I have been surfing for more than 20 years and have traveled all around the world. I lived in Taiwan for 2 years mainly surfing the West coast and the region of Yilan.
I have ridden the 7.0. I find that the Seaside and Beyond is the perfect board for the regions that I have surfed. When there are proper waves you can still turn the board radically, when the waves are somewhat smaller it catches them easily. The thinned out tail helps with that. I would not call this a beginner board because of that same thinned out tail. I would call it a fun intermediate to advanced surfboard that will help you progress your surfing.