The main reason to buy a custom surfboard is because you can鈥檛 find the board you want on a shelf. A custom surfboard is a big step in a surfer鈥檚 journey, and it can bring noticeable, tangible benefits to the way you surf and how much fun you have. Ideally, you鈥檒l end up with a board that is a sublime match for your body, style, goals, and the waves you frequent. But it can also be an overwhelming experience (and a not-insignificant investment in time and money), so you want to get it right.

Luckily for you, we鈥檝e got it covered. I worked with two legendary shapers鈥擝ritt Merrick and Guy Okazaki鈥攁nd went through the custom shaping process (twice), in order to bring you this comprehensive guide to ordering a custom surfboard鈥攃omplete with what to expect, the questions to ask, the information you鈥檒l need, and the pitfalls to avoid.

Step One: Do Your Research

The first step is to try as many different boards as you can. Your local surf shop, OfferUp, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace are all great resources for this. I spent $350 on a used surfboard from Craigslist, rode it for a little while, then sold it to someone else for $350, and bought something else to play with. Used boards can hold their value well if you don鈥檛 damage them. Also, look for demo days at your local surf shop.

鈥淚 have a friend who’s a really good surfer, and for the last few years, he’s just been buying the most random boards off Craigslist,鈥� up-and-coming Venice pro surfer told me. 鈥淏ut now he’s in this phase where he knows exactly what he wants because he’s tried so many boards. So now when he goes to a shaper, he has all this knowledge to pull from.”

The next phase of your research should be to talk to other surfers. Look for surfers right around your size and ability level at your local breaks and ask them what they鈥檙e on and how they like it. If you can afford it, hire an experienced coach for a session or two, and see what suggestions they might have for your next surfboard. The web is also a great resource. Both the Pyzel and Channel Islands websites have live chats with actual humans on the other end, and they are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. They can help you get a better handle on what might, and what might not work for you (just be respectful of their time).

Step Two: Pick Your Surfboard Shaper

Find a shaper who will take the time to understand where you鈥檙e at and where you want to go and ensure they have the skills to make the right board for the job. A good shaper carries a wealth of knowledge about surfboard design and surfing in general. It may also give you an opportunity to work with a local who has deep insights about the waves you鈥檒l be surfing the most, and you get to support the local surf economy.

I went into this quest knowing that I wanted two boards: A point-break specialist for some of my favorite spots in Malibu and Ventura, and a hyper-local board for the beach break I surf in Venice 80 percent of the time. After months of research, I found my two dream shapers.

Britt Merrick,

Britt was literally raised in a surfboard factory, as the son of world renown shaper and founder of Channel Islands Surfboards, Al Merrick. He would grow up to become an iconic shaper in his own right, making award-winning surfboards (including several winners) for WSL Championship Tour event winners and average joes alike. Channel Islands is based in Santa Barbara, home to legendary point breaks like Rincon, and considering how many boards he鈥檚 made for people who compete at places Jeffreys Bay and Snapper Rocks, I figured he鈥檇 be the perfect person to make my point break killer. Note: anyone can request a board from Britt, but it will most likely take months longer than usual because he has a massive queue.

Surfboard shaper Guy Okazaki at work (Photo: Courtesy Guy Okazaki)

Guy Okazaki,

When it came to finding a shaper for my Venice beach break board, I knew exactly who I hoped would make it. It seemed like 20 percent of the boards I would see at my favorite spot had a big 鈥淕OS鈥� stamped on the deck. Plus, Okazaki has been surfing here since the 1950s, so not many people know the wave better. Okazaki was born in Hawaii, where he first learned to shape surfboards from his dad and legends of the sport, including Rabbit Kekai. He would go on to travel and surf with world champions, and he’s been shaping boards in his garage in Venice for more than 30 years. For my usual spot, Guy is as local as it gets, and every surfer I talked to raved about his boards.

This brings up an important point: You want to pick your shaper based on their strengths and based on what you鈥檙e looking for. I determined that Merrick and Okazaki were likely the best fit for my specific criteria, but if I wanted a surfboard for Hawaii, then maybe Wade Tokoro or John Pyzel would be the move.

Step 3: Talk with Your Shaper

Set up a phone call (or an in-person meeting if you can) with the shaper to discuss the board. You should familiarize yourself with the boards they make because chances are high that they will be using one of those models as a starting point.

Typically, shapers will first ask about your height and weight. Then they鈥檒l likely ask your age and how often you surf to determine how much board you need. Next, all that time you spent trying different boards will come in handy when they ask you what you have been riding and how they worked (or didn鈥檛 work) for you.

When I asked Merrick and Okazaki what the most important factor is for determining the right board, they had the same answer: it depends on where and how you surf now, and where and how you鈥檙e hoping to in the near future.

The 鈥渨here鈥� questions to ask yourself: Are you mostly going to be surfing beach breaks, point breaks, or reef breaks? This is where a shaper with knowledge of your preferred breaks can come in handy. And what size waves will you be on, realistically?

