When building your surfboard quiver we should all start with your goals in mind. Here at Degree 33 we are always talking to our customers about the progression ladder which means when you start out you go BIG and as you get better, you take another step on the ladder and gradually move to a smaller board with each step.
I had been buying boards off the rack, or pro models used off of craigslist for years. I was still learning, and was naive as anyone else when looking at new surfboards. I wanted to ride what Andy Irons rode, what Taj was getting barreled on.I thought if I watched enough of their clips, got the board they were on, I would eventually get the hang of it, right?
For nearly 8 years now I've been creating custom boards for myself and others and I really haven't looked back. There really isn't anything quite like running across the sand and watching other surfers stare at my board with 100 questions they'd like to ask. And that's just where it starts, out of the water. So, without further interruption, here's why I simply must go custom...
If you you're a Floridian, Southern Californian, or a Gulf Coaster... you're starved for waves right now. Sure it's surfable, but not by much. If you've got short arms and deep pockets, you may not have a backup longboard to switch to and your shortboard isn't quite cutting it.