SURFING SPOTS IN ALASKA

Alaska's surf capital is located in YAKUTAT island...

  

 

 

Alaska has more coast line than the rest of United States combined. 
It is the Last frontier. 

Alaska will never suffer from a crowded line-up, it's simply too remote... 

Despite a number of high quality beach, reef and point breaks. You are more likely to be dropped in on by floating ice than a travelling pro and a spirit of adventure and camaraderie amongst the local surfing population remains strong. The 33,000 mile (53,108km) coastline sounds like it would offer unlimited options - which for the number of surfers here might well be true - but in reality most of the coast either faces the wrong way or is shadowed by islands. Surfing is focused around specific areas such as Yakutat which possess a Pacific swell window and the water is warmed by Kuroshio and Oyashio currents which bring up warm water from the south. 

Near Whitehorse city in Fairweather Range. Juneau region.

Accomodations are limited and not cheap. Go ahead if you like fishermen's life.
Steller Sea loins and Orca(Killer Whales in the water) Grizzlies and wolves on the beach, be aware if you camp, food attracts. Beach is tribal and leave it better than you arrived or we may lose it. 

Don't hit on local girls in a town of 350 people...

Atmosphere:

Differents breaks to check on the harbor. Look for graveyards in Monti Bay.

General:

A good spot to add to your surf resume, but don't you want to stay at home and surf in warm water.

Distance - In the city
Walk - Instant access (< 5min)
Easy to find? - Easy to find
Public access? - Public access
Special access - Don't know

Sea temperatures range from a bone-chilling 31°F /-0.5°C to a slightly less Arctic 60°F or 15.5°C in the height of summer, meaning you will rarely be out of your 5mm suit. 

Weather varies wildly here so travelling surfers be to be prepared for all the seasons in one day! 

Surf Spot Quality

Wave quality - Normal
Experience - All surfers
Frequency - Regular

Wave

Bottom - Sandy with rock
Normal length - Normal (50 to 150m)
Good day length - Long (150 to 300 m)

Tide, Swell and Wind

Swell size - Starts working at Less than 1m / 3ft and holds up to 2m+ / 6ft

Let's watch the Red Bull crew movie from 2008:

OTHER SPOTS:

CITY BEACH - ADAK

 

Right there in town of Adak. A curvy beachbreak with many different surfing areas possible. Also, nearby Zeto Point has its days.

Spot relies on big Aleautian swells wrapping around into bay. Actually happens quite a lot in these parts. Gets too cold come November. 

October best month for surfing here. 

Usually small, but can have shape and get about head-high+ on huge (40') Aleutian swells. Is very protected. A safe and fun place to surf. 

Believe it or not, was surfed a few times during WWII.

Atmosphere:

Around the bend is Zeto Point, a good point break in fall and winter, and further north from there are the lagoons, Loran cove, and Loran Point... all have surfable waves during a strong swell.

General:

You'll be alone, guaranteed.

Surf Spot Quality

Wave quality - Normal
Experience - All surfers
Frequency - Regular

Wave

TypeBeach - break
Direction - Right and left
Bottom - Sandy
Power - Ordinary, Fun
Normal length - Short (< 50m)
Good day length - Short (< 50m)

Tide, Swell and Wind

Good swell direction - NorthEast
Good wind direction - North, NorthWest, NorthEast
Swell size - Starts working at Less than 1m / 3ft and holds up to 2.5m+ / 8ft+
Best tide position - All tides

FOSSIL BEACH - KODIAK

 

DRIVE 50 MILES SOUTH OF TOWN AND YOU'LL HIT THE BEACH. Fossil Beach is the last beach after the Rocket Launch Complex.

Fossil beach can be surfed on both sides. On larger days the reef is much better than the beach break.

Atmosphere:

NO CROWDS! Pristine, and i caught my first wave here.

General:

Its mainly a beach break so it offers a variety of waves.

Surf Spot Quality

Wave quality - Regional Classic
Experience - All surfers
Frequency - Very consistent (150 day/year)

Wave

TypeReef - rocky
Direction - Right and left
Bottom - Sandy with rock
Normal length - Normal (50 to 150m)
Good day length - Long (150 to 300 m)

Opinion:
One of the most premier and pristine breaks I have ever been. 
Black sand beaches, pinks running up the river, and clean right or left breaks on a sandy bottom. A crowded lineup here means more then 3 people in the water, and throw a shaka to the locals and your good to go.Not as cold as you may think in the summertime, buckle down in the winter! I tackled it in a 4/3 Psycho with no problem year round.

