Surfboards 101 Everything you need to know about looking, picking, and buying the perfect surfboards for you.

Transcription

1 If Youʼre Ready To Buy A Surfboard But Arenʼt Sure Which One Will Be The Perfect Fit For You... This will Be The Most Important Guide Youʼll Ever Read! Surfboards 101 Everything you need to know about looking, picking, and buying the perfect surfboards for you. by Luc & Holly Stokes Owners & Founders of DEGR33 Copyright 2010 DEGR33 (Degree 33) a division of Incite LLC - All rights reserved

2 Intro - Who is this guide for? 4 Who We Are and What Weʼre About 5 All Surfboards are NOT Created Equal (Donʼt Skip This) 7 Ride & Love it OR Weʼll Buy it Back (Exclusive 30 Day Guarantee) 10 USED Surfboards... Be Careful... PLEASE 11 Beginners - Where to start 13 Stable Surf System and why itʼs important for beginners 13 Height & Weight = Length & Thickness 13 The Perfect Surfboard for ALL Beginners 14 Transition-ers - What Surfboard is Next? 16 Stable Surf System and why itʼs important for you 16 Height & Weight = Length & Thickness 16 Popular Transition Surfboards 16 Youth (Groms) 18 Surfboards - The Basics 19 Surfboard Construction 19 Poly (Traditional Glass) vs Epoxy 19 Pop-out VS Machine Shaped VS Hand-Shaped 23 Board Shapes 24 Stand Up Paddle Board 24 Longboard (Malibu or Mals) 25 Mini-Longboards (Mini-Mals) 25 Funboards 26 Hybrids 26 Fish 27 Shortboards 27 2

3 Foam or Soft Top 28 Essential Surfboard Accessories 29 Leashes 29 Bags 30 Wax 31 Ding Repair 32 Rash Guard/Wetsuit 32 Traction 33 Surf Racks 33 Surfboards - The Next Level of Understanding 34 Width 34 Thickness 34 Nose Shapes 34 Tail Shapes 35 Squash or Square 35 Rounded Pin 35 Fish or Swallow 35 Fin Setups 35 Thruster (Classic 3 fin) 35 Quad Single 36 Concaves 36 Single 36 V-Type 36 Nose 36 Single to Double 36 Flat or No Reference or Unknown 36 Summary 37 3

4 Intro - Who is this guide for? Surfing isn't just another sport. Surfing is lifestyle. Surfing is a tribe of people that understand that when you're in the water... everything is right. It doesn't matter what else is going on, it's just you, the board, and your maker. There's something very "cleansing" about that. It's the one activity that is rejuvenating, active, and yet so centering at the same time. Surfing is one of those things that once you've tasted the fruit, all you do is crave it. Itʼs an inexpensive way to enjoy your exercise (you spend the money once and then the surfing is free the rest of the time), reduce your stress, and bring you closer to that place when time stands still and everything is right. Our goal with this guide is to either introduce, re-introduce, or bring you up current with all the latest tested trends in surfing. Regardless of whether you have been MIA from the surfing world for a while, are a regular, or never even seen the ocean but want to learn how to surf, this guide will give you all the details you need to make that next step. If youʼre brand new to the surfing world it can be a little overwhelming. New vocabulary, new equipment, and new experiences mean that there is a lot of info for you to digest. Reading this guide will open up the surfing world and reveal everything from where to start and what to expect when youʼre just getting going to even more advanced info if youʼre really a technical guy. Honestly, the best way to to use this guide is going to be to just read the whole thing. Weʼll cover the basics to more advanced info. If youʼve been out of the loop for a while and youʼre needing to get caught up with all the latest trends, this guide is for you too. Maybe youʼre trying to figure out what this epoxy thing is all about, or what the benefits to a quad fin setup is... regardless of the info youʼre looking for, the best way for you to digest this guide is to use the table of contents and just read the sections that you need a refresher on. Itʼs also possible that youʼre someone who surfs all the time and just looking for that next step but donʼt know all the elements of a surfboard you need to consider for that magic stick... and if thatʼs you, let us help you navigate all the things you need to look at. This guide is definitely for you, and weʼll cover the many attributes to a surfboard. With all that said, without further ado, hereʼs Surfboards

5 Who We Are and What We re About When I was looking at surfboards for the first time I remember how frustrating it was to get all the information that I needed to pick the right surfboard. I looked on multiple websites trying to gather all the details to make a good decision. IT TOOK FOREVER!! I knew there had to be a better way to not only find all the details that I needed to consider, but also a good solution to buy the right surfboard once I figured out what that would be... but I just couldn't find it out there. We are not like other surfboard companies. We are here to pass our low overhead discounts on to you. Why would you go to a retail surf shop and pay $300 - $500 MORE for a surfboard when you don't need to? We couldn't think of a good answer either. That's why we started Degree33 Surfboards. Let me tell you a story... Late in 2005 we moved down to San Diego, CA to chase the California dream... live where it was warm and surf our brains out. The only problem was that buying new surfboards when we got down here was a nightmare. We went to both online and retail surf shops, looked on ebay, checked out Craigslist, and any other classified places you can think of, trying to find good surfboards without paying a fortune. And you know what we found out? If you wanted to buy new surfboards from a retail shop you were going to spend anywhere from $600 to $900. If you wanted to buy a used surfboard, you were still going to pay anywhere from $300 to $500, unless the surfboard was in really bad shape. We decided there had to be a better way. So we took the next 11 months, did our research, and found out that we could get high quality, hand shaped surfboards, at a fraction of the cost. But there was a catch... we had to come up with A LOT of cash to make it happen. We had to get materials... hire shapers to cut the lines... get an artist to come up with some killer graphics. No easy task for anyone, let alone newlywed surfers. So here's what we did... 5

