Category : Surf Education

Fish or Shortboard – Which one should I get first?

There comes a time in every surfers journey where they will be faced with a decision that has paralyzed many surfers before him… fish or shortboard?

To answer this question you really have to think about your surfing goals. You will need to base this decision on what you want this next board to accomplish. I know we say this a lot but it is true, there isn’t one perfect board that will do everything perfectly. That’s why the surf community has adopted the word “quiver” to define the variety of boards they keep for various conditions and moods. That’s right I said moods. Sometimes you just don’t feel like going out and ripping… you just want to cruise. But I digress.

If this is you first “shorter” board then you have to think of it like this. Adding a fish or shortboard to your quiver isn’t going to replace the board that you are on. What is does do is add capabilities to your board inventory. The only reason you’re looking to go shorter is that you feel the board you are on is lacking something. Maybe it’s small wave shredding, maybe it’s “duck-divability” (which by the way is not a function of the board as much as it is a function of technique), maybe it’s just a higher level of maneuverability.

I am going to attempt to break this review into 3 “goal” categories… Summertime Fun, Versatility Fun, & Max Shredding.

Summertime Fun – Pivot Fish

The Pivot Fish is probably one of the most fun boards we have at D33. Fast, loose, and skatey. This is the summertime choice for most shortboarders because it provides a level of maneuverability like a shortboard (sorta) and yet brings to the table a high level of float.

We call this summertime fun because around here the waves get small during the summer and smaller waves aren’t always the best for a shortboard.

The Pivot Fish comes in to it’s own on small mushy waves. If you’re looking for that magic small-medium wave board to go out and have a blast on, then the Pivot Fish is the board you want.

Here’s what surfers are saying about the Pivot Fish-

“Hey D33 team, I love my new surfboard! I purchased a 5’8″ fish surfboard from you yesterday. This morning the surf looked a bit mushy but I paddled out anyways for what turned out to be a very fun session. The surfboard worked better than I had hoped. Thank you so much”

-Scott Cox
Deerfield Beach, FL

“It was a pleasure meeting both of you last night. I am so stoked on the 6′ Retro Fish surfboard I purchased from you. You have a great product and at unbeatable prices. Went out in Huntington this morning and had a great session. Caught every wave I paddled for and had total control of the board on turns. Dropping a full foot in length was easier than expected on the epoxy fish. Thank you both!”

-Vincent Nola
Santa Monica, CA

Add a Pivot Fish to Your Quiver

Versatility Fun – Flyin’ Fish

The Flyin’ Fish combines the summertime fun of the Pivot Fish with a little more versatility. So when would you surf the Flyin’ Fish (FF) over a Pivot Fish (PF)? I think the best way to answer that is by going back to our original idea, what’s the hole in you’re quiver you are trying to fill?

If the conditions are going to be a little more unpredictable then the FF may be the call. Another way to look at it, the FF is going to turn a little more rail-to-rail than the PF. The PF is very skateboard like in it’s turning and creates an almost pivot like turn. If you’re wanting something that’s going to turn a little more like a shortboard then the FF is the one.

Keep in mind though that with the FF the nose and tail are pulled in, this is what gives it a little more versatility, but with that, you’ll have to paddle harder for each wave, and consequently the board won’t be as good when the waves are smaller (compared to the PF). Don’t get me wrong though the FF is a wave monster, a blast to surf, and a great board for a variety of surf conditions.

Here’s what surfers are saying about the Flyin’ Fish-

“I just wanted to say that I love that fish I bought from you back in August. I don’t even surf my shortboards anymore! I’m really interested in buying another board. Thanks again. Talk to you soon. ”

-Brian Cook
Avon, CO

“…Degree 33 has very competitive prices, make a solid product, and the Flyin’ Fish is a model designed to perform in weak surf. The quad fin and swallow tail set up is fast, loose, and allows for some interesting turning possibilities for more advanced surfers. The wide, thick dimensions with the wide nose will get you into gutless waves early and with plenty of velocity. In my review session, I caught a ton of waves and once I made my transition from three fin short board to quad fin fish, I found the board a ton of fun.

Overall, Degree 33’s Flyin’ Fish delivered on its promise of reliability and shredability (not really a word) at a good price.”

-Jay DiMartino
Excerpt from About.com article

Make the Flyin’ Fish the Next Stick in Your Quiver

Max Shredding – Whip It

Your first shortboard is a whole new world. Skinnier, thinner, shorter, and a whole lot more capable. If the longboards are considered the tanks in the surfboard world then the shortboards should be considered the sports cars. And the Whip It is no exception.

We have a couple of different shortboards here at D33 but if you’re looking for that first shortboard, or at least the most versatile shortboard, then this is it. Riding a shortboard is going to be a challenge. They are harder to paddle, harder to catch waves, and a whole lot less stable. BUT they rip!