LORAN POINT - ADAK

  

 

Fly to Adak on Pennair or Alaska Airlines. Rent a jeep. 
Drive on road north past lagoon towards Loran Station. 
If it's working, you'll most likely have to paddle out from further inside the bay... it's rarely possible to make it out from the point unless it is barely breaking. Very long paddle, best at dropping or slack tide when currents are gone. At rising tide you have to be extra determined to make the paddle out on a big day. May be possible to launch a jetski from inside bay, but as of yet there are none on Adak.

Big-wave spot on north shore of Adak island, has been compared to Waimea Bay Hawaii meets J-Bay. Extremly long and can hold giant swells. 

Needs to be at least 8-10 feet before it breaks. 

Too cold and crazy in winter and spring! 

Must try to get good weather in the early fall, or a N swell in summer... 

but summer very foggy. One of the few legitimate big wave breaks in the Aletuians.

Atmosphere:

September/October you have the best chance of good weather and swell. 

For experts only,and very cold. Wrap-around spots on the E side, and spots in town have smaller surf for the less hardcore. This is the Final Frontier, there's no doubt 'bout it..

Distance - Take a car
Walk - Short walk (5-15 mn)
Easy to find? - Easy to find
Public access? - Public access
Special access - 4x4!

Surf Spot Quality

Wave quality - World Class
Experience - Experienced surfers
Frequency - Sometimes break

Wave

Type - Point-break
Direction - Right
Bottom - Boulders
Power - Powerful
Normal length - Exceptional (>500m)
Good day length - Very Long (300 to 500 m)

Tide, Swell and Wind

Good swell direction - North
Good wind direction - SouthEast
Swell size - Starts working at 3m-3.5m / 10ft-12ft and holds up to

More details

Week crowd - Empty
Week-end crowd - Empty

Dangers

- Rips / undertow

MILL BAY

 

Located on the northeast tip of Kodiak Island, on the northern side of town, it's along the road.

Best to paddle out on the left side of the reef when it is big then paddle behind the reef into the zone once you are far enough out.

Atmosphere:

No crowds at all, there is like 10 people in town who surf.

General:

Its really good in winter, when it gets faces 5ft+ then it starts to get really clean and barreling.

Surf Spot Quality

Wave quality - Normal
Experience - All surfers
Frequency - Sometimes break

Wave

Type - Beach-break
Direction - Right and left
Bottom - Sandy
Power - Ordinary
Normal length - Short (< 50m)
Good day length - Normal (50 to 150m)

Tide, Swell and Wind

Good swell direction - North, SouthEast, East, NorthEast
Good wind direction - East, NorthEast
Swell size - Starts working at 1.0m-1.5m / 3ft-5ft and holds up to 3m+ / 10ft+
Best tide position - Mid tide
Best tide movement - Rising and falling tides

More details

Week crowd - Empty
Week-end crowd - Empty

RAINBOW POINT

BY plane only...This is a pre planed place..localism is perfect.....

have fun they'll tell you more the fisherman know everything
about the Aluetian Islands Further West by boat more world class spots no one knows about..
And will never know due to it cold and weathering enviroment but the rest of the world will be figured out......

This place is empty year round. When I think of a wave for myself I think of this place in Dutch Harbor I know it's cold but if you wanted a perfect wave and a 500m> ride it's worth it and no colder than steamers lane during the winter

and the water is fresh and powerful coming from the back side of dutch harbor out of the Bearing Sea and wraps all the way around the island and in but after 300m or so it starts to taper of due to the harbor...

But in the intrence it can get up to double over head...
Well worth the time and effort plus there is work in Dutch Harbor

Atmosphere:

I watched this place in amazment when I was there
crab fishing and I am a pro surfer from my own time in the water I know good and for what it is worth don't pass up the beauty...

General:

Bring a 6 mil with a hood dress warm and bring 3mil booties can build a fire there World Class yes. Half the awe of indo but the wave rides the same no stand up barrels only on a negative tide short sections very consistant.

Surf Spot Quality

Wave quality - World Class
Experience - All surfers
Frequency - Very consistent (150 day/year)

Wave

Type - Reef-artificial
Direction - Left
Bottom - Flat rocks
PowerHollow, Fast, Powerful
Normal lengthNormal (50 to 150m)
Good day lengthExceptional (>500m)

Tide, Swell and Wind

Good swell direction - North
Good wind direction - SouthEast
Swell size - Starts working at 1.0m-1.5m / 3ft-5ft and holds up to 4m+ / 12ft
Best tide position - Low and mid tide
Best tide movement - Rising and falling tides

More details

Week crowd - Empty
Week-end crowd - Empty

Dangers

- Urchins

SANDY BEACH

 

Its off Halibut Point Road. 

