softboards

[Jesse]

Hey guys i hope someone can help me with this:
I found a bunch of surface softboards between 6 and 9 feet long and from $100-$150. the reg price in them is $250 so it seems like a good deal.
I couldnt really find info on the product, does anyone know anything about these? Are they worth it? Im just starting out so i dont need anything pro, as long as it works.
Ive wanted to try out river surfing and couldnt find a good surfboard around here for under $500.
thanks in advance.

[December]

Not sure if this reply is to late, but that's a fair deal, softops help the learning curve a bit because it takes the sting out of making a mistake, which out wieghs any loss of performance that type of board suffers from(in the beginning) .... Get biggest one you can! Hope this helps
Kev

[Jesse]

thanks kevin!!
i think there were a 9, 7 and 6 footers. At first I wasnt sure on which size to go for because i heard that longer boards can be tough on a river. On the other hand ive seen stand up paddle boards cruzing around in rapids so ill definately go for the bigger one. My only experience with "surfing" is on the surf machine at the mall of america which uses super small boards, cant wait!!!

[Jesse]

I ended up grabbing a bz soft top 8 footer for $100!!!!.
I hear that lake winnipeg gets some pretty good surfable waves, cant wait.

[Jesse]

The board works great, for me as a beginner anyway. The best thing about it is that here in Manitoba NOBODY believes that you can surf on lake winnipeg. So when i go out its kinda got that snowskate scene kinda feel where you still feel part of a small group. only thing i find about the longboard i dont like is that you cant really duck dive it too well below the waves. and because on the lake the waves are only eight feet apart for the medium sized ones, its really alot of work to get out far enough. either way, most fun ive had all summer!!
Surfs up!!!

[Jordan]

Have you tried it on a river? I have seen footage of people surfing lakes in the east, it looks like it has to be crazy windy to produce waves.

[Jesse]

As far as the wind goes yes. for waves the size in the first vid the wind has to be around a steady 20 knots. Last time i was out it was gusting to 35ish and the big waves were 5 or so feet. So battling the waves and wind to get out far enough can be tough. Off to the left you may be able to see a point of rocks which is where we launch on really windy days so it gives us a little more distance from shore.
i havnt tried it on a river yet. heres a vid of surfing on lake winnipeg. This guy is on a sup but i guy i ride with rides a 6'6 board.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2rfxqRXlnM

Theres a place here called sturgeon falls and it has standing waves all summer but you need a boat or it waay too much paddling. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcKAaowK_lE&feature=related  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_ZM2y5itx8