6 We partnered with our parents (thanks Mom and Dad), the bank, and other big name surf companies to start our online surf shop, Degree33 Surfboards. Not so that we could get rich, but so that we could share the love. Listen, Iʼm just like you. Iʼm not a pro, I donʼt need the $1000 board to surf on, I certainly donʼt care if I surf on the exact same board that I see in the mags, in fact, Iʼm probably not good enough to surf on that stuff anyways. Iʼm just a regular guy that loves to surf and wanted to get a good board at a good price. We thought it just wasn't right that the retail surf shops were charging so much for a new piece of fiberglass and foam called a surfboard. Neither of these things cost much money, why did a surfboard cost so much... especially since the majority of surfboards get made by the same team of shapers that I use? OVERHEAD! Employees to pay, lights to keep on, rent to pay... the list goes on. So we cut out the overhead, and went straight to the factory so that we could pass our savings on to you. No really, we started this little business in our home, selling surfboards out of our little 1 bedroom apt... talk about keeping the overhead low... at one point we had 97 surfboards in our apt and people coming to pick up stuff everyday! It was a circus! We since have moved on from there (Hollyʼs excited about not having surfboards surrounding the kitchen table :) because we have grown in popularity really fast. We still manage to keep our overhead low and promise to continue to offer great surfboards at a great price... you just wont be coming to my house anymore to pick it up. :) So that's our story. I hope it helps you know a little bit about us and in some way makes you feel a little more comfortable about doing business with us, because in all honesty, we did this for you. 6

7 All Surfboards are NOT Created Equal (Don t Skip This) Don t buy a surfboard without Stable Surf System Stable Surf System is our unique combination of concaves (bottom conture), rails (sides), nose shapes, tail shapes, rocker, fin setups and other surfboard design elements, all working together to make the most stable, versatile, and maneuverable surfboards available. So how did we come up with Stable Surf System or S3? Kind of by accident. Let me tell you a story... I was out one day surfing with my buddy Chet. Now Chet is fairly new to surfing, I mean, he can stand up and go down the line, but that's about it. Anyway, he was surfing on a typical low cost, zero technology, standard template longboard, and he was struggling to catch ANY waves. Now this wasnʼt a crappy board he was on by any means. Itʼs one of the typical surfboards that most low cost internet websites sell... I mean I used to sell them too until I made this discovery. Well, it just so happened that I was out there testing a new longboard shape that we were considering adding to our lineup and after watching him struggle, I decided to let him have a go at the board I was riding. And this is where something remarkable happened. He proceeded to catch not only the VERY NEXT WAVE he paddled for, but every wave there after as well. Now keep in mind he's a new surfer, so needless to say I was amazed the board made that big of a difference. So why did it make such a big difference? Surfboards that are more stable and more maneuverable... S3 technology consists of surfboard concaves, rails, nose and tail shapes all working together to make a superior board. S3 surfboards are some of the most stable on the market. This is especially important when you're learning to surf because you don't have the finer balance and technique skills down yet, and the board will help you by compensating for your weaknesses. A stable surfboard doesn't have to mean it lacks maneuverability though. 7

8 In Fact, it's quite the opposite. Because of what we've done to the bottom concave, rails, and rocker, S3 surfboards handle like fine Italian sports cars. So if you've had a decade in the water, you won't be disappointed either. Why? S3 surfboards are versatile Any time you buy a new surfboard you are worried about getting the right one for what you are trying to do. If you're a beginner, you want a board that is going to be brain dead easy to learn on BUT you don't want to have to buy another one as soon as you get the hang of it. Our surfboards are not only some of the most stable surfboards and therefore easy to learn on, but they allow for skill progression in an easy and smooth manner... a key that saves you money in the long run. If you're a seasoned surfer, S3 will provide some of the best rides you've ever had. When you combine ease of paddling and float, with insane handling, you get a surfboard you'll never want to let anyone borrow. Maneuverability, stability, paddling, and float, regardless of where your surf skills are, those are the 4 corners to surfing greatness. Our surfboards are lighter Degree 33 surfboards are up to 13% lighter (depending on construction) than traditional surfboards. This means your surfboard will float better and paddle easier, and make matching your paddle speed to wave speed a lot simpler, which is what you need to do to catch waves. Our surfboards are stronger Surfboards that are up to 27% stronger (epoxy) are a key feature to our line. The last thing you want is a costly break or crack to your board anytime, let alone while having an epic day of surfing. Save yourself money on repairs and keep yourself in the water longer. PLEASE! Don't just shop on price I know in this uneasy of times in our economy you are watching your dollars, but don't make the HUGE mistake of shopping only on price. Don't get me wrong, our prices are unreal, but you have to look at price combined with performance and quality. If you make your decision on price alone, you are likely to end up with some crappy surfboard, made out of lousy materials, that performs like surfing your front door. Here at Degree 33 Surfboards we combine the highest quality surfboard materials available together with our Stable Surf System for maximum stability and performance... 8

