RebelBoards: Tough, Premium, Epoxy Surfboards. The Only Alternative.

Finding the right surfboard can be confusing, especially as a new or intermediate surfer.

This section gives you all the information you need to choose the right board the first time.

What Kind of Surfer am I?
In order to pick a board this is the first thing to ask yourself. It can be broken down into the following basic questions:

•	Beginner or Intermediate If this is your very first board, then the longer the better or you risk getting seriously frustrated. Intermediates can consider something in the 7'2 to 7'6 range or possibly a Fish.
•	Aggressive or Mellow Are you going to take every wave you can no matter how steep or nasty, or are you more likely to head for the horizon in a spray of water when you see a big wave coming? The shorter the board, the steeper the wave has to be to catch it.
•	Super fit or a little padded This is an interesting one, there really is no comparable exercise to surfing, so even if you run miles every day and lift weights you will struggle when you start. On the other hand most of us carry a few extra pounds and are also going to struggle. See, surfing is already a great leveler. A longer board is more forgiving when you're tired. A shorter board takes more effort to paddle and is less forgiving when standing up.
•	Ocean knowledge Folks who have prior water sports experience have a head start on balance and water savvy. Swimming, ocean kayak, scuba and boogie boarding are all good primers. If you are just getting started, pay attention to your surroundings and ask lots of questions. There is no substitute for water time, so get out there and start learning.

Effect of Weight?
Believe it or not, ultimately you can ride any board out there regardless of your height or weight. Once you hit intermediate level you can focus more on the board design features than anything else. By then you will have begun to develop your own style and you'll have a better idea of what you want. We considered providing a weight / board length chart but decided against it because it's too general.

As a Beginner what should I buy?
If you are beginner there is no doubt in our minds that you should start off on a Longboard. Use the following as a rough guide only. If in doubt go longer.

•	Aggressive Fit and weigh up to 180lbs: 9'0"
•	More mellow Over 180lbs: 9'6" or 10'0"
•	Somewhere in between A 9'2" or a 9'6"

Remember, a longboard is NOT a beginner board, it's just a board that's easier to begin on.

Why a longboard?
It's easy to learn on, can be surfed in ankle high to overhead waves and will always have a place in your surfboard collection. As you progress, you can lend it to friends or family to learn on and it will take you years to master. Basically, you can't go wrong with a longboard.

Note: If you are really set on a shorter board, then find a 7'6 to try before you buy. If you are in the Southern California area drop us a line and you can demo one of ours.

Ok, now I am an intermediate, can I go shorter?

We class intermediates as people who can stand on the board comfortably and ride the shoulder. Now we are really getting into preferences, long or short? Again, remember longboard's are not beginner boards, and are possibly the most versatile surfboard shapes out in the water. If you have not already done so, go watch what Wingnut Weaver can do on a longboard in the Endless Summer 2 movie.

Still want to go shorter?
Ok assuming you are riding a longboard 9'0 or more, a good step down is a 7'6. This is going to feel very loose and responsive for a few months, but if you have the soul of a short boarder, you will want to drop sizes again pretty quickly. If you can afford it, go with the 7'6" and expect to buy a 7'2" or 7'0" later. If the budget is a little tight and you want to push yourself, then skip the 7'6", split the difference and go for a 7'4".

If you are really aggressive you may want to consider the Retro Fish, but again, we strongly suggest you try one before you buy.

Basic Rules of Thumb

•	The bigger the board the easier to catch waves and stand up.
•	The thickness will determine how well the board will float.
•	The more it floats the easier it is to paddle out and into waves.
•	The wider and longer it is, the more stable it will be when you get up. No board is a mistake. Some days you need your 10'0", and some days the 7'6" will work better than your 7'2".
•	If all you have is a shortboard and the surf is 1-2ft, you will wish you had a longboard or a Fish!