The 鈥渉ow鈥� is a bit harder to quantify. What do you want to do on the wave? What do you enjoy now, and where would you like to get in in the next few years? For example, I told the shapers that I really want to improve my carving, work on speed generation, and build confidence in steeper barreling waves. For me, these are modest but realistic goals for where I am in my evolution as a surfer.

Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Don鈥檛 let your ego get in the way. I get it鈥攏obody wants to seem like a kook, but you have to avoid over-inflating your skills. “That’s the most common mistake people make,鈥� Merrick told me. 鈥淚f they don’t have realistic expectations and goals, then they tend to get the wrong board altogether. Usually, that means not getting enough surfboard. Especially with beginners, they get small boards like the pros, and they don’t have the paddling power, so they miss a ton of waves. You’ve also got to start making adjustments for your physicality, and age.”
2. Don’t forget to be specific. Terms like Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert, are extremely nebulous. Tell your shaper the things you feel like you鈥檙e doing well, and tell them the things you鈥檙e struggling with. Video clips can tell a shaper a lot about where you鈥檙e at, and their experienced eyes will likely spot things in your surfing that you don鈥檛 even know to look for. Get a friend to film you from shore, and show them a mix of your best and worst waves to give them the most accurate picture.
3. Don’t fall into the current obsession with surfboard volume. It鈥檚 not that volume isn鈥檛 important, but it鈥檚 not that helpful on its own. Okazaki broke it down: 鈥淥ver the last few years, the first metric out of someone’s mouth has been volume, and I always chuckle, ‘Well, where do you want that volume? Do you want it in the middle, in the nose, in the tail, distributed uniformly? Do you want it on the rails or more in the center?’ And they realize that they hadn’t given that a thought. Where that volume is is really more important than what the volume is.”

Step 4: Finishing Touches

While you and your shaper talk, they鈥檒l be taking down your decisions in an order form. This is also where you鈥檒l make choices about which type of fin-boxes you want, and how many. You鈥檒l decide whether you want a traditional foam or EPS, what type of fiberglass (or carbon fiber), how heavy, and whether you鈥檇 like to use polyurethane resin or epoxy. Each of these things will affect the way your board performs to different degrees, and while whole articles have been written about each of those categories, again, talk to your shaper about what they think would work best for the design you鈥檝e agreed on.

This is also where you鈥檒l make a decision about art. Do you want to leave the board white, or add a tint to the resin? Or a swirl? Do you have some art you would like laminated onto the deck? These things are a personal touch that make the board feel more uniquely yours, but each one of them will add to the overall cost.

Once everything is agreed on, you will plunk down a deposit (typically $100-200, though some want full payment upfront), and they will get to work making your board. Your shaper will give you a rough timeline when you finalize the details. It could be just a few weeks if they鈥檙e not too busy, or it could be three months. Resist the urge to bug them until after the due date has passed. There is no question a shaper hates more than, 鈥淚s it ready yet?鈥�

My Custom Boards

For my Channel Islands point-break board, Merrick steered me toward his 听a board that was designed to paddle and catch waves like a much longer board, but surf more like a shortboard. My only reservation was that I wanted something that could handle bigger, steeper, barreling waves (dare to dream). He said no problem and borrowed the thinner rails from his , which are a bit more refined and would also help with my turns.

Merrick recommended a 6-foot, 8-inch board, which would be my biggest board in years, but promised it wouldn鈥檛 surf that way. I had him add five fin-boxes instead of the standard three, so I could ride it as a thruster, a quad, or a twin (i.e. a three-fin, a four-fin, or a two-fin configuration), depending on the day. I also had the board made with (Varial just recently, tragically, went out of business due to a supply-chain interruption, when they were priced out of their foam by the aerospace industry), glassed with epoxy resin tinted Creamsicle orange, and I had a rose emblazoned on the deck.

For my Venice board, I came to Okazaki with a laundry list of what I wanted the board to do. After hearing my thoughts and watching my flailing surf videos, he thought would be a good place to start, or the as he would come to call this latest iteration of a board he鈥檚 been evolving for 22 years.

Okazaki planned to throw in a fairly moderate double concave through the tail, and a single concave around where my front foot would be. That should enhance rail-to-rail transitions, give it a little more pop, and hopefully increase speed out of turns. Guy advocated for a swallow-tail with a prominent double-wing just ahead of it, which would allow for very straight rails for speed, but then give it a nice break to pivot off of for turns. He suggested we go with a 6-foot, 2-inch, with standard polyurethane (PU) foam blank and lightweight four-ounce PU glassing. I had him throw on the same rose I put on my CI board, plus a five-fin-box setup, and picked a Pantone color that looked like bubblegum.

The Results

A few months later, both boards have exceeded my wildest expectations.

I鈥檝e taken my Merrick CI board to point breaks up and down the California coast, in everything from waist-high waves to well overhead. The board has allowed me to get into waves early, then pump down the line, and really sink into my carves like I鈥檇 hoped. In the few months that I鈥檝e had it, I鈥檝e probably caught four of the top five longest and most memorable waves of my life.