The Whip It is specifically designed to be on the forgiving side of the shortboard world. It has a super fat tail to help power through the small waves, and “hips” along the lower third for added maneuverability. This provides a board that is perfect for the first time shortboard and is also the best choice for a smaller wave or summertime shortboard.

Here’s what surfers are saying about the Whip It-

“This board is perfect for mushy beach breaks. I can take off late, create good speed and it turns well in the slop. Thanks.”

-Brad
San Diego, CA

“Ideal shortboard for small waves. Thanks guys- this thing rips.”

-Cooper Cox
Cocoa Beach, FL

Add a Shortboard to Your Quiver. Make it a Whip It!

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Surfboard Fin Setups Decoded – Part 1

Surfboard fin setups all do something a little different. Each one changes the way a board will feel and surf. Which fin setup should go on what type of board and in what type of surf condition do they perform the best. We attempt to demystify it for you… pictures and everything.

 

Single: Classic Form.

Description: A large center fin with a wide base set along the stringer.
Wave Type: Highly variable depending on skill level.
Characteristics:

• Great drive and balance
• Not terribly maneuverable.
• All but the most skilled will only be able to cruise in a straight line.

Style of Board: Longboard, Big Wave Guns, Retro Boards Read the rest of this entry »

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8 Steps to Start Surfing – Our Quick and Dirty Guide to Getting Your Feet Wet

If you’re brand spanky new to the world of surfing and looking to get started but don’t have ANY idea where to start, then this article is for you. If you’ve you been around the surfing world for ANY length of time then… go check your Facebook some more because this post will bore you.

We get asked all the time, “I’m brand new and I don’t have ANY idea where to start. What should I do?” So we wrote this very short little how-to for you. Read the rest of this entry »

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Overcome Your Fears: Perfect your Surfing

Your biggest obstacle in becoming a better surfer is you. If you’ve ever found yourself sitting out primo waves because they were a little too daunting and making excuses for yourself afterward, you know exactly what we mean.

There are many fears surrounding surfing but there is one universal truth… action cures fear. Here’s a couple of pointers when it comes to fear and surfing. Read the rest of this entry »

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Advanced Surfers! Shortboard Surfboard Breakdown

Choosing a shortboard is like trying to select the right pair of running shoes. There is no one size fit all, each one has it’s own set of benefits to consider, and what works for one person absolutely won’t always work for you. Below we will attempt to deconstruct our shortboards and give you the very best info to make that perfect selection. Read the rest of this entry »

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What Kind of Longboarder are You? Here are 2 Awesome Longboards

Regardless of whether you are an intermediate surfer or an advanced surfer we have a couple of longboards that will rock your longboarding world. That may seem a little “hypie” but if you’ve surfed either of our longboards you know… they are magic.

Let’s start off by figuring what kind of longboarder you are. Do you like to cruise, carve, and just catch the most waves you can or are you a noserider that lives for that soul arch? Read the rest of this entry »

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Reading a Surf Report and Knowing the Conditions Equals Great Waves

Lets say you recently purchased a surfboard or maybe you’ve been surfing for a little while but you just go, regardless of what the waves look like. A tool that can immediately affect the quality of your experience is knowing what factors play into wave conditions. Looking at some of the better online surf reports is always going to be helpful, but if you don’t quite understand the information they are giving you, you still won’t be able to fully take advantage of the best conditions.

Here’s a list of the factors you’ll need to consider:

• Wave size
• Swell direction
• Wind direction
• Wind strength
• Ocean topography
• Tidal info Read the rest of this entry »

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What Size of Surfboard Should I Get?

So one of the most common questions we get here is, “what size of surfboard should I get?”

I wish that there was a simple answer to that but unfortunately there really isn’t. The answer lies in several questions I need to ask you… “What’s your skill level, height, weight, goal, type of wave…?” I think you get the idea.

So even though there’s a whole slew of options, and obviously a few variables, I will do my best to give you some general rules of thumb.

Read the rest of this entry »

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SALTY’S GUIDE TO: The Art of Picking Up Surfer Girls

Springtime is here and love is in the air. This episode, we’ve got a comic for all you lovely lonely hearts out there so you can snag the girl of your dreams.

Six battle tested techniques guaranteed to get her to fall irretrievably in love with you—featuring old favorites like Read the rest of this entry »

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Traditional Fiberglass VS Epoxy VS NexGen… So Which is Better?

One of the biggest questions I get is what’s the difference between epoxy, fiberglass, and this NexGen I’ve been hearing about?

In this post I’m gonna go through what the pros and cons to all them are so you can hopefully make a better educated decision. Read the rest of this entry »

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