well depending on your size!
I couldn’t be happier with this board but I think I have the Costco wavestorm and other bigger foam boards to thank for it. By learning the skills needed to catch and ride a wave on a bigger board, It made switching to a smaller board all the more simple. The summer may be past but that won’t stop me from throwing on a wet suit and paddling out for months to come!!
