By Justin Fricke, aka the聽JustinTheWeekendWarrior.
Summer is upon us and that means one thing鈥each time! I don鈥檛 know about you, but when I think of the beach, I don’t just think about hammocks …I think of surfing! Here are a few tips on where to look and what to look for when you鈥檙e buying a surfboard.
Surf shops
A surf shop will always have surfboards for sale. They鈥檒l have new and used boards, so you should be able to find what you want. If you go to a local shop, you can most likely cut a deal with them as well. A tried and true method is if you pay cash, ask if they鈥檒l be willing to knock off 3%-5% they鈥檇 charge to cover the card-processing fee.
Online sites
You can easily go online and see if anyone鈥檚 selling a used surfboard in your area. You鈥檒l always have the safety risk to worry about and you need to look for (more on that in a minute). Typically you can find a good board at a good price with this method, but it may take longer.
Shapers
I鈥檝e bought most of my boards from personal shapers . When you go this route, you know who鈥檚 making your board, get exactly what you want, and it鈥檚 cheaper than a surf shop. If you don鈥檛 know a shaper personally, ask anyone that surfs and you鈥檒l be put in touch with one in no time.
When you鈥檙e looking to buy a board remember鈥ou want quality. When you buy a cheap board, it鈥檒l last you maybe a year, 2 at the most. When you buy a good quality board, you鈥檒l easily get 5+ years out of your board.
A new board will usually give you the best quality (stay away from Chinese boards, even if they鈥檙e cheaper). The best way to go about buying a new board is by doing research. I suggest doing research on a few boards: shapes, designs, brands, and then go to a local surf shop and talk with someone. Typically someone there will know what they鈥檙e talking about and can help you get outfitted with the perfect board.
Buying a used board鈥檚 always cheaper than buying a new board, but you typically need to look for flaws. Knowing what flaws to look for will help you when negotiating a price and will ultimately decide how much use you get out of your board. Here鈥檚 a list of some typical flaws and where they occur.
- Heelies (dents, pressure dings, pressure spots)
- On the deck of the board from the heel of your foot
- Cracks
- Anywhere on the board. You need to check how deep and long they are. If you see foam, beware of water damage
- Wavy resin
- When you hold the board at eye level and see that the glassing isn鈥檛 straight and smooth, that seriously hurts the quality and performance of the board.
Grab your sunscreen, grab your hammock , grab your board, and here’s to an awesome summer ahead!
