This was a board that was recommended to me as a beginner. It was a great board to learn on, and I quickly progressed. I had only been boarding twice before getting the Solace, and by the end of my 4th day (2nd day total on this board) I was comfortable going down blues and linking turns. While I've definitely taken a few hard spills on this board - a board isn't going to make you a better rider instantly, but it certainly helps with progression - overall I feel like I have a lot of control in turning, stopping and maintaining my speed over flat spots. What's nice about this board is that it's more of an advanced beginner-intermediate board, so while it was easy to learn on, I know I can use it for a few more years. Awesome graphics is a plus! PS - Backcountry.com is great, so glad I bought it from them!!