Surf Spot Quality

Wave quality - Normal
Experience - All surfers
Frequency - Regular

Wave

Type - Reef-rocky
Direction - Right and left
Bottom - Sandy with rock
Power - Ordinary, Fun
Normal length - Normal (50 to 150m)
Good day length - Normal (50 to 150m)

Tide, Swell and Wind

Good swell direction - West, SouthWest
Swell size - Starts working at 1.0m-1.5m / 3ft-5ft and holds up to 4m+ / 12ft
Best tide position - Mid and high tide
Best tide movement - Rising and falling tides

More details

Week crowd - Few surfers
Week-end crowd - Few surfers

SHOALS REEF

By boat from Sitka. 30min. Ask and experience it with locals.

Dangers, Large Stellar Sealions, Bears, and Orcas. The lower the tide the better. some of the posted photos are of a near by pt. break. 

There are two main peaks, one for the right and one for the left.

Atmosphere:

Cold water Perfection

Distance - Don't know
Walk - Don't know
Easy to find? OK
Public access? Public access
Special access - By boat only!

Alternative name: The Wall

Surf Spot Quality

Wave quality - Regional Classic
Experience - Experienced surfers
Frequency - Regular

Wave

Type - Reef-rocky
Direction - Right and left
Bottom - Reef (coral, sharp rocks etc..)
Power - Hollow, Fast, Powerful, Fun
Normal length - Normal (50 to 150m)
Good day length - Long (150 to 300 m)

Tide, Swell and Wind

Good swell direction - SouthWest, South
Good wind direction - North, NorthWest, NorthEast
Swell size - Starts working at 1.0m-1.5m / 3ft-5ft and holds up to 5m / 16 ft and over
Best tide position - Low tide only

More details

Week crowd - Empty
Week-end crowd - Empty

THE LAGOONS 

 

The Lagoons on Adak actually consist of two Lagoons, one on the north shore and the other on the east. The one on the north shore is offshore on a south wind, however it is very exposed to swell and is often closed out and very dangerous. However if the swell is small and from the north, this is the place to look for some rideable surf. Check the actual lagoon opening for a wave section that is not uniformly walled up. The lagoon on the east side is far better because the surf always hits it at an angle and so the rides are longer and not as closed out - they peel off much more. These are two large lagoons that have fringing sand-rock berms along the ocean. A rising tide usually brings more surf activity, but also if the swell is not big enough it may break right onshore. 
A dropping tide sees waves breaking further away from the shore, and is best especially with more swell. 
The lagoons are fairly regular and the E side lagoon is always worth a check if Loran Point is too big and town is too small.

Just an average wave, but if the swell is pumping from the north of north east and the wind is from the northwest or west, the E side lagoon can get really, really good. The wave is not a jetty, but a natural breakwater separating the lagoons from the Bering Sea. The north lagoon should not be surfed unless it is small, in which case it is fun but usually a short ride.

Atmosphere:

In these parts when the Aleutain storms fire to life and the snow blows at 100 MPH sideways (The Williwaws), the lagoons actually can kick up a swell of their own INSIDE the lagoon! The Aleutians in winter is no place for the feint of heart and is extremely dangerous even on land... do not surf outside of summer and September unless things are very calm and you can get out of the water within 5 minutes and back to town within 10. City Beach in town is the only year-round place to surf, but be warned - storms can descend so fast and furious even there is not entirely safe. Blinding blizzards can strike within minutes and if you're car stalls and/or you get lost, you're dust...

General:

The Aleutians are the frozen Hawaii. Remember this is the USA... forgotten islands not even scratched for surfing. With modern westuit technology, one can greatly enjoy America's wintry surf frontier... but be VERY conservative and careful when it comes to the weather and venturing outdoors, especially when entering the ocean! Adak is one of dozens of Alaska, America's islands open for surf exploration,and perhaps the most accessible. Keep North America free and clean!

Distance - Take a car
Walk - Instant access (< 5min)
Easy to find? - Easy to find
Public access? - Public access
Special access - 4x4!