9 and our prices rock also. From beginner to seasoned rider, your shopping is done, you have found your source. You cant go wrong with Degree33. And to prove it to you that we believe in our product and and stand behind it, read the next section! 9

10 Ride & Love it OR We ll Buy it Back (Exclusive 30 Day Guarantee) I had a guy come and buy a board from me the other day and he told me an interesting but sad story. He had, just the week before, bought a board from another retailer, took the board out, surfed it, and didn't like the way it road at all. When he tried to take it back to them to exchange it, they said sorry we cant take back used boards. So instead of buying another board from them, he gave them the finger (his words not mine) and came and bought a board from us. This got me thinking. If someone doesn't like my boards... I don't want them hating on me. So why not just take care of them? That way you win with getting the perfect board and we win with having an army of happy customers. I know we all want to think the next surfboard we get will instantly turn us into Kelly Slater or Laird Hamilton (some of the greatest surfers of all time) but the reality is, this just isn't the case... it's the board's fault I'm sure. :-) So, even though I can't guarantee that buying a board from us will instantly make you a pro surfer... I can guarantee you'll LOVE the board you get from us OR... I'll buy it back from you. Here's what I mean... Buy any surfboard off our website and ride it for 30 days. If after 30 days it's not the perfect board for you, all you need to do is scrape the wax off, package it up like it was when you got it, get it back to me, and I will give you full retail credit towards any other surfboard in our warehouse. Oh by the way, don't let your drunk neighbor grab it and asphalt surf behind his truck before you return it... can't take it back if its mangled... you understand. :-) I want you to be uber confident in your surfboard purchase from us. So, I'm putting my money where my mouth is. If you don't like it, I'll buy it back. This way you get to make sure that this surfboard is the one you've been looking all over the internet for. Fair Enough? 10

11 USED Surfboards... Be Careful... PLEASE A lot of the time when youʼre starting out, the cheapest solution is often the most sought after, and used surfboards are typically going to be your cheapest option. Unfortunately they can also be the worst choice a new surfer can make. Hereʼs what I mean... Just like when you go buy a used car, a used surfboard can have any number of things wrong with it. Things that unless youʼre a mechanic, youʼd never see. Here are a few of the most common used surfboard issues: 1. Hidden damage- Hidden damage is probably the most common issue with used surfboards, mainly because so often a used surfboard is already waxed up. It is very easy to hide cracks and holes when you fill them in with wax. Also most used boards are purchased at night, after work, when the light isnʼt very good. This makes it increasingly tougher to see damage when youʼre in a low light situation. If you do end up buying a damaged surfboard you will be forced to fix it so that it doesnʼt become water logged, or you will deal with our next issue. 2. Water Logged- When a surfboard is cracked while still in the water, it is impossible to get your board out of the water before water is absorbed into the foam. Now having water in your foam is a common thing to deal with, but unfortunately it is dealt with improperly most of the time. After surfboard foam is exposed to water it must sit and dry out BEFORE itʼs repaired. This can sometimes take a week or two, depending on the amount of water absorbed, and if the person isnʼt really patient, they will repair it too soon. This causes a couple of problems. First, it will leave the board really heavy and unbalanced. This will make the surfboard hard to paddle, it wont float very well, and wont handle well either. The other problem that is caused by fixing it before it dries out is de-lamination. The water, over time, will cause the foam to rot and deteriorate and ultimately create soggy spots in the structure where the glass and resin will pull away from the foam. Once a board delaminates, good luck returning it to its original condition without cutting it apart, digging out all the rot, and refilling it. 3. Wrong Board- Getting the wrong shape and size is very easy to do when youʼre buying a used surfboard. Even if youʼre sure you want a 9ft longboard there can be HUGE differences in 9ft longboards. From thickness to width to bottom concaves to rail shapes to tail shapes... and more. All surfboards ARE NOT created equal. Using the car analogy again, its like saying I want a 2 door car but there is a massive difference between a Honda Civic and a Ferrari both have 2 doors but they are extremely different. The problem is, in the surf world, the Honda and Ferrari look really similar, and if you donʼt know what you are looking for, you could pick the wrong one. 4. Major Hassle- What is your time worth? Letʼs say youʼre looking at craigslist for a used board and find one across town 30min away. You head there after work, fight 11

12 traffic there, fight traffic back, take an hour and a half, only to find out that the board wasnʼt in as good of shape as the seller made you believe, or as the pictures showed. How many times are you willing to do that to save $50 or even $150? Letʼs say that you do find one, buy it, take it home only to find out somethings wrong with it that you hadnʼt noticed. Do you really think the private seller is going to say, Oh sorry you didnʼt see that when you bought it... just bring it back? If the seller is a man of integrity he would have told you about any issues before you even left with it. Listen, Iʼm not saying, Donʼt buy a used surfboard..., we even sell used surfboards, what I am saying is, unless you know exactly what you are looking for and what to lookout for, buying a used surfboard can sometimes be a real pain. And the major problem is that all these issue are VERY tough to look for and see. If you are going to buy a used board make sure that you know the individual that is selling the board. That way you know how it was handled, and whether or not you can trust them. Sometimes buying a new surfboard is worth it when you consider the hassle and frustration that can happen buying used, especially when our new boards are relatively inexpensive. If you are going to buy used, make sure that you take someone with many years of surfing experience with you to help evaluate your purchase. Click here to see our Used Surfboards Click Here if you donʼt want to hassle with used 12

