Modern Blackbird
5 reviews
I bought this Modern soft-top just over two years ago. It’s been a really enjoyable board to surf — easy to paddle, forgiving, and genuinely fun in small to medium conditions. I’ve taken good care of it: stored out of the sun, no hot car days, no obvious impacts or damage.
After a bit over two years of regular use, the soft deck has started delaminating along the stringer in the stance area (around 20+ cm). The board still feels dry and structurally sound, but the deck skin has clearly lifted from the core.
From what I’ve since learned, this appears to be normal wear for this style of hybrid soft-top construction, rather than a fault caused by neglect or misuse. The stance area and stringer line take repeated load, and over time the adhesive layer fatigues.
What I think buyers should know — and what isn’t made very clear when purchasing — is that longer hybrid soft-tops like this should probably be thought of as 2–4 year “fun boards,” not long-term investments. They’re forgiving and low-stress to surf, but the soft deck is effectively a consumable layer.
For comparison, I also own an Odysea Beater that’s around 10 years old and still going strong, which shows that not all soft-tops age the same way — board size and deck construction really matter.
Bottom line: Great board to ride, and I don’t regret the fun I’ve had on it. But if you’re expecting decade-long durability, or upgrading from a hard-top assuming similar lifespan, it’s worth going in with eyes open.
I’d happily recommend it for learners or casual surfers — just with more realistic expectations about longevity. If I was spending that money now I would buy a more durable board.
Follow-up · I haven't tried repairing the delamination. The board is stored on a horizontal storage rack on the wall inside my garage (away from heat and light). It hasn't affected the board's performance because it's on the top of the board, but I'm a bit worried about it's overall durability.
Thickness way off – My 8 foot blackbird thickness is listed as 3 inches. Measured it and it is slightly more than 2 inches at rail. It is 3 inches at the very maximum cross section in the middle of the board. This board does not have the float that it should. Volume of 61 liters must be way off. Still like the board. I thought it would be more floaty. Performs well but I am dissatisfied with the dimensions being somewhat misleading.
- Date Purchased:
Most Fun I have had on a surfboard yet – A young guy at Aloha Manly told me that this board would be good for me. I took his word for it and decided to give it ago. Wow I was blown away at just how right he was. The board floats me well, I seem to be paddling faster than I was on my Mal. Once I am up and riding I can go anywhere I like. Having lots of fun and feeling about 15 years younger. The board is well made and the Blue Tint colour I got is awesome. Great value for money.
Modern blackbird 8ft of fun – Bought the 8 ft blackbird from the first release at the local l,ongboard shop and was surprised at the great glass job on the resin tint and re enforcement patches, Im 95 kgs and a back foot surfer and the glass job is holding up great.Its also a good all round compromise between traditional and modern mid length performance. Great value and quality for the money
Modern Blackbird surfboard. The worst surfboard I have ever seen. Terrible manufacturing quality – I bought a Modern "Blackbird" surfboard recently, after believing all the advertising hype by Global Surf Industries. Don't make the same mistake that I did!!! Global surfboard industries must have a questionable "Quality Control" - ( if they have one at all )... The "new" board I purchased had a massive compression on the deck, the blank had green blotches all over it, the volan fibreglass had been completely sanded through to the foam near the FCS plug, the dimensions on the underside of the board were wrongly labelled - they described the board as being 2 3/4" thick when it should have read 2 1/2" thick. What amazed me most of all however is that the board is advertised as having a "Single to double concave" when it doesn't!!!! I mean, how could Global Surf Industries make such a piece of rubbish? The board shouldn't have passed quality control or left the Chinese factory that it was built in. It makes me wonder if the Chinese people who build surfboards for Global Surfboard Industries have any concept of surfing at all? When you read / watch the advertising for the Modern "Blackbird" surfboard, the finish of the board is described as "Stunning!". I have to agree with that, because the quality of these surfboards is "STUNNINGLY BAD" !!!
I would have rated Global Surf Industries Modern "Blackbird" with zero stars, but one star is the minimum allowed on Product review unfortunately. You have been warned... Cheap (but NASTY)... Everything was wrong this board. What a piece of rubbish it was.
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By the way, I forgot to mention that the large decals above / below the surfboard were quite crooked. This obviously doesn't affect the function of the board, but is just another indication of the lack of care that this board was slapped together with.