Surf Spot Quality

Wave quality - Normal
Experience - All surfers
Frequency - Very consistent (150 day/year)

Wave

Type - Breakwater/jetty
Direction - Left
Bottom - Flat rocks with sand
Power - Powerful, Fun
Normal length - Short (< 50m)
Good day length - Normal (50 to 150m)

Tide, Swell and Wind

Good swell direction - North, NorthWest, East, NorthEast
Good wind direction - West, South
Swell size - Starts working at 1.0m-1.5m / 3ft-5ft and holds up to 3m+ / 10ft+
Best tide position - All tides

More details

Week crowd - Empty
Week-end crowd - Empty

THREE MILE 

 



On Kodiak Island, drive southeast, out of town for an hour and pass Pasagshak and you'll see it. It's the big beach.

Best to surf it right by one of the creeks that flow into the ocean. There is also a nice break about half a mile to the left of the parking lot. That Break is Called Cannon Balls.

Atmosphere:

Good on a mid-size or small day. When there is a storm, things just get out of control there.

General:

Really consistent during fall, winter, and spring. Just takes an hour to get to it.

Distance - Take a car
Walk - Instant access (< 5min)
Easy to find? - OK
Public access? - Public access
Special access - Don't know

Alternative name - Surfers Beach

Surf Spot Quality

Wave quality - Regional Classic
Experience - All surfers
Frequency - Very consistent (150 day/year)

Wave

Type - Beach-break
Direction - Right and left
Bottom - Sandy
Normal length - Short (< 50m)
Good day length - Normal (50 to 150m)

Tide, Swell and Wind

Swell size - Starts working at Less than 1m / 3ft and holds up to 3m+ / 10ft+
Best tide position - Low and mid tide
Best tide movement - Rising tide

More details

Week crowd - Empty
Week-end crowd - Few surfers

SURF FORECAST FOR ALASKA:



If you're going to Alaska, you can at first check the surf forecast here:
http://magicseaweed.com/Alaska-Surf-Forecast/82/


More at: http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/North_America/USA/Alaska/Rainbow_Point/index.html

NAJNOWSZA PROMOCJA NA LOTY WARSZAWA-SAN FRANCISCO

Dobra oferta na przeloty z Warszawy do San Francisco dla wszystkich marzących o surfingu w Californi:

Bilety z Warszawy do San Francisco (WAW-SFO) za jedyne 1977 PLN 
w obie strony!!! 

Podróż z przesiadką w Monachium i Filadelfii. 

Odcinek europejski obsługuje LOT, pozostałe - US Airways. 

Hotele w San Francisco już od 72 PLN za osobę, hostele od 55 PLN za osobę!

Bilety w tej cenie znajdziemy na Kayak.pl

 

Dużo terminów w lutym i marcu:

Przykładowe dni lotów:
Wyloty: 7, 13, 20, 28 lutego, 8 marca
Powroty: 21, 28, lutego, 6, 13, 19 marca
Wypożyczenie samochodu na lotnisku w San Francisco kosztuje juz od 86 PLN za dobę! No i w drogę na surfing do Los Angeles, San Diego, 
a wieczorem do Las Vegas!... :)
 
Oto wycena z wypożyczalni na pierwszy tydzień pobytu z przykładowego terminu lotów:
 
 

Poprzez: loter.pl

THE BEST SURF SPOTS IN USA - EAST COAST

THE BEST SURF SPOTS IN USA

- EAST COAST 

CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSE, BUXTON, USA

Set on the east coast, this spot has been going off since the 1970s and is renowned for its decent surf caused by deadly hurricanes, which have over the years caused numerous shipwrecks -- giving it the nickname "the Atlantic graveyard."

Getting there: 
Fly in to Norfolk International Airport and hire a car to get you to Cape Harreras (try ABCO Auto Rental: +1 252 473 4508), 
the journey will take around two hours.

And now let me introduce you the 7 East Coast surf spots 
for The ASP world Tour: 

(For the first time, the Association for Surfing Professionals has included the US East Coast in its 2011 World Tour. Below are predicted some of the surf spots the ASP may have in mind.)

1. Sebastian Inlet, Florida.  

If native son and 10-time world champion Kelly Slater has any say in the ASP’s choices–which he more than likely does–then Sebastian Inlet is in. This is not to say that Sebastian Inlet would be undeserving of a spot on the tour; it is also one one of the most consistent breaks in Florida. The beach’s popular First Peak, where a back flow from the Indian River Lagoon creates a fast-breaking wedge, has already helped it land on the international competition circuit.  

Surfing at Sebastian Inlet, FL. Image by
placesaroundfl

2. New Smyrna Beach, Florida:  

New Smyrna’s inlet is known for two main things: shark attacks and some of the most consistent waves in Florida. The sandbar between its jetties allow for well-shaped peaks, long rides and reformed barrels, making the waves perfect for performance tricks. Already home to a number of sponsored contests, such as the Transworld Surf East Coast Scholastic Surfing Championships, this spot ranks at the top of any East Coast list.

3. Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. 

East Coast surfing always brings to mind the Outer Banks region in North Carolina. The continental shelf at Cape Hatteras is the narrowest and steepest in the Mid-Atlantic, exposing it fully to the ocean’s power, and the curved shape of the Cape’s shoreline allows waves to form at many different angles. In other words, there’s good reason why the annual Eastern Surfing Association tournament, which qualifies East Coast surfers for the nationals, is already held here.

4. Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

Home to the 2010 East Coast Surfing Championships, one of the nation’s longest running amateur contests, Virginia Beach is a strong contender for ASP’s tour, though not as strong as its Outer Banks neighbors. Its best spot is in Croatan near the Rudee Inlet Jetty, which protects against strong currents and helps create long, left-breaking waves and occasional barrels.

Surfing at Virginia Beach, VA. Image by b3nscott

5. Manasquan, New Jersey. 

The inlet at Manasquan produces some of the most stellar waves on the Jersey Shore. The jetty and sandbar can handle the Shore’s longest and most hollow waves, making it an experts-only wave during large swells. With an increasing number of insanely talented hometown pros like Dean Randazzo and Sam Hammer, the Jersey Shore has proven that its breaks can be competition-worthy, and Manasquan would be the best of the best.

6. Montauk, New York. 

While some of the best surfing in the Northeast occurs during the winter season, many East Coasters would be miffed if Montauk was left off this list. Ditch Plains is the main surf beach–especially for longboarders–but for competing, a large swell at Turtles’ point break would create the best walls for performance surfing. 

7. Newport, Rhode Island. 

A dark horse in the running, the craggy shoreline of Rhode Island should be recognized for the fact it gets very decent waves year-round, albeit less consistent and colder ones than on the southern part of the coast. Local tournaments are already held at the popular Narragansett Pier, where waves form at different angles and long rides are common. Hurricane swells really have an impact at Ruggles, one of the biggest waves on the East Coast when conditions are right, making it a very fickle spot.
Feature: Surfing in the Outer Banks, NC. Image by Rohit Saxena.

Surfing in Rhode Island. Image by wdgayle

More at: http://matadornetwork.com/sports/7-east-coast-surf-spots-for-asp-world-tour/

THE HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA BIG WAVE SURFING

THE HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA 

 BIG WAVE SURFING

MAVERICK'S

The story of Maverick’s is just as fascinating and unique as any, but it shares certain characteristics with the earlier pioneers of big wave surfing in Hawaii. It seemingly always starts with a group of guys (or in the case of Maverick’s, one guy) determined to surf the biggest waves they can find. The place is actually named after a dog. In 1961, a group of surfers surfing the smaller inside waves brought along their German shepherd named Maverick, who followed them into the waves. It would be years after that before man or beast would ever attempt to ride the big surf at Maverick’s.
In 1975, high school student Jeff Clarke, perhaps a cross between man and beast, became the first person ever to ride the huge waves Maverick’s had to offer, and he did it completely alone for 15 years. The goofy-footed surfer taught himself to ride switch so that he could face the wave on both lefts and rights. After his first ride in 1975, Jeff regularly surfed Maverick’s for the next decade and a half, but the obscure location and horrifying conditions kept him alone until 1990, when two other surfers finally agreed to join him. Santa Cruz surfers Dave Schmidt and Tom Powers became the next two to ride Maverick’s, and the word finally got out. After the 1992 publication of Maverick’s in an article called “Cold Sweat” and the huge swells that followed over the next two years, Maverick’s became an official big wave spot.
The most infamous day in Maverick’s history was December 23, 1994, when Mark Foo accompanied Ken Bradshaw to surf Maverick’s for the first time. Sometime during the first day of his visit, Mark fell on a smaller 15-foot wave and went unnoticed until he was discovered later in the day, floating face down, his broken board still attached to his ankle. The death of Mark Foo, one of their own, humbled big wave surfers and forced them to face their own mortality. Ultimately, Foo’s death was determined a freak accident of big wave surfing, and led Maverick’s to be known as a whole new type of terrifying.
Though there have always been other big wave spots, the discovery of Maverick’s broke Hawaii’s and more specifically Waimea’s stranglehold on big waves. Maverick’s was not only longer, bigger, and gnarlier than Waimea, it was new territory. With the revelation of California’s big wave potential came the possibility for bigger and bigger waves all over the world. The pursuit of bigger and bigger waves continued, this time at a faster pace.