13 Beginners - Where to start Stable Surf System and why it s important for beginners Stable Surf System (S3), as talked about above, brings a whole new dimension to surfing. Typically as a beginner you are forced to buy a surfboard with one primary focus, stability. The bummer about this is even though you are able to stand up... once up, you canʼt do anything, including turning your board. This forces you to buy another board sooner than you would like, just so that you progress and move on (just what you wanted to do... buy 2 boards to learn to surf). If you did decide to buy a surfboard that provided a little more maneuverability, you sacrifice float, paddling, and stability, leaving the learning curve super steep and making surfing a much harder sport to learn than it really is. So how did we fix this problem? Stable Surf System! S3 takes into account all the elements needed for stability (thickness, width, and concaves), and combines them with the critical elements of maneuverability (rocker, rails, and fin setup). When you combine all the elements together, you get a board that is not only rock solid stable but handles amazing. This is SO important as a beginner because the last thing you want to do is buy 2 boards to do the job of one. Buy a surfboard with S3 and I promise, not only will you fall in love with surfing, but you will progress much faster than you could on a surfboard without S3. Bottom line, as a beginner, you want a surfboard that not only is brain dead easy to learn on but will be a blast to ride as you get better. Make sure you buy a board with our Stable Surf System... you wonʼt regret it, I guarantee it. Height & Weight = Length & Thickness Your height and weight directly effect the length and thickness of the surfboard you will choose. In general if you are a beginner, THINK BIG. The reason for this takes us back to the simple dynamics of surface area. If you have more of it, you will stay afloat better, and you will feel more stable. This is very important when learning to surf because it allows you to develop your technique and balance on a very consistent object. Keep in mind however that as you add length to the board it will be a little tougher to paddle out to the line up of waves. Even though your longboard will feel easy to paddle 13

14 in calm waters, you will still need to be able to hold onto it and control it as you go through the waves. If you buy a board that is too big for you, you may feel like you are trying to steer a canoe, and that is a disaster waiting to happen! Here are the general rules a beginner should use for length: Buy a surfboard that is approximately 36 or 3ʼ taller than the rider. Now I know this seems huge but you will learn faster and have a lot more fun if you go with a bigger board. That way you will get the best of both worlds, you will be able to paddle easily, and keep control of your board in the crashing surf. Now when it comes to thickness, as a beginner, you really wonʼt have too much to worry about here. Most longboards are in the range and for most surfers under 200lbs that should work great. If youʼre in the lbs range will need a little more volume for your surfboard and will likely need a board in the range. (For over 260lbs, you will likely need to order a custom surfboard. If youʼre wanting info for a really light rider like a grom (youth) read the Kids section.) The Perfect Surfboard for ALL Beginners Thereʼs a lot of surfboards out there for you to choose from... from all the websites to craigslist to surf shops. Everybody has a board they are trying to sell you but most of the boards for sale wonʼt work for a beginner because of all the reasons we mentioned in the previous 2 sections... If you havenʼt read them stop here and read the 2 sections above. Since more than likely youʼll be starting on a longboard, the only question then to ask is which one. Our recommendation for the perfect longboard to learn on is the Ultimate longboard. We decided to call this longboard the "Ultimate" because of its unique ability to combine so many elements of a great longboard. It's super stable, turns great, and paddles fast, it truly is the very best longboard we've ever ridden. 14

15 The Stable Surf System is what makes this longboard so unique. Its bottom contours make the board super stable and paddle like the wind for easy wave catching. Its beveled rails that wrap the whole bottom and nose make this board handle great and reduces your chances of pearling. Click Here for full description and Video The Ultimate was a recent addition to our line for 2009 and has been getting nothing but rave reviews. Hereʼs one of the comments we received: Luc & Holly, I just wanted to send you a quick personal response on that Ultimate I picked up from you last weekend. Holy &*$% that board is sweet. I am just learning how to surf and donʼt have much experience with other boards (a couple of rentals is all) but that board was so much easier to ride than anything Iʼve ever been on. It paddled great, and I was even able to turn it... Iʼve never been able to turn any other surfboard. I am rambling but I am SOO excited and thought you should know. Make sure that any beginner that buys a board from you buys the same one I did. Home run man. Thanks. -Chet Womach Lacy, WA (soon to be CA I hope) Click Here for 8ʼ - 8ʼ6 Ultimate Mini Longboards Click Here for 9ʼ - 10ʼ Ultimate Longboards 15