For my Okazaki board, I gave Guy such a long list of things I wanted it to do鈥攕ome of which seemed at odds with each other鈥攁nd somehow he did it. It has great paddle power, but I can still duck-dive it. The board can make steep, late drops, but it also has great speed down the line. Trimming around flat sections is easy, but then it turns on a dime with very little effort and takes off again. I鈥檓 riding this board at the local spot I鈥檝e been walking to several times a week for the last three years, and I鈥檓 having more fun out there than I ever have. What鈥檚 more important than that?

Last Advice from the Shapers

“I recommend trying to stay as local as you can,” Okazaki told me. 鈥淎nd that’s more than just for the shaper.鈥� One of Okazaki鈥檚 greatest concerns is the increasing acidification of our oceans. That鈥檚 one of the reasons he uses U.S. Blanks for his foam, because they operate in Los Angeles, and because of that they’re subject to the most stringent environmental standards in the nation. It’s just a 20-minute drive from Okazaki鈥檚 shop to their factory, so the carbon footprint to get a blank from them is as minimal as it gets, and they’re fully solar-powered, too. Okazaki also works with local glassers (which most shapers usually do), which again requires minimal transport, and feeds money directly into the local surf economy.

鈥淚t’s rare these days that you get a product that’s all hand-made by skilled craftsmen and women,鈥� Merrick mused. 鈥淚t’s not your tennis racket, golf club, snowboard, or basketball that just gets pumped out by machines. People should approach it with an appreciation for the art and the craftsmanship. Once people start to appreciate that they’ll appreciate surfing as a whole even more.”

The post Can鈥檛 Find the Right Surfboard? Here鈥檚 How to Order a Custom One. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

If a surfboard is a paintbrush and a wave is a canvas, then surfers today have thousands of different tools to make art. Are you a traditionalist, like the Old Masters? Take out a classic longboard. Are you more keen on surrealist style, channeling your inner Salvador Dali? Go for an asymmetrical shape. What about contemporary, akin to Yayoi Kusama? You can鈥檛 go wrong with a high-performance shortboard.

But with endless options on the market, all perfectly catered to different surfing styles, abilities, and conditions, deciding which surfboard to ride takes work. Luckily for you, we grabbed seven seasoned surfers last season, set them loose with a variety of currently available boards, and narrowed down the field for a comprehensive report on today鈥檚 best of the best.

Be sure to check out our favorite board shorts and women鈥檚 swimsuits as well.

At a Glance

• Best Quiver Killer Small-Wave Board:
• Best Classic Long Board:
• Best in Good Surf:
• Best Softboard:
• Best Reliable Shortboard:
• Best Board to Push Your Limits:
• How to Choose a Surfboard
• How We Test
• Meet Our Testers

All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Best Small-Wave Boards

Best Quiver-Killer

Album Surf Twinsman

Stock Dimensions: 5’0″ x 18.75″ x 2″ – 6’4″ x 21.5″ x 2.75″

Pros and Cons
鈯� Paddles well for its size
鈯� Needs a good-sized wave to get going

Twin-fin surfboards aren鈥檛 what they used to be. What was once a go-to design for cruise-y, mellow surfing, this shape doesn鈥檛 sacrifice when it comes to high-performance. It can turn a small-wave session into something much more. Just look at Josh Kerr 鈥� he鈥檚 pulling massive airs on these boards. And the Twinsman is the pinnacle of that balance between user-friendly and high-performance.

Speaking to that blend of high-performance and classic fish style, tester Charlie Hough noted: 鈥淚t feels like a responsive fish. Once you get going, it has the performance of a thruster and the speed of a retro fish.鈥� What鈥檚 more, Hough added, 鈥淚f you are looking for a board with X-factor, this is the one. You ride it 4-5 inches shorter than your normal board which gives you more control under your feet. It will bring an extra spark to your day-to-day sessions and will allow you to do surfing you have never done before.鈥�

Best Classic Longboard

Channel Islands CI Log

Dimensions: 9’0鈥� x 22 5/8鈥� x 3鈥� (70.4L) to 10’0″ x 23 1/4鈥� x 3 3/16鈥� (85.5L)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Maneuverability with a classic style
鈯� Not the best board for anything too high-performance

This is the modern longboarder鈥檚 longboard. It has all the staples of a classic style, while allowing for contemporary surfing, too. Wanna walk the nose? Go for it. Wanna put it on rail and do some turns? Be our guest. This board was a longtime passion-project from the best minds at Channel Islands, resulting in a longboard that can do it all.

鈥淭he funny thing about a good traditional log is that is can work for a beginner to intermediate really well,鈥� said Malibu-based tester Devon Howard. 鈥淏ut if a high-level pro gets on this board, they will be able to unlock features of the design that allow them to tap in and do their best surfing in and around to pocket.鈥� Howard said that that wasn鈥檛 a common feature for most of the other boards he tested.

