For a few years now, I’ve been messing around with foam boards. My foamy romance began when my girlfriend picked one up, and I took it out for a test drive, just because. I found it was oddly fun, and started taking it out when I’d normally take out a longboard: when the waves are weak and small and there’s nothing too critical. As time went on, though, I began to enjoy it more and more and surf it on bigger and more critical waves. Hers isn’t a Wavestorm, but it’s close. It’s a 7′ fun shape, a little higher quality than your average Costco board, but still most definitely a foam board. Now, there’s a bonafide foam board movement, and Catch Surf is leading the charge.
It’s a different kind of surfing – you’re forced to slow down and enjoy things even more than you normally would. Since snapping turns and gouging cutbacks aren’t exactly possible, you’re forced to stop trying so hard and–as the old cliché goes–enjoy the glide. Now, my general modus operandi is to spend the first part of a session on whatever board the waves dictate, then trade off for the foamy for the last half.
In the last few years, you’ve no doubt noticed an influx of foam boards at your local lineup. And, if you’re the cranky old surfer that hates anything other than what you deem as surfing, you probably hate it. But, if you’re a person that likes fun and like seeing other people have fun, then you’re probably into it.
