Ha ha ha thats funny! If you own a van staal I bet you wouldnt bury it in the sand , the price alone would stop you!! As for braid in the surf... I use braid on my threadline reel and it works for me, The alvey reel has mono on it! like I said , look after the threadline reels a bit better and they're just as good in the surf as any other reel be it Alvey, eggy, over head or even Van Staal's! that is fact my friend!