Overall, this board has all the modern perks, but comes in a timeless package. This is the longboard for everyone, from beginners to pros.

Best Alternative Boards

Best in Good Surf

JS Industries Big Baron

Dimensions: 5’10” x 19″ x 2 7/16″ (29L) to 6’4″ x 20 3/4″ x 2 3/4″ (38.7L)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Good for pointbreaks and open-face
鈯� Doesn鈥檛 do well in smaller surf

Amongst hardcore rippers, the mid-length gets a bad rap. But the Big Baron is different. It鈥檚 not just for beginners. This board is inspired by mid-lengths of generations鈥� past, and the ones that were ripped to bits on the Gold Coast of Australia鈥檚 infamous pointbreaks. The flat rocker holds speed through weaker sections, while a double concave through the fins allows for maximum maneuverability. Plus, it can hold in a variety of wave size.

Laguna Beach-based tester Eli Viszolay said, 鈥淚 took the board out at Cloudbreak on a stormy day when nobody was around. It was low tide and the waves were head high鈥攂arreling down the point. I had finally started to get used to the board and the thing worked like magic. It鈥檚 a lot different than a shortboard but when you adapt to it, your speed and flow increases a lot.鈥�

With a flatter rocker, and drawn-out rails, it might just even improve your style. 鈥淧robably in between cruise-y and high performance,鈥� Viszolay continued. 鈥淭he board reminds you to smooth out your turns using the rail.鈥�

Best Softboard

Catch Surf 54 Special

Dimensions: 4鈥�6鈥�

Pros and Cons
鈯� Durability; don鈥檛 worry about dinging it
鈯� A bit chunky

Although you might not see John John Florence or Carissa Moore riding them on the Championship Tour, softboards have come a long way in the last decade or so. No longer are they just for beginners at Waikiki or Doheny. Just ask Blair Conklin. The stylish skimboarder and softie surfer enthusiast is doing more progressive surfing on foam boards than many pros on traditional foam and fiberglass. And these days, they work in pretty much all conditions鈥攅specially the 54 Special.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the Swiss Army knife of surfboards,鈥� Conklin said. 鈥淕roms love 鈥榚m, experts love 鈥榚m, and they even work great finless. I think I have had the best surf sessions of my life on this board.鈥�

Conklin said that he especially loved the 54 Special鈥檚 durability: he didn鈥檛 have to worry about dings, and found the board could take a look of abuse. 鈥淚 have never been able to snap one of these things and I have been in plenty of conditions that probably should have. It has three stringers which makes it rigid, fast, and impossible to break.”

The one downside? Conklin says after riding the 54 Special, you might never want to ride a high-performance shortboard again.

High-Performance Boards

Best Reliable Shortboard

Chili Surfboards Shortie

Dimensions: 5鈥�10鈥� x 18 5/8鈥� x 2 5/16鈥� (26.5L) to 6鈥�2鈥� x 19 3/8鈥� x 2 3/4鈥� (33.9L)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Reliable, responsive, forgiving
鈯� Needs solid surf to really show its strengths

During his final year on the Championship Tour, World Champion Adriano de Souza helped James 鈥淐hilli鈥� Cheal develop the Shortie. So, yeah, you could say this board was built for high-performance. But it鈥檚 also got a forgiving nature, too; meaning you don鈥檛 need to be a World Champ to shred on it. With extra foam in the stringer line, it鈥檚 got paddle power and holds speed through flat sections, making it ideal for anyone from pros to average joes.

鈥淚t鈥檚 high performance,鈥� remarked tester Dane Zaun, a Los Angeles local, 鈥渂ut forgiving enough for anyone looking to ride a shortboard to have fun and improve. That big sweet spot makes it so fun and forgiving.鈥� According to Zaun, some high-performance boards are good when you鈥檙e surfing well, but really bad if you mess up. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always nice to click in with a board and feel like it鈥檚 an extension of you鈥攖hat鈥檚 what the Shortie does,鈥� said Zaun. 鈥淚t clicks in good surf, while accentuating your own strengths as a surfer.鈥�

The bottom line? If you want to rip, this board is for you; if you want to learn how to rip, this board is forgiving enough and a good place to start.

Best Board to Push Your Limits

Pyzel Red Tiger

Dimensions: 5鈥�4鈥� x 18 3/8鈥� x 2 1/16鈥� (22.2L) to 6鈥�4鈥� x 20鈥� x 2 3/4鈥� (36.9L)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Fast, extra hold, good turning radius
鈯� Requires a wave with push

Described as their 鈥渇astest board yet鈥� with a 鈥渇un-formance鈥� philosophy, and a favorite of John John Florence, the Pyzel Red Tiger is a board that moves. Need a little pep in your surfing? Give this board a try. Testers found that the flattened-out rocker allows for extra speed in those slow sections, without compromising for high-performance in steeper waves either. This board works well in gutless waves to pumping, overhead surf alike.

