Don’t Just Buy the Cool Board

There’s an easy mistake to make when buying a surfboard: choosing the board that looks the coolest.

We get it. Surfboards are supposed to look good. A clean outline, a sharp tail, a nice color, or a classic shape can make one board stand out from the rest. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting a board that looks good under your arm.

But there’s a bigger question to ask before you buy:

Is this a board you’re actually going to enjoy riding?

At Degree 33 Surfboards, we believe you shouldn’t have to choose between a board that looks good and a board that rides well. We strive to offer surfboards that look great on the beach and, more importantly, feel right once you’re in the water.

Because the best-looking surfboard in your garage doesn’t do much for you. The best board is the one you want to take surfing.

The Surfboard That Looks Good vs. The Surfboard That Works for You

Walk into any surf shop and you’ll see boards that immediately catch your attention.

Maybe it’s a sleek shortboard that looks fast sitting on the rack. Maybe it’s a classic longboard with a beautiful outline. Maybe it’s a midlength that looks like something you’ve seen under the arm of a surfer you follow online.

It’s easy to think, That’s the board I want.

But a surfboard isn’t just a piece of equipment. It has to match the way you surf.

Your ability, size, paddling strength, the waves you normally surf, and even how often you get in the water all matter. A board that looks incredible but is difficult to paddle, hard to catch waves on, or too demanding for your local conditions can quickly become the board you never ride.

On the other hand, a board that might not have been your first choice based purely on appearance can become your favorite board once you realize how many waves it catches and how much fun it is to ride.

That’s the difference between buying a surfboard and choosing a surfboard.

More Waves Usually Means More Fun

One of the most important things to consider when choosing a board is how easily it gets you into waves.

This is especially important for intermediate surfers. You may be capable of riding a smaller, more performance-oriented board, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best choice for every session.

If you’re spending most of your time paddling, missing waves, or waiting for the perfect set, you’re probably not getting the most out of your time in the water.

A board with a little more volume, a wider outline, or a more forgiving shape can change that.

You catch more waves.

You get more rides.

You spend less time frustrated and more time surfing.

And once you’re actually on the wave, the right board should still feel responsive and enjoyable beneath your feet.

That’s why a versatile board can be such an important part of a surfer’s quiver. At Degree 33, several of our models are designed specifically for surfers who want to catch plenty of waves without giving up the ability to turn and perform.

Find the Board That Fits Your Surfing

Different surfers want different things from their boards. Instead of choosing a board simply because you like the way it looks, think about how you want to surf.

The Ultimate Longboard: Performance for Every Level

The Ultimate Longboard is designed for everyone from beginners to advanced surfers who want a high-performance longboard.

For newer surfers, its longboard shape provides the stability and paddle power needed to build confidence and catch more waves. For experienced longboarders, it offers the performance and responsiveness to continue progressing and surfing more aggressively.

If you like the glide and wave-catching ability of a longboard but don't want to give up performance, the Ultimate is a strong choice.

The Poacher, Over Easy, Speed Egg & Easy Rider: More Waves, More Performance

For intermediate to advanced surfers who want to catch a lot of waves without sacrificing performance, the Poacher, Over Easy, Speed Egg, and Easy Rider offer a versatile range of options.

These boards are designed to make paddling and wave-catching easier while still allowing you to turn, trim, and move around on the wave.

They are particularly well suited to surfers who want an everyday board that works across a wide range of conditions.

You don't need perfect waves to have a good session—and you don't need to sacrifice performance just because you're riding a board with more volume.

The Classic Longboard: Cruise and Nose Ride

The Classic Longboard is aimed at intermediate to advanced longboarders who want to slow things down and enjoy the traditional side of longboarding.

It's a board for cruising, trimming, and nose riding.

If your ideal session involves finding a good line, setting your trim, walking the board, and spending some time up on the nose, the Classic Longboard is built around that style of surfing.

It's less about forcing the board through tight turns and more about letting the wave and the board work together.

 

The ATV, Rocket Fish & Retro Fish: Quick Turns and High Performance

At the upper end of the intermediate level and into advanced surfing, some surfers want something more responsive and performance-oriented.

That's where the ATV, Rocket Fish, and Retro Fish come in.

These boards are designed for surfers who want quick turning ability, speed, and the ability to surf more aggressively in the pocket.

Rather than relying on a lot of volume and glide, these shapes are geared toward surfers who are looking to push their surfing—generating speed, making tighter turns, and staying close to the most critical part of the wave.

If you're looking for a board that can keep up when you're surfing fast and attacking the pocket, these are the kinds of boards to consider.

Don't Buy a Board for Waves You Rarely Surf

Another common mistake is buying for the conditions you wish you surfed rather than the conditions you actually surf.

Maybe you live somewhere where most days are waist- to chest-high, but you buy a board designed specifically for bigger, more powerful waves.

There’s nothing wrong with owning a board for those conditions if you regularly get them. But if most of your sessions are spent in smaller or average surf, your everyday board should reflect that.

Think about your local lineup.

What are the waves usually like?

How crowded is it?

How often do you get good swells?

How much time do you actually have to surf?

The right surfboard should fit your real surfing life—not an imaginary version of it.

A Good Surfboard Should Make You Want to Surf

There’s also something less technical that matters when choosing a board: you should be excited to ride it.

This is where looks actually do matter.

A surfboard is something you’re going to spend a lot of time around. You’re going to carry it to the beach, put it on your car, see it sitting in the garage, and hopefully spend plenty of time riding it.

So yes, you should like the way it looks.

At Degree 33 Surfboards, we strive to offer boards that combine both sides of the equation. We want our boards to have clean, appealing designs and shapes that surfers are excited to own, while also giving them the performance, stability, paddle power, and versatility they need in the water.

Good design shouldn't stop at the beach.

A surfboard can look great sitting on the sand, but the real test is what happens when you’re paddling into a wave.

Does it catch waves easily?

Does it feel stable?

Does it turn the way you expect?

Does it work in the conditions you normally surf?

Most importantly, does it make you want to go back out for another wave?

Choose the Board You’ll Actually Ride

There’s no single “best” surfboard.

The best board for you depends on your ability, your size, your local waves, and what you want to get out of surfing.

For some surfers, that means a performance-oriented shortboard. For others, it means a longboard that turns smaller days into great sessions. For many surfers, a versatile midlength is the perfect middle ground.

The important thing is not to get caught up in what a board is supposed to look like.

Choose the board that fits your surfing.

Choose the board that gets you into waves.

Choose the board that feels good under your feet.

And, ideally, choose one that looks good too.

That’s what we aim for at Degree 33 Surfboards. We want you to be proud of the board sitting in your garage—but we also want it to be the board you reach for when you check the forecast and see waves in the water.

Because at the end of the day, the best surfboard is the one that gets you out there.