CORTEZ BANK

115 miles off the coast of San Diego, this spot was originally located in the late ‘60s by early big wave surfers Walter and Flippy Hoffman, and then again by photographer and editor of Surfing Magazine Larry Moore in 1990. However, it wasn’t until 2001 that big Cortez Bank was actually surfed. In a scheme orchestrated by Larry Moore, six surfers and a camera crew embarked upon what they called “Project Neptune,” with Mike Parsons, Brad Gerlach, Kenny Collins, and Peter Mel as the tow-in surfers and Evan Slater and John Walla as paddle surfers. Mike Parsons ended up winning the prize, both literally and figuratively, when he was towed into a wave with an estimated 66-foot face—the biggest wave ever ridden! The ride earned him first place in the Swell XXL Big-Wave Contest and the $60,000 prize.
Following the theme of big wave surfing, Mike Parsons continued the pattern of pushing the sport into the twilight of the unknown and did it again a few years later: in January 2008, he returned with Brad Gerlach, Twiggy Baker, and Greg Long to ride a wave bigger than his $60,000 wave, with a face that measured over 70 feet.
With this, we arrive at the present and discover an entire world full of big waves. With Shipstern Bluff and Cyclops in Australia, Dungeons in South Africa, Belharra in France, and Aileens off the coast of Ireland, the appetite for big waves is being developed and nourished all over the world. The history of big wave surfing is being updated with every surf trip and magazine publication. At the center of it is the same old pattern: surfers who have tasted the thrill and remain hungry for more.


If you would like to see what's all about with Maverick's, you should definitely watch the "Chasing Maverick's movie:

 

When young Jay Moriarty discovers that the mythic Mavericks surf break, one of the biggest waves on Earth, exists just miles from his Santa Cruz home, he enlists the help of local legend Frosty Hesson to train him to survive it...
This movie is based on a true story of Jay Moriarity, the youngest surfer, who survive surfing on Maverick's in age of 15!

Directors:

Michael Apted, Curtis Hanson

Writers:

Kario Salem (screenplay), Jim Meenaghan (story), and 1 more credit »

Stars:

Jonny Weston, Gerard Butler and Elisabeth Shue | See full cast and crew

The official trailer:

 

 

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST SURFBOARD?

SURFBOARD DESIGNS

  

Just as there are different types of waves, and different standards of surfers, 
so too are there different surfboard designs. 
No matter the wave or the ability of the surfer, there are surfboard shapes and designs to cover every situation. 
Read on for a quick rundown on surfboard design. 
What's going to be best for you and your local break?

The Longboard. 



As the name would suggest, this is a surfboard that can be anywhere in length from about 8' to 10' 6", but many lie in the 9' range. 
The longboard is the closest surfboard design available today to the original wooden surfboards ridden by the Hawaiians. 
Longboards are a popular choice as they are ideal surfboards for beginners, 
and favorites with many veteran surfers as well. 
Longboards are a great selection for beginners as they are long and wide, making them easy to paddle, easy to float, and very stable. 
This makes them easy for the less experienced to catch a wave and stay on. Longboards can also be a very forgiving surfboard for the surfer who has gained a few pounds and no longer has the physique of Kelly Slater. 
Longboards can come with several different fin setups including a single fin, thruster, or 2 +1.

The Fish Surfboard.



It is a newer surfboard design. 
Fish surfboard designs feature a board that is wider and shorter, 
with a flatter rocker, than a traditional surfboard. 
Fish surfboards also have a distinctive swallow tail. 
They are an excellent choice for surfers looking for fun on soft mushy waves. Fish surfboards will make a slow wave seem much faster, 
but their design can make them a little too loose for some surfer's liking. 
Fish surfboards have great flotation and are easy to paddle and catch waves, making them a great choice for a surfer with a little experience.

And now the review of 9 fish surfboards:

 The Funboard.



It is a blend in surfboard design between a longboard and a shortboard. 
These surfboards are longer than a shortboard, allowing for easier paddling and catching of waves. 
However they are not so long that they can't be turned easily. 
This surfboard design is great for small to medium waves, but not ideal for big waves. 
Funboards are well suited to the surfer looking to have some fun out in the water, and can be a great selection for beginner and intermediate surfers. 
Funboards usually have a standard rail shape, moderate rocker, and a thruster fin setup. This surfboard design is a great all round surfboard.

There are many surfboard shapes and designs, for all surfing conditions and surfing abilities. 
This surfboard guide to designs is meant to be a helpful generalization for those surfers overwhelmed by the selection of surfboards available today.
Whether you're a new surfer, someone who's been out of it for a while, 
or an old-timer catching up, picking the right board is crucial. 