Tester Kevin Meza, a surfer known as the 鈥淏aja Koala,鈥� said he loved how well this board did when he was going fast. 鈥淚 think one of the standout differences I felt on this board, when compared to other popular models on the market today is how well the board responds with so much speed, without losing control due to all that double concave it has in the back-foot area.鈥� According to Meza, the pulled-in tail gives the Red Tiger release and more of a skateboard-like feel. That said, Meza said that his favorite part was that the board didn鈥檛 skid out while hitting a powerful section with speed.

All in all, the Pyzel Red Tiger is a high-performance shortboard that doesn鈥檛 give out when it鈥檚 pushed to its limits.

How to Choose a Surfboard

Go to Your Local Surf Shop

Support your local watering hole by purchasing a board鈥攚hether off the rack in standard stock sizes or by submitting a custom order. The shop owner or manager can help you dial in the best dimensions for your height, weight, and experience, and also talk you through the best fin options for your new sled.

And speaking of experience, be honest鈥攚ith the shop employees and yourself. What level of surfer are you? What kind of waves will you truly be riding on this board? Being humble and speaking truthfully will go a long way toward getting the right equipment so you can catch more waves and have more fun.

Go Straight to the Shaper

If you鈥檙e having trouble ordering a specific board through your local surf shop, most of the shapers mentioned above accept direct orders through their websites. You can tinker around with their volume calculators online and decide which board shapes and specs are right for you. If you鈥檙e still having trouble, give them a call.

Buy Used

Buying a new surfboard can be a big investment. If you鈥檙e not ready to drop a chunk of change on a freshie, or want to try a new shape but aren鈥檛 sure if you鈥檒l like it, take some time to peruse Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and OfferUp. Reputable resellers like also have a great inventory of used boards.

How We Test

• Number of Testers: 7
• Number of Products Tested: 21
• Number of Waves Ridden: Countless
• Number of Wipeouts: At least a couple dozen
• Number of Dings Acquired: More than a few

Surfers, for better or worse, have long been associated with exaggerated youth. And give a surfer a bunch of the best surfboards in the world to test ride, well, you might鈥檝e guessed it鈥攖hey鈥檙e like a kid in a candy store. But for this test, the sugar-high of surfboard testing was suppressed and testers thought carefully while documenting data, one wave, one board at a time.

The testers employed in this surfboard survey included a wide array of surfers鈥攆rom current professionals in the free surf realm, to former professionals on the competitive circuit, to seasoned surf travelers, to average surfers with an above-average knowledge of surfboards. And so, each tester rode a variety of boards, and documented their findings with quantitative results on which ones worked best in specific conditions and for specific surfing styles. We tested waves all over the country鈥攆rom Laguna Beach in California to Pipeline at Hawaii.

Meet Our Testers

Category Manager: Dashel Pierson

• Age: 32
• Stance: Goofy
• Height: 5鈥�11鈥�
• Weight: 160 lbs

Dashel Pierson is the Associate Editor of Surfer Magazine. When he鈥檚 not writing about surfing, he鈥檚 in the water, either locally in southern California, or traveling in search of waves in far-flung locations.

Dane Zaun

• Age: 32
• Stance: Goofy
• Height: 5鈥�11鈥�
• Weight: 185 lbs

Hailing from the South Bay of Los Angeles, Dane Zaun is a staple in the City of Angels surf scene. Once a competitor, now a free-surfer and father, Dane can be found in and around LA whenever the waves are good and putting on a clinic for the countless crowds the area is known for.

Elijah Viszolay

• Age: 32
• Stance: Goofy
• Height: 6鈥�0鈥�
• Weight: 185 lbs

A surf nomad, Eli Viszolay is a tough guy to nail down. When he鈥檚 not hunting waves in Indonesia, Chile, Hawaii, New Zealand, or any other surf hotspot, he鈥檚 at home in Laguna Beach, California. But don鈥檛 expect him to stick around long.

Nate Zoller

• Age: 35
• Stance: Regular
• Height: 5鈥�8鈥�
• Weight: 164 lbs

One of the most well-traveled free-surfers in the game, Nate Zoller has scored waves in India, Alaska, Fiji, and more. Not a lot of folks can boast that鈥r add those stamps to their passports.

Blair Conklin

• Age: 28
• Stance: Regular
• Height: 6鈥�0鈥�
• Weight: 160 lbs

More known as a skimboarder than a surfer, per se, Blair Conklin鈥檚 finless finesse has made him one of the best in the world. However, he鈥檚 no slouch on a regular surfboard either. And many consider him one of the most stylish in the biz 鈥� especially in the air.

Charlie Hough

• Age: 33
• Stance: Regular
• Height: 5鈥�10鈥�
• Weight: 180 lbs

A precious metals salesman by trade, Charlie Hough owns more surfboards than the average wave-riding fanatic. (Perhaps to the dismay of his wife.) So, when a new board comes onto the market, you can guarantee Hough will get his mitts on it. Or, at the very least, know all about it.