16 Transition-ers - What Surfboard is Next? Stable Surf System and why it s important for you So youʼre starting to get this whole surfing thing figured out. You can stand up on most waves if youʼre in the right position and you can go down the line. You should be able to even make a few turns up and down the wave. Now youʼre looking for a little more maneuverability instead of so much float and paddle power. What Stable Surf System (S3) will do for you is take you to the next level. Anytime you transition down in size there is a new learning curve. The board will be harder to paddle, wonʼt float as well, will seem tougher to catch waves, and feel wobbly once youʼre standing on it. BUT the benefits of going shorter when you combine it with S3 are great. Because of what we do on the bottom concaves and rails with S3 even our shorter and mid range boards maintain a level of stability uncommon in the transition sizes all while being incredibly maneuverable. This makes transitioning down in size smooth and easy. Donʼt get me wrong, its still going to be an adjustment when you move down, but with S3 all it will take is a few sessions in the water and you will be off and running. Height & Weight = Length & Thickness Height and weight will always play into your board selection but as you progress in surfing it becomes less of an issue. There isnʼt necessarily a rule of thumb guideline that I can plug in here and tell you the magic size. It will depend on the style of board you are selecting, where you will be surfing, the types of waves you will be on, and of course your height and weight. If youʼre looking to move down in size I would recommend you give us a call so that we can help you pick the right board for your circumstances. But for those of you that need some direction here are a couple of common choices. Popular Transition Surfboards Transition surfboards are typically going to have a little pointier nose and a pulled in tail. This will provide more maneuverability and a looser feel. Here are our top 2 transition boards 16

17 1. Stepping Stone - The Stepping Stone is a 7ʻ6 funboard designed for the surfer moving down from a longboard 9ʼ and bigger. It is the perfect next step because of the pulled in nose and rounded pin tail. Its design allows it to perform much like a mini-longboard, however it is known for being a much looser surfboard that turns quickly and carves easily. Maintain your stability on this board due to its wide shape, making paddling a breeze, and more importantly your pop ups on waves will feel solid and strong! Luc & Holly, I bought that 7'6" funboard, waxed it up and gave it a little test run at Del Mar (beach break). All I can say is "Wow!" That board is fast as can be and really drives down the line. I can pull a full-rail bottom turn and transition into a vertical off the lip with no problem. I love the thin rails and the featherlight weight of the epoxy. PLEASE keep this 7' 6" pintail funboard in stock, as I am totally convinced this is one of the BEST all-around boards I have ridden in my 35 years of surfing. Oh, I forgot to mention that the nose rocker really allows you to paddle into waves really late and it planes out beautifully if you're stroking early into larger waves. Pick this one up for your quiver. You will not be disappointed. -Mac Williamson Del Mar, CA Click Here for full description and video of the Stepping Stone 2. Turning Point - The Turning point is a hybrid shaped swallow tail that is the perfect next step if youʼre eventually wanting to move down to a short board. This board has a much pointier nose for greater turning power and a double wing swallow tail designed for hold and smoothing out choppy waves. It combines stability with a unique design perfect for carving turns like your shortboard friends but you will catch more waves than a shortboard with the thicker and wider dimensions of this hybrid. Click Here for full description of the Turning Point 17

18 Youth (Groms) When youʼre talking about buying a surfboard for a grom the rules change a bit. First of all, they grow like weeds, and this means that a surfboard that is the right fit for them now, wont be next year. Second, their ability to learn new things and adapt is superior, so the style of board that you get them is really relative. Letʼs start by addressing the first one. Unless youʼre flush with cash you may want to buy a board that is a little too big so that your grom can grow into it. As a rule, a board that is bigger than they are is a good place to start. Make sure that the board is on the skinny side of things so that their arms can fit around it. This will make it not only easier to paddle but this ensures that your son/daughter will be able to carry it from car so that you can worry about the load youʼre going to carry. Now what I mean by my second point is that the shape you pick for your child's board isnʼt that important. As long as the surface area is appropriate for their size you can get a shortboard to a funboard and they will be able to stand up on the sucker... its not fair. :-) My recommendation out of our line is either a small soft top, the Lily Pad, or one of our shortboards, with the Lily Pad taking the lead. The Lily Pad is great for a grom because of its short length and slender profile. The wide round nose will make this board a cinch for them to catch waves and yet the bottom contours and fin setup will allow them to still turn the board. Itʼs also big enough that they will be able to grow into it as they not only grow taller but get better. Click Here for a full description of the Lily Pad Our shortboards are another great way to go. They are a little bit narrower and and have that cool surfboard shape that the groms want to have when they head to the beach. Now at the time of writing this our shortboards are limited to the Rapid Fire and the shortest is 6ʼ. This is definitely a little big for most groms but would allow them to grown into it as they mature. We are planning to add more shortboard shapes and small sizes so check our site to see what we are carrying now. Click Here to view all our shortboards 18

19 Surfboards - The Basics Universal elements to consider regardless of skill level Surfboard Construction Poly (Traditional Glass) vs Epoxy The construction of a surfboard is based on the type of materials itʼs made out of. Because of this, the question you have to ask yourself is if you want a Poly (traditional glass) or Epoxy board. Let me break the two choices down. POLY (short for polyurethane): Uses traditional construction of polyurethane foam, fiberglass and polyester resin. poly boards are reinforced with a wooden stringer that runs down the middle of the board. The final product is a board with a dense core and thin glass yielding basically a soft flex. Surfers who ride poly feel that these boards are more responsive even though they have a little extra weight. (They tend to be about 2-3 pounds heavier on average) They are known for their ability to really dig in to the wave to get clean carving turns. There are a few downfalls to poly boards however. First of all, due to their soft flex, they are more prone to heel dents in the deck (the top of the board). This is essentially a pressure dent from pounding your foot, or knee down either when standing or wiping out. Most surfers feel that the soft flex and the way it performs is a great tradeoff for putting a few dents in it. If you scrape the wax off of a used poly board, you will likely find many pressure dents regardless of the surfers ability. Itʼs just part of the deal. Another thing to be aware of with a poly board is the way it ages. The polyester resin seems to yellow from the sun and normal wear and tear of the board. This results in faded colors, and a very used looking board. Once again however, this may not mean a lick of difference to you if you like the way the board performs! Additionally, Poly construction requires use of super toxic VOCʼs (volatile organic compound) from not only the resin, but the chemicals used to clean, dilute, and work with it. Despite these negatives, its soft flex and construction have allowed poly boards to dominate the market for years. They have been well tested and refined on boards of every size and shape, and cater to surfers at every level. 19

