Beginner (again) surfing a torq surfboard

[jeanp2020]

Hello I have a question does anyone have experience with the Torq surfboards? (Fish imparticular) I was looking at a board I can progress with and have been surfing around 5 times after I stopped 2 years ago (had surfed back than around 10 Times) . I'm starting to see what waves to pick and which side to go. (I have surfed before and skated for like 10 years now)

I have been surfing a 8'0 soft top which had a volume of 82 liters but I feel like it's quite heavy to carrie to the beach and paddle with. Now I looked at the Torq fish and fun boards and am looking for some advice.

Right now I'm renting my stuff but when I have my own I'm planning to go 2 or more times a week since it would not be as expensive.

I'm looking at the 6'3 (36 liters), 6'6 (39,6 liters) fish, and 6'8 (42 liters) funboard.

My fitnes level is average, I weight 115 pounds or 52 kilos am 5'6 or 168cm. I amsurfing mostly 2-4ft waves and plan on surfing higher waves when winter comes around again. I need a board I can also take on public transport and was looking at the 6'3 or 6'6, which would be good to pick and would it be a good board for a beginner anyways?

Popping up is no problem for me and goes automatic from the knees and surfing green waves is becoming easier for me too.

[dtc]

Torqs are good boards, but the boards you are looking at are not good boards for you. They are way too short and too small, you will struggle paddling, catching waves and standing up ie you will struggle with all aspects of surfing. Search this forum (or google) for 'best beginner surfboard' and you will find plenty of discussion as to why

Suggest a Torq longboard at 8ft or 8'6.

If you absolutely needed a shorter board for public transport, then you need to understand that it is going to take you very significantly longer to develop your skills, as in much much longer. Would a 610 be ok? You could look at the Torq Big Boy 23.

[surferbee]

I'm not sure where you're surfing but sometimes you can rent board storage from surf shops or local surfers. It would eliminate the need to drag your board on public transit. Ask around at your local beach.

[jeanp2020]

I'm not sure where you're surfing but sometimes you can rent board storage from surf shops or local surfers. It would eliminate the need to drag your board on public transit. Ask around at your local beach.

That sounds good as well.

[waikikikichan]

Popping up is no problem for me and goes automatic from the knees

If you’re popping up from the knees, IT IS A PROBLEM. If you can’t to a smooth pop up, getting a fish will be harder as you need to get to your feet AS the waves breaks, where it is much steeper than where you can catch on a 8 footer. Your reaction time and technique have to much quicker and better on a fish.
But I do understand your circumstances, as you can only take a 2 meter length board on the train here in Japan.

[jeanp2020]

Popping up is no problem for me and goes automatic from the knees

If you’re popping up from the knees, IT IS A PROBLEM. If you can’t to a smooth pop up, getting a fish will be harder as you need to get to your feet AS the waves breaks, where it is much steeper than where you can catch on a 8 footer. Your reaction time and technique have to much quicker and better on a fish.
But I do understand your circumstances, as you can only take a 2 meter length board on the train here in Japan.

The pop up isn't really from the knees, I more or less drop the board under my feet when I feel it's about to break and my knees are the last thing to leave the board before standing up. My pop-ups are quitte smooth said my instructor and I don't even think of doing them when I caught the wave it just goes automatically. I also figured something out when I have the feeling I have not paddled enough ill still pop up and put all my weight on my front foot, that way I start to drop in and make speed down the line. I don't know if it's a right technique... But it seems to work , and also yeah it's hard traveling with a surfboard bigger than 2 meters.

[jeanp2020]

So i actually didnt went for the torq boards i wanted, in terms of progress it would slow me down. I bought a used BIC 7'3 mini malibu since it would be more bouyant, still have to adjst to the fact its a hard top and wobble to paddle and sit one :') but im starting to get my paddle balance

[dtc]

Good choice (imagine how much harder if you had gone for a 6’3!). Bics are tough proven beginner/intermediate boards and should suit you well

[jeanp2020]

Good choice (imagine how much harder if you had gone for a 6’3!). Bics are tough proven beginner/intermediate boards and should suit you well

True, I rented the 5'3 and it fell like I was braking the whole time, with the 7'3 I make a lot of speed very fast, sometimes when I stand the nose goes underwater tho so I think I have to put less weight on my front foot and get the balance, I also want to learn how to angle my take off and trim/carve to make speed

Something else, when I looked at the torq 6'3 they so told me it's a good beginner board my current board, the Bic is 46 liters and the torq is 36 liters... Would this board be a good step when I can make turns and actually generate speed since it's a fish?

[BaNZ]

I've surfed on and off around 4 years now. Finally sold my Torq 6'3 yesterday. My recommendation is don't buy it. I'm same height and a little heavier than you. Most likely surf better than you. If I struggled then you will struggle too.

[jeanp2020]

I've surfed on and off around 4 years now. Finally sold my Torq 6'3 yesterday. My recommendation is don't buy it. I'm same height and a little heavier than you. Most likely surf better than you. If I struggled then you will struggle too.

What aspects did you struggle with? Was the board bad overall or was it your technique?

[BaNZ]

Not enough time in the water. Surfing only during summer and once a week is not enough.

It's also about the swell. If it is too small, you won't be able to catch the waves. But when it gets too big, you won't have the skills, stamina and strength to get out. You can't surf white wash with a fish.

You only surfed around 10 times? I've had a few hundred sessions. No issue with surfing down to a 7'6, but anything smaller just needs much more time in the water. Most of the time I just take my 6'3 out for a couple of waves and jump back to the bigger boards.

[jeanp2020]

Update datw:I lately transitioned to a groveler type of board, the Lost Rocket with 36 liters of volume, catching waves is just the same as my 7'3 (wave count) and my bottom turns are way easier (still have to adjust to the fact I don't need to walk back) however I do have a question. Lately I surfed in some choppy conditions I was surfing some wind chop of the coast on this board and had trouble generating speed especially when the waves were very crumble I tried it on my 7'3 and a 8'6 with the same result. Than I tried this tinny 5'9 fish and it flew over double waves and flat sections. (so fast that I ran infornt of the wave), yet the board has the same rocker and width as my ...Lost The Rocket. How is that possible?

Than again I see lots of people struggling on these days even with Fishes, Shortboards and yes even longboard (the waves here get very disorganized, so much you can't see peaks or waves with peaks will have small chop in front of them making it hard to paddle in to the wave with speed ws).