Devon Howard

• Age: 49
• Stance: Regular
• Height: 6鈥�1鈥�
• Weight: 195 lbs

One of the most stylish longboarders to ever cross-step, Devon Howard can often be found at Malibu 鈥� weaving through the crowd, and blending both classic style with modern progression.

Kevin Meza

• Age: 30
• Stance: Regular
• Height: 5鈥�11鈥�
• Weight: 183.5 lbs

Known by some as the 鈥淏aja Koala,鈥� Kevin Meza is a force of nature when it comes to shortboard innovation. From pop shuv-its, to fingerflips, Meza鈥檚 creative bag of tricks is deeper than a spitting tube at Pipeline.

The post Our Favorite Small-Wave, Alternative, and High-Performance Surfboards appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The surfboard industry continues to branch in a hundred different ways, from performance fish to traditional longboards and everything in between. This can make it hard to decide which board is right for you. Our answer? Pick two. We found a pair that were so good that we couldn鈥檛 choose a favorite. One鈥檚 a modern take on a classic and the other is as futuristic as you can get.

Lost Rad Ripper ($725 and up)

The Lost Rad Ripper is a shameless throwback to the eighties. Think: bright logos, thick rails, flat rocker, and a wide tail. Packed with foam鈥攖he stock 5’6″ we tested is a beefy 27.25 liters鈥攖his offering from master shaper Matt Biolos was designed for uninspiring waves. Testers found that the extra volume under the chest made the board extremely easy to paddle, yet the shallow single to double concave V bottom allowed for a great mix of speed and control. And it鈥檚 not just for groveling: pro Luke Davis rode four-to-six-foot tubes in Bali on this model and came home singing its praises. Ride the Rad Ripper at your height or two to four inches under.

Sharp Eye Inferno 72 in Dark Arts Technology ($1,305 and up)

On the other end of the spectrum, Sharp Eye鈥檚 Inferno 72 in Dark Arts Technology is on the cutting edge of performance and engineering. It starts with a stringerless, two-pound EPS core designed and shaped by Sharp Eye鈥檚 Marcio Zouvi. The foam is then sent to the Dark Arts factory, where it鈥檚 wrapped in carbon鈥攊nstead of fiberglass鈥攁nd vacuum bagged to remove all the excess resin. The result is stronger and lighter than your standard shortboard. It weighs just four pounds finished, but after six months of testing shows little sign of wear or tear. The board鈥檚 deep double concave creates lift, which, along with the construction, gives the sensation of floating above the water. And the unique flex of the carbon is like having a gas pedal under your front foot: the harder we pushed, the more speed and spring we felt in return. Designed for waist-to-head-high surf, this is a one-board quiver if there ever was one. Ride it an inch or two shorter than your standard shortboard.

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Cotopaxi Teca Camp Blanket ($75)

We love the Teca鈥檚 bold color blocking and lightweight poly颅ester insulation for after-session bonfires. It packs down to the size of a football.

Holden Puffy Slip-On Shoes ($130)

Synthetic insulation and a cushioned footbed provide instant relief for half-numb toes, while a water-repellent exterior and grippy sole keep dogs dry and traction intact.

Firewire x Rob Machado Surfboards Seaside and B颅eyond Surfboard ($920 and up)

This mid-length comes in three sizes (6’8鈥�, 7鈥�, and 7鈥�4鈥�), with a quad-fin setup that glides well and turns on a dime. It鈥檚 a fantastic all-around choice: playful in the small stuff, and steady when they鈥檙e breaking overhead.

Stay Covered Heavy Duty Hand-Tied Surf Leash ($42)

Take on big winter swells without fear of board loss. A hand-tied leash is stronger than the injection-molded variety.

Costa Antille Sunglasses ($226)

Costa鈥檚 lightweight Antille frames are constructed from 97 percent recycled fishing nets. Choose from three different polarized-glass options, including blue mirror, which is designed for the water.

Billabong 4/3 Furnace Natural Zipperless Wetsuit ($470)

The Furnace Natural features Forest Stewardship Council鈥揷ertified Yulex rubber foam, water-based adhesives, and a recycled exterior jersey that minimizes microplastic shedding. It鈥檚 the stretchiest, least bulky Yulex suit we鈥檝e tested. (惭别苍鈥檚 S鈥揦XL; women鈥檚 2鈥�10)

Rux 70L Collapsible Tote ($265)

Stow those stinky wetsuits in the ultra-durable Rux. Made from thick TPU-coated nylon and equipped with steel corner stays, this bin withstands being thrown around in the bed of a truck and collapses flat when not in use.

Afrosurf, by Mami Wata ($41)

This book celebrates African surf culture with photos, 颅profiles, poems, recipes, art, and comics from 18 of the continent鈥檚 coastal 颅countries. Profits go to Waves for Change and Surfers Not Street Children, helping kids from underserved African communities get into the water.