For a more comprehensive, step-by-step guide that helps you "wade" through all the elements you need to consider when picking a surfboard, the folks over at Degree 33 Surfboards have written an easy to understand surfboard guide (downloadable in PDF)

Specialty Boards:

Specialty boards include the extremely long Rhino Chaser for big wave surfing, some special tow-in boards that have foot straps, etc.

The Rhino Chaser.

The Tow-in Board.

And finally shortboard for advanced surfers...

The Shortboard.

It is pretty much the opposite of a longboard in most ways. 
First up, the length is a lot shorter, hence the name. 
Secondly, due to the fact that they are thinner they are not as forgiving as a longboard and are best appreciated by experienced surfers on quality waves. Most shortboards will have a thruster fin setup. 
To pick up speed, shortboards require constant turning, allowing for great maneuvering. 
A shortboard will be a frustrating experience for the beginner surfer 
as there will not be enough stability or flotation to successfully catch a wave.

Shortboards are surfboards that are typically shorter in length than seven feet although some shortboard surfboards for bigger guys or for big wave riding can be larger than seven feet. 

Types of shortboards include: 

1. the basic thruster - a surfboard with three fins in the back and is what most shortboard surfers ride as it is the standard in shortboard surfboards. The thruster would have a single fin in the center in back and a fin on each side a little farther up the rails.
2. the quad - a four fin surfboard with 2 fins on each rail.
3. the hybrid fish - a three fin surfboard with dimensions halfway between a standard thruster and a retro fish providing more buoyancy and paddle for smaller conditions.
4. the step up - a board ridden in bigger surfing conditions when the waves are a little more powerful.
5. the mini gun - is for even larger, more powerful waves. Both the step up and mini gun typically are thrusters as well but are larger in size and volume for better paddling and often will be a little more stable in big surf.

Shortboard surfing is characterized by performance moves with large turns, cutbacks, and sometimes airs. 
There are distinct differences between shortboarding and lognboarding. 
With shortboard surfboards the surfer is accelerating by working the wave top to bottom to gain speed and keep a float, where the surfer on the longboard is trimming and gliding with the wave. 
The shortboarder seeks more radical and dynamic moves working the wave for speed.

One of the keys to riding a shortboard surfboard correctly is to stay in the curl of the wave and ride from top to bottom by turning over and over to generate speed on the wave as the shortboard does not have much glide. As there is less glide, paddling a shortboard is much more dificult and requires more strength than a longboard. Newer surfers typically learn on longboard surfboards as paddling and balance are more dificult on a shortboard. 
When riding a shortboard surfboard, the surfer keeps their back foot over the tail and can drive the board from the front or back foot depending on their style. Many shortboard surfboards will also have a kickpad which gives the back foot over the tail better hold on the surf board.

Shortboarders typically like faster, more performance oriented waves compared with the longboarder which typically rides a more evenly tapered wave. 
Beach breaks, reefs, and point breaks can all exhibit qualities good for shortboarding. Many shortboarders will be looking to score the perfect barrel. Riding a barrel is where the surfer gets inside of the dry inner section of the wave and makes it back out of this inner section of the wave without falling. Riding barrels or hollower waves is best accomplished on a shorthboard by an accomplished surfer.

There are many different and excellent surfboard shapers out there making different shapes of shortboards tailored to different styles and tastes. 
Some of the most common manufacturers and shapers include Al Merrick with Channel Islands Surfboards, Rusty, Lost, Dick Brewer, JS Industries, Firewire and the list could continue as there are many great shapers and surfboard manufacturers.

Too Short?

A New Era Of Shrinking Shortboards 

Words: Eli Mirandon

What size shortboard do you ride? 

It’s a simple question, but the answer for many people—and especially the top pros—has been slowly shrinking over the last five or so years. 
Many surfers who rode, say, a 6’3” a few years back have slowly transitioned into ordering 6’0”s or even smaller. 
And we’re not talking about fish or retro-type shapes, but high-performance shortboards. 

So why? “Rockers and hull contours have been refined, so you don’t have to rely so much on the length for speed,” says Todd Proctor of Proctor Surfboards. “This also has a side benefit of working better in the pocket. “

If you take a peek at modern WCT-level surfing, it’s clear the top guys are surfing closer than ever to the pocket and arcing their turns tighter as well. “People are surfing in or as close to the pocket as possible,” says Cole Simler of Cole Surfboards, “and the shorter boards work better in the hook.”