20 Finally, letʼs talk about the price of these boards. Obviously there are many factors when determining the price of a surfboard. (Ie: Length, Shape, Graphics, Customization etc.) The general cost for a poly shortboard at a surf shop, (with graphics/not plain white) would be anywhere between $400-$700. For a longboard expect to pay $ Thatʼs why we are so excited about the prices we can offer you! (We simply cut out the cost of overhead and employees to pass on the savings to you). Our boards are literally HUNDREDS below the cost of a board at any surf shop guaranteed. We make poly boards in 3 styles: fish, hybrids, and classic longboards. Click Here to see all our Poly Surfboards So why all the talk about new technologies for surfboard construction? Well, as you may or may not know, in December of 2005, Clark Foam, the industry leader in poly foam blank production, unexpectedly closed its doors. From that point on shapers everywhere have been experimenting with everything, to come up with an alternative to the gaping hole that Clark Foam left in the industry. By experimenting with other types of foam and resin, like epoxy, shapers have developed a way to make an even lighter and tougher board! Up until the close of Clark Foam, Poly boards dominated about 90% of the market. Our team of shapers, which has 50+ years of combined experience, has transitioned with the market and is now producing high quality, custom, hand-shaped, epoxy boards. EPOXY or EPS: Epoxy boards are a combination of polystyrene foam, fiberglass, and epoxy resin, resulting in a much lighter and much more durable surfboard! Unlike the wooden stringer that is always used in a poly board, epoxy boards may or may not use wooden stringers. Instead, many EPS boards use a plastic stringer (typically PVC) that reinforces the boardʼs strength while still maintaining its light weight characteristics. EPS stands for Expanded Polystyrene. This is an open celled beaded foam which is used in everyday items such as Styrofoam cups, beer coolers and car seats. As the name ( expanded polystyrene ) implies, EPS is expanded into a mold to ultimately end up with a finished product at a specific density. Donʼt get me wrong though. I am not saying that EPS boards are shaped by filling up a mold; the mold is simply a starting block of foam in which custom surfboards can be shaped from. This allows shapers to create high tolerance molds of EPS to cut surfboard blanks out of, or specifically format custom shapes for individual products. Just like with poly boards, epoxy has its own set of drawbacks. The open cell beads can present a problem if the board is cracked because it has extra space between beads, 20

21 allowing water to get in. To prevent this from happening, if you damage your surfboard, simply get out of the water and apply a little Solarez (ding kit) to seal the problem area. Click Here for full description and to purchase Solarez The other drawback to epoxy is its sensitivity to sunlight. Heat and UV can cause a great amount of damage to any epoxy board. As the heat and UV react with the materials of an epoxy board the board will expand and can delaminate if not taken care of. The easiest way to combat this issue is with a bag, especially if youʼre going to have your board in direct sunlight for a while. If youʼre are just going back and forth to the beach to surf, and your board is in the water or the house the rest of the time, you should be just fine. It takes a couple of hours of direct sun to cause damage. However, the great thing about epoxy resin is itʼs bulletproof just kidding, but it is really tough. Epoxy resin is a VERY durable, ding, dent, and crack resistant coating. Epoxy Surfboards are some of the Lightest and Strongest Boards on the Market! So What? Well, there are many elements to your surf session that would be enhanced by a lighter board. Just carrying a heavy board to the beach is enough to make a beginner exhausted. You are bound to bang it on something along the way cars, railings, who knows, they all seem to jump right in your path! Good thing your epoxy board is so ding resistant! Beyond just getting to the waves, you will be happy that it is light when you are in the water too. The main reason is that you will be maneuvering your board multiple times whether it is to get out to the waves, paddling through them and getting knocked off, or actually paddling into them. Granted, because the board is in the water it will feel lighter than out of the water. (Think about carrying your friend in the swimming pool they always feel lighter!) But, when you add resistance from the waves, you will be thankful for a light board that you can quickly maneuver and keep control of. Because of the materials used, EPS boards are less dense than a PU and have a very lively (stiffer or faster) flex. Surfers riding epoxy boards know that the lively, harder (faster) flex produces what feels like a floatier board. EPS boards feel more on top of the water, paddle faster, and many say are able to gain more speed from the wave. These three elements alone are enough to make an epoxy board a hit with surfers of every ability level. Being on top of the water will allow you to conserve your energy during your surf session because you will not have as much drag. This will also allow you to paddle faster because you will be able to glide instead of dig in and sink. 21

