I’m moving from a foamie to a hard board. I need advice on finding a board that’s better for performance but still manageable.

For an advanced beginner we recommend looking for a board that will offset 80 – 90% of your body weight. As an example if you are 60kg look for something around 50 litres of volume. Probably one of our Epoxy Softboards or higher volume surfboards would be best suited at this point in your surfing journey.

TRANSITION COLLECTION


SURFBOARD VOLUME CALCULATOR

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Ready to Move On From Your Foam Surfboard? Here's The Best Surfboards After A Foamie

So you’ve learned the basics, caught your first few green waves, and you're starting to feel more comfortable in the water. Now you're wondering – what’s the best surfboard after a foamie?

This is one of the most exciting stages in your surfing journey. You’re no longer a complete beginner, but you’re not quite ready for high-performance shortboards. What you need now is a surfboard that helps you progress without taking away the stability and paddle power you’ve come to rely on.

What to Look For in Your First Hard Board

The next board after a soft top should offer a balance between control and responsiveness. You want something that’s a little faster, turns better, and helps you grow your skills – but still gives you confidence when paddling into waves. That’s where our Transition Collection comes in.

The Transition Surfboard Collection

This curated range includes models like the Modern Love Child, Creative Army Huevo, and Mid Tide by Salt Gypsy. These boards come in mid-length sizes with refined shapes and just enough volume to ease the jump. They’re designed to make turning easier, increase your speed down the line, and give you more control in a wider range of conditions.

If you're searching for the best first hard surfboard, these models are perfect stepping stones. They’re forgiving enough to help you keep catching waves, but responsive enough to teach you better turns, trimming, and positioning.

Keep Your Surfing Progress Rolling.

Choosing the right transition board keeps your momentum going and makes surfing more rewarding with every session. You’ve already fallen in love with the sport – now it’s time to level up with gear that grows with you.