Pop-out boards and custom surfboards - what's the difference

[freaky_welsh_chick]

i've got a pop-out board, purely because they are cheaper and i was told it was good for a beginner. so what're the differences between them and 'real' boards, how do they ride differently?

[surf patrol]

Put the two together and you will see the difference immediately. Pop-outs are good surfboards for beginners but are just that - a board to make it easy for you to surf on. They are heavier, wider, thicker, bigger and stronger than a custom board and as a result are easier to stand up on and take more punishment. Due to their size and shape they are harder to turn and to duckdive - and perform less well in the waves.
See if you can blag a ride on one and you'll see the difference - especially if you pick a a small, high performance board.
You will appreciate the difference more when you have progressed an are ready to move onto a custom surfboard.