22 Finally, the element of speed that you gain with an epoxy board is a very important one. The quicker you are able to pop up in the wave, the more likely you will be able to ride it down the line. This seems like a simple thing, but the difference of even a half a second can mean that you are getting wiped out, vs being in the perfect spot to ride the breaking wave. Another benefit of epoxy boards lies in the construction. They are more environmentally friendly with less toxic VOCʼs and can be cleaned with denatured alcohol. Not all surfers are sold on the way they perform. Pro surfer, Rob Machado said, There are no disadvantages to epoxy in under head-high waves. But epoxy is less responsive in overhead waves, a way different feel. Additionally, another con to epoxy boards are that they often cost an extra $50- $150 to your total cost because the materials cost more. That takes a shortboard up to costs between $ and longboards up to $ ! Once again, we are proud of the fact that we eliminated the middle man of the operation. We are able to offer our epoxy boards for the same cost of a poly, and still keep the entire cost of the board hundreds of dollars below the competition! Click Here to see all our surfboards including epoxy models Lastly, many people are concerned that such a tough board with little flex, would snap easily if tested. Never forget that regardless of what your board is made of, any board can break. Shapers do their best to make a board that is super tough, but one that also has flex. To achieve both of those things is an art. Breaking boards is not a common occurrence but every so often it does happen. Donʼt forget, the ocean is powerful and boards are susceptible. The moral of this story is that you will probably gravitate to one or the other (EPS or poly). If you are new to surfing I personally would recommend epoxy for the simple fact that they are very durable and surf great. 22

23 Pop-out VS Machine Shaped VS Hand-Shaped There is a giant difference between Pop-Out, Machine Shaped, and Hand-Shaped. Pop-Out - Surfboards that are a pop-out construction you will want to stay away from. This is the cheapest way to make a surfboard. In short what they do is make a mold, fill it with foam and then mass produce it. There is very little quality control in these boards and are known for breaking easily because of poor construction. Machine Shaped - Machine shaped surfboards are becoming more and more common. It allows surfboard shapers to produce a board once and then have a CNC machine shape the boards from there on out. This can really make someoneʼs operation a lot more efficient allowing a quicker production time and higher volume. All with very little tolerance of error. However, even though my personal opinion is that machine shaped will be the future, I have a slight problem with it. Surfing is a sport that has a true heart and soul to it. If youʼve spent any time in the water you know exactly what I mean, and any time you remove the human hands from the process, you remove some of the art that has made up surfing for years. There are very few things these days that arenʼt mass produced and even though surfing is moving in that direction, Iʼd like to keep it as pure as we can while staying competitive. So for now, if you have the choice, buy a board that has been shaped by hand. -VS- -VS- Hand-Shaped - Hand-Shaped boards are the only way to go. They consist of a solid piece of foam that is shaped by hand from a block to a masterpiece. The only variation in construction comes from the human hands and the slight difference they will make from board to board. If I were you, I would demand nothing less than a hand-shaped surfboard. Thatʼs why every surfboard you will ever buy from us at Degree33 is shaped by hand by someone that has years of experience. Now donʼt let me confuse you, we produce a lot of surfboards, but there is a big difference between mass production of surfboards like a I mentioned above and having a dedicated TEAM of shapers that all they do is shape surfboards. As you can imagine if you have enough people you can out produce a machine. Donʼt sell yourself short by cutting corners WE DONʼT. Click Here to see all our Hand Shaped Surfboards 23

24 Board Shapes The overall shape of your board, (taking into account nose & tail shape) will essentially determine how your board performs. Most boards fit into a distinct category, in which the other boards in that category will also have the same shaped nose and tail construction. (Example: Most longboards have a round nose and a squash or square tail, vs. a retro fish design that will have a pointed nose and swallow tail.) There are obviously exceptions to this rule when a custom board is created. In this case, the customer can literally pick what type of specifics they want for the board. Here are the most common shapes of surfboards, and an explanation of who would most likely be surfing them. This will help you determine the best shape for you. Stand Up Paddle Board The Stand Up Paddle Surfboard or SUP has been the latest craze in the surfing world and provides an incredible workout. SUPʼs are being used everywhere from oceans to lakes to rivers. If its water, people are using Stand Ups to get around on it. Some of the typical highlights are- Size range from 10ʼ6-12ʼ Provide a great workout Can be used in many different bodies of water not just on the ocean with waves. Very stable platform that you stand on the entire time Not propelled by laying down and paddling but by standing up and using a paddle (like a long boat oar). Click Here to see all our SUPʼs 24

25 Longboard (Malibu or Mals) This shape is ideal for any level of surfer especially for those small wave days. A longboard is what we recommend for all beginners and/or larger surfers and is one of those boards that EVERY quiver should have. Some of the typical highlights are- Range in size from 9ʼ - 11ʼ Very buoyant because of its large volume (comprised of width, thickness and length) Round nose and squash/square tail or rounded pin tail Wide through entire board ~23 wide (provides stability) About thick (adds buoyancy making it easy to paddle) Click Here to see all our Longboards Mini-Longboards (Mini-Mals) The mini long is primarily a slimmed down version of the longboard. A lot of the same characteristics but in a smaller size. This shape is ideal for lighter weight or female beginners and/or intermediate surfers. Some of the typical highlights are- Size range from 8ʼ - 9 Round nose and squash/square tail Wide through entire board ~22 (provides stability) About inches thick (making it easy to paddle out) Click Here to see all our Mini Longboards 25