“Some of the styles and maneuvers have changed,” agrees Steve Boysen of SB Surfboards. “Guys want to do flicks and tailslides in between their carves, and a shorter board makes that easier.”

Atta rocking his 5’6″.

Of course, it’s not just a matter of changing one dimension. 
Boysen and other designers explained that when the length alone was brought down, surfers found the boards to be too squirrelly. The general response has been to experiment with keeping the volume of foam the same, but dispersing it in different places. For instance, developing new rockers, adding specific concaves, and sometimes thicker rails or wider nose and tail dimensions to keep basically the same amount of foam in the board while trimming down the length. “Last year, Shane Beschen was riding a 6’2” and now I’m shaping him some 6’1/2”s. Guys like Mike Todd have gone down an inch, and so have Andy and Bruce Irons. Guys aren’t afraid to go a little wider and thicker, and that allows the boards to be shortened without feeling too loose.”

Does this mean if you’ve been riding the same sized shortboard for the last five or more years, you should rush to the nearest shop to trade it in for something three inches smaller? Definitely not—that is, unless you dial in the rest of the dimensions, like width and thickness to compensate for the drop in length. But ultimately, it’s more complicated than simply shaving a few inches off the length and adding a quarter inch to the width, to say nothing of an individual surfer’s ability or what you want to do on a wave. Consider trying a smaller board for the sake of creative experimentation, but remember, not everyone can be like Joel Parkinson (who’s 6’0” and 185 pounds) and ride a 6’1”.

Originally published in the December, 2006 issue of Transworld SURF.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 

EPOXY AND FIBERGLASS SURFBOARDS  

What's the difference between epoxy and fiberglass surfboards? This can be confusing to those just starting out and thinking about buying a surfboard. To the new surfer a surfboard is a surfboard. There may be different lengths and shapes, but it may not have crossed your mind that surfboards can be made out of different substances.

Read on to learn the difference between epoxy and fiberglass surfboards.  

Fiberglass surfboards are also sometimes known as PU or polyurethane surfboards. 

Fiberglass surfboards have been around for over 50 years and are considered a more traditional surfboard. Fiberglass surfboards are made from a polyurethane inner, and then wrapped in fiberglass cloth, hence the name. Fiberglass surfboards can have better flex out in the waves than an epoxy surfboard, but are easier to damage.
Epoxy surfboards have a polystyrene foam core and are then coated with an epoxy resin. It is the epoxy resin which gives this type of surfboard its name. Epoxy surfboards kicked off in the 1990's, but really gained in popularity after the closure of the Clark Foam factory in 2005, which was a huge supplier of the polyurethane blanks for the fiberglass board.

Epoxy surfboards pros and cons when compared to a fiberglass surfboard include:

1. Stronger. Epoxy resin can be as much as 35% stronger than the resin used on a fiberglass board. This makes an epoxy board an ideal choice for those who are beginners and prone to dings, kids and teenagers, those who are on and off planes in pursuit of the perfect wave, and those who surf near rocks.
2. Floats better. An epoxy surfboard has better buoyancy than a fiberglass board, making it easier to paddle, float, and ultimately catch waves, making them a great choice for those surfers just starting out.
3. Lighter. The polystyrene foam inner used in a epoxy surfboard weighs less than the polyurethane inner in a traditional surfboard, making for a lighter weight under the arm on the way to your local break.
4. Less prone to waterlogging. Waterlogging is a term used to describe the phenomena where your surfboard takes in water over time. The end result is a yellow surfboard that weighs a ton, and performs like a dog. Due to the manufacturing process, waterlogging is pretty much going to happen to your fiberglass surfboard at some stage, either due to dings and dents that let the water in, and also as part of the aging process of your board. Due to the harder nature of an epoxy surfboard, waterlogging is much less of a problem.
5. Some surfers prefer the feel and performance of a traditional fiberglass surfboard.

Conclusion

The difference between epoxy and fiberglass surfboards comes down to the various substances involved in making them. 

An epoxy surfboard is made using a polystyrene core and is then coated with an epoxy resin. 

Fiberglass surfboards are considered to be traditional surfboards 
and have a polyurethane core and are then covered with the fiberglass cloth. 

Epoxy surfboards are newer in technology, weigh less, float better, and are stronger than a fiberglass board. 

Epoxy surfboards feel different to a fiberglass surfboard out in the water, and eventually it will come down to personal choice as to which suits the individual best.

The source: 

http://degree33.hubpages.com/hub/The-Difference-Between-Epoxy-And-Fiberglass-Surfboards

http://surfergirl1.hubpages.com/hub/Shortboard-Surfboards