So what are my overall Board Options?
Lets cover the basic shapes of surfboards before going into the more advanced board design features. This should give a good foundation and understanding of what boards you can ride:

•	Retro Fish This is a 70's design making a comeback! Shorter, wider and thicker than a short board, this shape is perfect for small to medium surf. If you can ride one of our shorter fun boards like a 7'0" or 7'2", then you can ride a fish. Fish incorporate swallow tails, which keeps the board loose while making waves easier to catch and are incredibly fast down the line.
•	Gun A specialist board for big, fast waves when all you want to do is go flat out down the line wth your hair on fire. They feature very pointed and narrow outlines providing fast paddling characteristics and the ability to hold on steep faces. This board needs at least a head high wave to truly perform.
•	Shortboard High performance surfing machines, these boards run from 5'5" to 7'0" long, and have the ability to change direction quickly. If you are looking to pull off moves like tail sliders, airs and off the tops, this is the ticket. The small size and outline shortboards unstable and difficult to paddle, but the payoff is unmatched performance and maneuverability on the wave. Advanced intermediates and above only.
•	Fun Shape/Hybrid Fun shapes/hybrids take the best qualities of shortboards, guns and fish and combine them together into an all around performer. Suited to almost any surf condition and much more forgiving to less experienced surfers, a fun shape provides the perfect stepping stone for the between longboards and shortboards.
•	Mini Mal Perfect for the person who likes to longboard but doesn't need the extra size of one. Easy to carry and manage both in and out of the water, with all the surfing ease of a longboard. Great for kids, smaller adults and folks who don't want to bother with a roof rack but have a smaller car. Also a good choice for the longboard specialist who wants to travel internationally without dragging a 9'0"+ around.
•	Longboards Used since the days of Duke Kahanamoku, these boards have stood the test of time, longboards are extremely stable and can catch waves of all sizes from 1ft to double overhead. If you want to get your toes to the nose and hang all ten over, then a longboard is the only way to go. Easy to learn on, a lifetime to master.

Surfboard Features
Board features are all about rocker, rails, bottom shape, nose shape and tail shape. Confusing to begin with but does get easier to understand as you progress up the ability ladder.

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Rocker
In simple terms, rocker is how much like a banana the board is shaped. More curve means it will turn easily and take a steeper drop, less curve means it will paddle faster.

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Bottom shape
Shapes such as flat, concave, channels and V's address lift, stability and speed. The general rule for a beginner is to stick with a flat bottom. At RebelBoards we build in mild versions of these advanced features. This lets you grow into and appreciate the design as you get to know the board, without causing you problems as you learn.

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Rails
Hard, soft, boxy, medium, blended it's all so confusing! Not really, the harder or sharper the rail the less forgiving and higher performing the board will be. Soft rails are more forgiving and allow long smooth turns but can make the board a little slower due to increased drag along the thicker rails. Boards typically have harder rails at the tail, softening towards the middle and nose. At RebelBoards we tell you what we did, but ultimately unless you are an advanced surfer, you won't really feel it.

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Nose Shape
The wider the nose the better for nose riding and stability. But all that width adds weight which can hamper turning and cause pearling (or "nose dives"). Hence, boards designed for nose riding have a wide, rounded shape while performance boards are more pointed. We also stock fun shapes with wider noses to give the advancing surfer the confidence to pop and provide a more stable and ridable platform in smaller mushy summer surf.

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Tail Shape
Wider tails give more surface area, making it easier to catch waves and giving the board a loose feel. Narrower tails offer more control and hold better on steeper waves. There are two basic shapes, Pin Tails and Square Tails. Everything else is a hybrid of the two:

•	Pin Tail - The tail ends in a point, gives smooth turns and cutbacks and holds the line in steeper waves. The down side being that a pin tail will drag and get in the way on smaller, mushier surf.
•	Square Tail - Like a pin tail but with the last 2 or 3 inches chopped off. Square tails provide an easier take off and perform well in all conditions. A square tail will skid around and "release" more easily than a Pin Tail.
•	Swallow Tail - Takes the benefits of a square tail and adds the drive and holding of a pin tail. As with all compromises some of the benefits of both styles are lost or reduced.

If you are still not sure what you need, give us a call or email us at Rebelinfo@RebelBoards.com.