26 Funboards This shape is ideal for light weight beginners (120lbs and under) or intermediate surfers looking to transition down in size from a longboard. Includes egg shapes, fish, etc. Some of the typical highlights are- Size ranges from 6ʼ6 7ʼ6, and anything that is 20 or wider Can have a variety of nose & tail shapes (ie: pointed nose/squash tail or round nose/pin tail etc.) Its overall shape (length and wide width) makes it easy to paddle and versatile on the wave. Stay away from nose riding these boards though unless you want to end up with a mouthful of salt water. Great transitional board as you step down from a longboard to the shorter boards. (This is essentially a performance mini longboard) Click Here to see all our Funboards Hybrids This shape is ideal for intermediate surfers or surfers wanting to transition from a mini longboard or funshape down in size. The main thing to keep in mind is that a hybrid surfboard is a combo of varying elements. From nose shapes to tail shapes to fin setups. Different combos are going to give you a different ride and feel. Some of the typical highlights are- Size ranges vary greatly and can be anywhere from 5ʻ6 to 8ʼ or so Longer boards can have pointed noses for carving turns Shorter boards will have a fuller template through the nose for easy wave catching Width and thickness will be on the generous side typically and provides stability and float Great transition board for someone who has been riding a mini long or funboard and wants to go smaller Can make a great first board for a youth or grom Click Here to see all our Hybrids 26

27 Fish This shape is ideal for intermediate surfers. Looking to maximize turns and speed on small to medium sized waves. Some of the typical highlights are- Size range from 4ʼ8 6ʼ2 (get it 2-4 shorter than your shortboard) Pointed nose (for carving turns) Swallow tail (channels water to generate speed) Width and thickness provides stability to catch the wave even though length comes up a little bit short.(turns like a skateboard on waves!) Great transition board for someone who has been riding a longboard or mini longboard and wants to go smaller Best for small to medium sized waves Click Here to see all our Fish Shortboards This shape is ideal for intermediate to advanced surfers. Designed for maneuverability and aggressive moves, the shortboard has been a surfing staple since the 70ʻs. Some of the typical highlights are- Size range from about 5ʼ 6ʼ10 Pointed nose (for maneuverability and carving turns) Square/Squash/Swallow/Round tail Unless you have been surfing for a while STAY AWAY! You will only frustrate yourself and leave yourself hating surfing. Click Here to see all our Shortboards 27

28 Foam or Soft Top Although surfing is a relatively safe sport, there are definitely inherent risks with surfing including getting hit by your surfboard. The soft top or foam surfboard is perfect for the surfer worried about injury while surfing. Unfortunately, soft tops arenʼt necessarily the best to learn on because of their very generic shape (typically flat on the bottom). However, the plus side is that they have a low price point for someone not sure theyʼll enjoy surfing. Theyʼre also a good place to start with young surfers because we all know how easily their attention gets changed... this week surfing... next week rollerblading. :) Some of the typical highlights are- Low cost Safer than your standard surfboard Generic shape not designed for performance, just float Perfect for surf schools Good for youth surfers Easy to resell Although we carry soft tops from time to time, we donʼt carry them on a consistent basis. However, any of our surfboards can be ordered in a soft top model. Click Here to see any soft tops in stock 28

29 Essential Surfboard Accessories In addition to a surfboard you will need a number of additional accessories for your surfboard and for you. Leashes When you embark on surfing, one of the first things you will notice, is that if you get separated from your board without a surfboard leash you will have a long swim to retrieve it. That's assuming of course, that your surfboard hasn't been stopped by someone else's head. Oops. A surfboard without a leash, or a leg rope as they are sometimes called, can be much like an untrained puppy without a lead, a bit hard to handle, and potentially embarrassing, especially in a crowd. Other benefits of a surfboard leash: Saves time and energy. If you don't have a leg rope, every time you fall off your board you have to swim after your board. Not only is this time consuming, but it doesn't leave much energy for actually catching a wave. Your surfboard is right there. This can be handy if you aren't an Olympic swimmer. Having a surfboard leash ensures that your board is never too far away. If you become exhausted, you can lie on your board until you get your breath back. Protects the surfboard from being washed away and smashed up on rocks. If you get wiped out on a big wave your surfboard leash will eventually pull you back up to the surface. This is reassuring if you are under the water a while and have become disoriented. What length of surf leash is best for me? There are 2 factors governing what sort of surfboard leash will be right for: Size of your surfboard. The shorter your surfboard, the shorter the leash should be. You guessed it, the longer the board, the longer the leg rope. I know, real complicated. :-) Size of the waves you plan on catching. Smaller waves need thinner leashes, and bigger surf requires a thicker leg rope for the extra strength. Another easy generalization is that if you are new to surfing buy a leash that is about the same size as your your surfboard. A thicker leash will generally last longer than a thin one. Most leashes will stretch after use. (The amount of stretch will depend on the size of the waves, bigger waves, bigger stretch.) A word of warning. A surfboard leash can turn a surfboard into something resembling a boomerang or a yo-yo. When the leg rope is stretched the board is going to come 29