Jamie O’Brien just made history by riding the waves on a soft top during the Vance Pipeline Masters 2022. This is the first time in history that anyone has ever used a soft top surfing board in the Pipeline Masters. Usually, soft tops are not considered the best choice of boards for surfing competitions when it comes to the efficiency of performance. Maybe that is the reason why Jamie O’Brien had a backup board as well.
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Not only did O’Brien go a different route by using a soft top, but he also filmed the entire thing! He wore a camera from start to finish, only to enable his fans to see him riding the waves from his perspective. How cool is that!
Jamie O’Brien gives his fans his POV riding the waves
O’Brien’s supporters could see everything their idol did and they could experience everything that Jamie O’Brien was experiencing. A fan wrote, “Jamie you are a true hawain legend. I love how you give so much to the community. No wonder people love you.”
O’Brien posted the entire POV on his YouTube channel and fans have been showering their love and affection on him since. They have been especially grateful for the fact that instead of having a performance-based approach, O’Brien took his fans into consideration and did something special for them.
One fan wrote, “You are a legend for the soft top and just being awesome. So nice of you to get out the water and be so friendly. Not all would be so kind and it shows your true level of just being a good human.” Another supporter commented, “The patience you have with your fans is amazing Jamie. Says a lot about you. Thank you for being an inspiration.”
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His fans were especially amazed by his humble nature and his ability to be a guy next door to each and every fan he encounters. Even in the video, he is seen interacting with them with absolute kindness and patience. Another person wrote, “You have so much time for the people, I think that’s what makes you the greatest! Keep up the good work!”
Soft tops v. Hard tops: What’s the difference?
According to Corky Carroll’s Surf School, like all other surfboards, soft tops are also made with an EPS foam core. However, the real difference comes in the surface covering the core, that is, the outer surface of the boards. In the case of soft tops, as the name suggests, the outer surface is made of a soft material like the Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) sheet.
This soft material ensures that these boards are lighter. They also float more easily and are, therefore, better for beginners. They are also safer for beginners, since it’s easier to get hurt on a hard top than on a soft top.
All differences aside, hard tops are the choice for professionals because they are generally less bulky and more flexible. Most importantly, no one has ever used a soft top to ride the waves during a Pipeline Masters event. O’Brien took it upon himself to do something that has taken the surfing community by storm.
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