It鈥檚 south-swell season. Make sure you have the right board.
Superbrand Siamese Twin ($705)
The modern fish isn鈥檛 new鈥攃redit the 1997 film 5’5″ x 19录” with reinvigorating the quick and stubby design. But it could be hard to surf if your name wasn鈥檛 Wardo, AI, or Corey Lopez. Enter the Superbrand Siamese Twin, which blends a fishy outline with high-performance rails and a four-channel bottom. The result catches waves easily and skips down the line, but won鈥檛 bog or slide out through bottom turns or mid-face wraps. It鈥檚 a playful small-wave board for the masses.
Slater Designs Gamma ($770)
When the surf picks up, you鈥檒l want something more aggressive, like the Slater Designs Gamma. The Gamma is Kelly Slater鈥檚 go-to shortboard. But since none of us surf like Slater, it comes in two versions: high performance, and something mere mortals can appreciate. Whatever the specs, the board features a single concave into a slight V out the back, making for rapid transitions from rail to rail. Odds are you won鈥檛 be able to surf this board to its full potential. That鈥檚 OK. It鈥檚 still a hell of a lot of fun when the waves are head high.
Hobie Uncle Buck ($1,050)
If the Gamma is a Subaru WRX, the Hobie Uncle Buck is a 1975 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. The 9’6″ is a classic, smooth-surfing log that鈥檚 perfect for mellow waves. The wide front makes for easy nose riding, while beginners get 23录 inches through the middle, which provides lots of stability. It鈥檚 one of Hobie鈥檚 most popular boards for good reason.