A soft top surfboard is perfect for beginners and casual surfers. It features a foam deck that provides extra buoyancy and a forgiving surface, making it safer and easier to ride. Unlike traditional hard-top boards (made of hardened fiberglass and resin coating a foam core), soft tops are more durable and less prone to damage, ideal for learning and generally safer for the lineup (taking a foamie to the head or body after bailing a wave is considerably less dangerous).