We thought we would try and answer as many questions as we can here. But let's face it, there really is no substitute for talking to someone, so if you can't find the answer, or just want to share
your latest surfing experience with someone, give us a call, or send us an e-mail.
Surfing Questions
What do I need to start surfing?
All you really need is a stack of enthusiasm and a dash of stubbornness. From there you either need a friend who surfs to lend you equipment, or you need to find a surf school.
You should know within one or two sessions if you're hooked or not; if you are, be prepared for it to change your life.
Ok so let's say you got the surfing bug, here's what you are going to need.
Must Have:
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Surfboard - Preferably a RebelBoard. See our Buyer's Guide for suggestions, or contact us via phone or e-mail. |
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Leash - Some folks surf without them, but on a crowded beach a loose surfboard is dangerous, and besides it's tiring to go chasing after your board. Get one from us when you buy your board. |
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Surf Wax - You need base coat and top coat. This helps you stick to the board when you are paddling, popping up and of course, standing. Our boards come with enough to get you going. |
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Wetsuit - Depending on the water temperature at your local spot this is not an absolute must, but highly recommended. The surf is best in the early morning when it's not quite as warm out, and that layer of neoprene can be the difference between a cut or a bruise when you are learning. Always try a wetsuit on before you buy, and spend as much as you can. The more you spend, the more flexible and warmer it will be. |
Other Stuff:
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Board Bag - You want to keep your board nice don't you? A bag not only protects the board from the sun, it also stops the wax from melting all over the inside of your car, or on the roof rack. |
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Roof Rack - Bought a longboard and drive a Civic? You are going to need a roof rack. Soft Racks are ok, but not that safe on the freeway. Best to buy something from Yakima or Thule. You don't need the surfboard attachment, it's a nice to have but not required. |
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Booties - Even when it's warm, if you surf over rocks or reef they protect your feet. As a friend always says, you also get extra gription when standing on the board. We are not sure it that's really a word, but the sentiment is true. Finally on some sandy beach breaks you may encounter sting rays. Getting zapped on a bare foot hurts! |
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Hood and Gloves - Geographic and personal preference. One of the RebelBoard team members wears a 4/3 wetsuit all year round here in LA. She wears gloves most of the time, and in winter, wears a hood. Other RebelBoards riders just go with a 3/2 all year round and don't own gloves or a hood, but it's good to know it's an option. |
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Lockbox - Where are you going to put your car keys? Unless you have a keypad on your car door, you either hide them on the vehicle or put them on your wetsuit. Hiding it on your vehicle is a really bad idea, we did it for years until someone watched us and stole our three week old truck. Remember too that some keys can not be immersed in water. $30 at your local hardware store will get you a combination lockbox that you can attach to a tow hook or door handle and solves the problem. |
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Laundry Detergent Bottle - A what? Yup. The big ones work the best, fill it up with hot water and pour it down your wetsuit when you get out of the water. A few drops of shower gel in there will help keep your suit smelling sweet and staying supple. Don't forget to rinse the salt off your board too, it dries faster. |
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Surf DVD's - Watch the pros for ideas and to just plain get fired up to go out and surf! High on your list to borrow, rent or buy should be: Endless Summer 2, Step Into Liquid, Riding Giants and Siestas and Olas. All tell a story and are fun for the whole family to watch. |
Can anyone learn to surf?
Yes. Just like any other sport, practice makes perfect. Everyone will progress at different speeds. The more times a week you go out, the faster you learn. Remember surfing is one of the hardest sports in the world to learn. Every wave is different, every day brings different tides and swells, and every time you fall off the board, you have to paddle out again and it's tiring. On the flip side, the rewards are huge. The first wave you really ride will probably always be your best ever, and there's just something about the ocean that works for surfers no matter what the conditions. You have to surf to understand. So what are you waiting for?
Should I take lessons if I have never surfed before?
Taking lessons is always a good idea when learning something new. Getting off on the right foot and learning the basics will set you up for a safer, faster learning process. If you live in the Los Angeles area, drop us an email or give us a call and we can point you to some good schools. We don't give lessons ourselves but are happy to come out and surf with you and pass on a few tips.