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Channel Islands FishBeard ($720)

For a few years prior to 1980, twin fins were the gold standard for performance surfing. But they were left behind for progressive and competitive surfing when the three-fin thruster鈥攚hich generally offers greater control鈥攄ebuted that year. There have since been many modern iterations of the twin. But when freesurfer Parker Coffin asked boardmaker Channel Islands to meld two of his favorite designs from the brand, something magical happened. 鈥淭he FishBeard is all I want to ride,鈥� Coffin says. 鈥淔rontside, backside, small waves, big waves, reef breaks, beach break. It makes every other board not as fun.鈥� I tested a stock FishBeard (5’6″ by 19″ by 2 5/16″) in San Diego and quickly fell in love. The thinner width above the front foot (compared with a traditional twin鈥檚) allows for precision surfing, while the absence of a third fin creates more speed. And because the proprietary keel fins have more splay (outward angle) and less surface area than traditional offerings, the board holds better on rail. In bowly three-foot surf, it allowed testers to push off the bottom and vertically into the lip without sliding out, a rarity on other twins. At a local winter slab, we had no issue swinging late and taking off under the lip. Testers made a few tubes and didn鈥檛 skip out once. Ride the FishBeard longer and narrower than a traditional twin and just a couple of inches shorter than your shortboard. It鈥檚 a hybrid of the two, but you might find it replaces both.

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Whether you鈥檙e just beginning to dabble in a new sport, on a budget because (like us) you听spent all your money on next season鈥檚 ski pass, or simply听trying to be more environmentally friendly, buying gear used听has a lot of perks. There are pitfalls to watch out for on the secondhand market, of course. But once you鈥檝e trained your eye to spot the real steals, you, too, can become a Craigslist champion, a gear-swap star, and a thrift-store high scorer. These are the best finds our bargain-hunting editors ever made.

The Board to End All Shortboards

When I lived in the surfing hub of San Clemente, California, I was always looking for magic surfboards鈥攖hose听that elevated the wave-riding experience to new levels. As a young journalist, though, I did not have a lot of money to spend on this quest,听so I scoured the plethora of听shops in town that specialized in used or consignment board sales. My best-ever score was a seven-foot-six-inch听 that I bought for $400. It was my first-ever mid-length board (I almost exclusively rode six-foot-long models听before that). Relatively flat, with a generous width, this single fin caught waves and battled currents easily. More importantly, the knife-edge rails and V bottom made it super responsive for a board of its size, allowing for aggressive cutbacks and point-and-shoot barrels. I rode听it听in conditions from knee-high to triple overhead before busting it in thumping Oregon beach break. It was a tragic day, but it made its mark on me: my mind had been permanently opened to alternative shapes beyond the shortboard. 鈥擶ill Taylor, gear director

The Boots That Got Me into the Backcountry

Six years ago, I found a pair of 听at a local gear-consignment shop for $370. I had just moved west and was looking for a resort-appropriate ski boot that I could also use to begin exploring the backcountry. Even at 50 percent off MSRP, this was one of the most expensive purchases I鈥檇 ever made (and 15听minutes after swiping my card, I got a fraud-alert call from my bank). But it also became one of the most important. Throughout听four seasons of heavy use, those boots听were my platform for growing and gaining confidence as a skier. I wore them on many听of my most pivotal moments on skis鈥攊ncluding my first 12,000- and 14,000-foot summits. Two years ago, when I invested in better touring boots and dedicated resort boots,听I dropped the SLs听off at a consignment shop.听I can only hope that whoever picked them up will have as much fun wearing them as I did. 鈥擜riella Gintzler, senior gear editor

A Wetsuit with Style

Back when I was a fiery lad in my early twenties living in San Francisco, I desperately wanted to experience the thrill of riding waves without putting in the time to actually learn to surf. I had a decent boogie board and听some blunt-cut fins from a buddy, but there was no way I was going to drop $200 on a new wetsuit. I began a hunt for a used one, trying on more than a half dozen options at thrift stores鈥攁 sweaty and miserable process鈥攂efore finding a used 4/3 that fit me perfectly but had one glaring problem: the left arm was coming apart at the shoulder seam. I bought it anyway for $20 and sewed the arm up with dental floss. Over the next few years, I wore it out at Ocean Beach dozens of times, scoring听one memorable tube ride but mostly getting pummeled. After one horrifying winter day when a current pulled me close to a mile offshore in the fog, I realized I鈥檇 hit my limit. Within days I sold the wetsuit for $25鈥攁 25 percent profit. The buyer thought the dental-floss stitching looked cool. 鈥擬ike Roberts, senior executive editor

My First Ski Setup

I bought my first pair of downhill skis and boots at the听Santa Fe Ski Swap in 1994 for about $150. The skis, a long and very narrow pair of ,听were probably outdated even then, but I wouldn鈥檛 have had any idea. I took my first lesson on them at Ski Santa Fe and learned the ropes听up there. I got started late鈥攎y late thirties鈥攁nd if I鈥檇听had to buy all-new stuff, I probably wouldn鈥檛 have even gotten into the sport. 鈥擜lex Heard, editorial director

