3 New Surfboards To Spice Up Your Spring Quiver

After adding more flip in the tail to increase maneuverability, Britt added a five-fin option so it can be ridden as a quad or a thruster depending on wave or style preference. “I think quads have a better top-end speed than thrusters do,” Britt added. Channel Islands also worked with FCS to create rear quad fins specific to this board. The back two fins are more raked and provide more control than the upright front fins. “The fun thing about quads is that the more you mix and match front and back, it just changes everything. More than a thruster setup. Just instant, immediate feedback. You can dial stuff in.”

Two of CI’s team riders, Parker Coffin and Barron Mamiya, have different styles and approaches. Yet both enjoy this board as a quad. Parker rode his in “small skatey points around home” and vouched for how easy it was to turn. Barron’s first time on it was at 6-foot Rocky Point. “I was stoked on it. I was getting barreled, it was going super fast. I like the quad just because even in the flat section you can kind of fly on it ‘cause you gain so much speed at the takeoff.”

Legacy surfboard brands like Channel Islands have an extensive archive of surfboard designs to refine. Here’s another one: Rusty Preisendorfer has been building surfboards for more than 50 years and is still coming out with new models. Rusty’s latest is an everyday board called the So Fuunnn! As the wide outline suggests, it’s meant for easy get-up-and-go speed on softer waves but can also hold up when it’s bigger. 

Here’s how Rusty Surfboards described it: “Featuring a flatter deck, beak nose and the thickness positioned under the chest, this board is equally perfect for inexperienced to expert surfers wanting to catch more waves but still have the maneuverability and performance desired. Feedback has been insane, from your average Joe to top professional surfers alike. Another unique feature is the stringerless epoxy core with carbon/aramid rail tape and a biaxial fiberglass deck.”

Subtle adjustments make a big difference. And though …Lost Surfboards Sub Driver line has been out for years, this 3.0 iteration comes with key changes, including the swallowtail. Punk music and high performance surfing aside, the brand's promo video did a great job showcasing what this thing is: fast, fun rippable board. The flatter and fuller entry rocker means more speed right away, but the bend in the back makes it easy to whip across sections. The reduced tail area provides a nice balance of drive with pivot. “So when you’ve got on a rail, the board really comes around and carves a fairly tight pocket,” said Matt Biolos. 

Options, options, options. Take your pick of CI, Rusty and ...Lost and hold on tight.