How do get to be a better surfer?
Practice, practice, practice, nothing beats putting the time in. There is no shortcut. That said, you can be your own worst enemy. Surfing is about creativity and overcoming the mental challenge of "I can't", I can't go right because I ride goofy, I can't ride big waves because its too scary, I can't take the steep drops because my nose will dig in. Think back to some of the surf movies you have seen. People drop in on the craziest waves and make it. Yes it takes skill, yes it takes practice, but it all starts with "I can". If you have hit a progress wall try switching boards, go surf a different break, or take your wax and write 'I CAN' on the nose. Remember its all about getting outside your comfort zone.
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Tell Me More About RebelBoards
Can I Demo A Board?
YES! In fact we encourage it. A board may sound like a good fit for you, but unless you try, you never can tell. We have a good sized demo fleet so you can try the board you want.
Do your boards come with fins?
Yes. All of our prices include the DFS (Detachable Fin System) composite fins. This system is patented by our manufacturer and works like FCS fins. Each fin is precision engineered and manufactured with composite fiberglass for strength and stiffness.
All shortboards and some fun shapes come with DFS Tri-Fin thruster sets. Mini-Malibu and some fun boards come with two DFS side fides and a 6" center box fin. Longboards come with two DFS side fins and an 8" center box fin.
I snapped a fin, what now?
You can't get the DFS fins in many surf shops yet. If you can wait for the mail, buy a replacement set from us. In fact you may want to consider buying a second set from us when you get your board as insurance. If push comes to shove and you have to have a fin right now, then go get a set of FCS. They will fit in the DFS fin boxes, but you will pay a premium for the FCS brand.
Can I use FCS fins?
Yes you can. Our fins are cheaper: you buy our boards we give you a loyalty discount. That said if you break a fin, you may not want to wait to order a replacement. Then the only option is to head down to your local surf shop. FCS fins slot securely into our fin boxes.
What are your boards made from?
All our boards are made with an Epoxy Honey Comb Sandwich. See the Construction page for more details.
Who designs and shapes your boards?
Our board designs are visually exciting and surf well. We draw on as much variety as we can because no two surfers are the same. Our board designs and graphics are influenced by members of the RebelBoards Team and customer feedback to fit the needs of a broad range of surfers. Every board is hand-shaped and glassed in our surfboard factory in China to meet our specifications and quality standards. Our manufacturer has over 30 years of shaping experience, so when we sell a Retro board, it's the same board they shaped originally!
I hear epoxy boards are tricky to surf, why is that?
The typical epoxy boards are super light and super stiff. This means they skip or behave unpredictably in anything less than glassy conditions. Our boards all have wood stringers, which builds in flex and stability. So you have all the advantages and feel of a regular polyester resin surf board, combined with the strength and durability of epoxy.
Are these high quality surfboards, like the ones in surf shops?
Our boards are made from high quality materials, including resins from Europe and foam blanks from Australia etc. In many cases our boards are actually much better than the ones you see in the surf shops. Beyond that, there are two main differences:
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Some local shops have boards shaped by local shapers who know local conditions. If your budget runs to a custom board and you are at least an intermediate then this is your best option. Find a shaper, have him watch you surf and commission your board. There is no substitute for this service. But you will pay... |
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We store our boards in a warehouse and not in a store. They're made overseas to keep the costs down. Our minimal overheads allow us to pass the savings on to you. |
How are the prices so low?
It's very simple. We are the manufacturer and distributors of our own boards. We do not have the shaper, glasser and retailers marking the boards up. And we buy by the container load.
What if I buy the wrong board?
There are going to be rare cases where board and surfer just aren't a good fit. If you find yourself in that situation with one of our boards, give us a call and we will work something out.
Can I Be a Team Rider?
We are always on the lookout for up and coming talent, although we have a full team today, please feel free to contact us at RebelInfo@RebelBoards.com
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