The Mr. Froggy听Bowl

A few years ago, I was in my local Savers thrift store and spotted a green froggy bowl, presumably meant for kids. (I later did some detective work and realized it was part of .) I was about to go on a backpacking trip and needed a bowl after losing my camping cookware in a move, so I threw it in my cart. I figured I couldn鈥檛 go wrong for a dollar.听It worked great on that trip鈥攕turdy and lightweight, with just enough volume for my morning听oatmeal鈥攁nd quickly became my go-to eating vessel for dozens of backcountry adventures. I鈥檝e since come into a much fancier and more expensive camping bowl听but will still often opt for听Mr. Froggy. 鈥擫uke Whelan, research editor

A Classic听Set of Wheels

I lived on or near campus for most of college. When my commute to class grew beyond a ten-minute walk, I decided it was time to invest in some wheels. My roommate鈥檚 boyfriend, a Craigslist pro, scoped out a sweet little steel-frame that looked really promising. At a park on the northwest outskirts of Philadelphia, I traded $100 cash for it to an older man who said he thought the bike was likely the same age as me. Over the next 18 months, it was my primary mode of transportation to crack-of-dawn radio shows, weekly grocery runs, and my favorite Saturday taco spot in Manayunk. I even carried its heavy frame over my head through the parade (read: riot) after the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018. After college听it moved across the country with me, and I have it still鈥擨 rode it to work on my first day at 国产吃瓜黑料. 鈥擬aren Larsen, associate gear editor

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At Trimcraft Surfboards, expert builders Ryan Lovelace, Gerry Lopez, Rich Pavel, and Davey Smith dream up the designs, and a cadre of experienced shapers bring them to life. The business model lowers the price without sac颅rificing boutique quality.听

Trimcraft Burner Shortboard ($835)

Lovelace, who created the Burner, describes it as 鈥渁 shortboard for surfers who don鈥檛 shortboard.鈥� But don鈥檛 mistake it for a beginners-only model. He initially designed it as an all-around travel sled that does equally well hunting tubes in Indonesia, carving European beach breaks, and groveling through sessions when the swell hasn鈥檛 quite arrived yet. A wide point under your chest and 颅relaxed rocker make for easy paddling and early entry into waves compared with most boards in the six-foot range. It鈥檚 responsive and user-颅friendly, as long as you鈥檙e in the mood for flowy S-turns, not vertical, off-the-lip bashes.

We tested a 6'8″ board with a 颅two-plus-one fin setup (length is custom, and you can order the Burner as a quad, twin, or single fin) and had a blast at waist-high point breaks and shifty Northern California reefs. Going smaller would deliver a ride more akin to a traditional (if old-school) shortboard. For advanced surfers, it worked equally well in large and cruisey waves. And while it鈥檚 颅certainly a pricier option than buying off the rack, the Burner鈥檚 quality and versatility make it more than worth the investment.

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We spend a lot of time testing the newest gear every year, but often know very little about the people behind it. So, we sent a handful of our writers听out to talk to them. Joe Carberry spoke with Ryan Lovelance, the designer behind our tester鈥檚 favorite surfboard of 2020: the Trimcraft Burner. Trimcraft is a collective. Four legendary shapers (Lovelace, Gerry Lopez, Rich Pavel, and Davey Smith) design the boards and a team of young shapers make them. Here鈥檚 what Lovelace had to say about his philosophy on business, design, and hand shaping.

Just Do You

Most shapers of my generation have gone the route of using machines. I鈥檝e always loved hand-颅shaping鈥攖he doors it opened, the things it taught me in terms of focus and discipline.

Pick Your Posse

is basically four 颅design颅ers. Each of us have designs in the lineup. We鈥檙e friends. It鈥檚 a group of passionate hand-shapers. I call it a handshake brand.

Support Up-and-Comers

We鈥檙e a good venue for our younger shapers to get their names out. We hope to accelerate their careers. I 颅wanted to make a brand that when I was 21, I would have been like, 鈥淗oly shit, I want to shape for them while I build my business.鈥� They do the shaping, and Trimcraft takes care of the business side.

Know Your Audience

国产吃瓜黑料 California, the aver颅age surfer is more about maxi颅mizing enjoyment in the water. The surf conditions are more varied, there are fewer people form the contest scene. They weren鈥檛 raised to smash the lip every other second.

Make It Fun

In the past ten years, surfing听has started to emphasize fun over performance. Brands that tailor to that seem to be doing well, and the larger companies are taking notice. It鈥檚 pretty hard for some of us to have fun on a chippy shortboard all the time.

Check out Trimcraft鈥檚 Burner surfboard.

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Big Ben, from and , profiles听former professional surfer , whose听current career is听retrieving听problem trees on the Hawaiian island of Oahu听and turning them听into beautiful surfboards and furniture.听

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