Surfboard Fin Setups Explained | The Fun in Experimentation

By Zac Heisey

Back in days before removable fin systems were an option, surfers had to think long and hard about their desired fin set-up when ordering a custom board. From the 1930’s through the early 70’s, the fin set-up of choice was the single fin. In the late 1970’s, Mark Richards and other surfers made the twin fin the fin configuration du jour. Then, in 1980, Australian surfer and shaper Simon Anderson changed the course of surfing for weekend warriors and high-profile pros alike when he created the three-fin thruster set-up. Today, the thruster is easily the most popular fin set-up, with nearly surfer in your local line-up rocking the three-fin cluster.

Surfing and the Fear of Missing Out on Waves

By Rick Bickerstaff
A friend sent me this picture earlier in the week with the caption, "Too bad we're at work...."

 

Winter X Games Aspen 2014 | Schedule and Preview

By Andrew Sachs
The Winter X Games are back in Aspen and Buttermilk Mountain for 2014.  The world's premier ski, snowboard and snowmobile athletes will all get together starting today, Thursday, January 23 through the weekend, vying to land the biggest tricks in search of gold.

Where to Live and Work in Telluride, Colorado | Ski and Snowboard Tips

By Megan Maxwell
So, you’re looking for a Colorado mountain town to call home? I spent an awesome winter living, working, and snowboarding in Telluride, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for the ski bum experience.

the beautiful town of Telluride

Packing for a Baja Surf Trip | Surf Travel Essentials

By Connley

If you are wondering what on earth you need to take on a surf trip through Baja California, you have come to the right place. Baja is home to some very rugged landscape. To get to some unbelievable surf you're gonna need to spend some long hours on dirt roads baking under the hot mexican sun. Believe me, it will all be worth it. So lets start with the most important thing you can carry with you. . .

Surfboard Shapes Explained | Longboards, Funboards, Shortboards, Guns, Fishes

By Rick Bickerstaff
Have you ever been in a conversation with an experienced surfer and heard, "what kind of board do you have?" You pause and break eye contact as insecurities set in...you have no idea what kind of board you have! All you know is that your old roommate left it on the balcony when he moved out, or that you found it in the dumpster one lucky evening before the trash man came. Maybe you're humble enough to admit, "I don't know." Only to hear, "Well, what size is it? What's the tail look like? Where did you get it?"

"Big...round...dumpster..." you reply, as you just realized you described a trash can, which is where this conversation is heading.

the Triple Cork vs. the YOLO Flip | the Biggest Snowboard and Ski Tricks

By Andrew Sachs
With snowboarding qualifying for the Olympics taking place, the Winter X Games next week and Sochi around the corner in February, we decided it was time to take another look at some of the winter snow sports' biggest tricks: the (1) Triple Cork and the (2) YOLO Flip.  If last year's winter competitions were any indication, competitors will be riding these 2 tricks to the top of the podiums all winter.

In addition to the explanations below, for a frame-by-frame breakdown of the tricks, check out:

• What's a Triple Cork | Breaking Down the Winter X Games' Biggest Trick
• What's a YOLO Flip | I-Pod's X Games Trick Explained

Surfboard Art | How to Design and Create a Surfboard Masterpiece

By Connley

There is nothing more mundane than a plain white board. The surfboard is one of the most pure canvases an artist could ask for, and if you are looking at your surfboard rack, thinking you need some style, you are in luck! I am going to walk you through 10 easy steps to make your shred stick into an amazing piece of artwork.

10 Fun Excuses to Get You Out of Work to Go Surfing

By Natasha Hamilton

It is that time of the year when the swells start cranking.  Unfortunately, the epic surf does not always wait for weekends.  Here are ten fun excuses to get you out of work and back in the water. 

10. My horoscope said that aliens were going to abduct me on the way to work and probe my brain for secret surfing tips to bring peace to their war torn planet.

9. My Aunt’s cousin’s turtle is locked outside and if we don’t get it in the house it will die.

The Wave that Got Away | Conquering Your Fear and Surfing Big Waves

By Rick Bickerstaff
It was a rainy day after Thanksgiving, and a friend had tipped me off to an incoming swell that would hit our home break. I didn't expect much, though, as the beach we often surf is rarely outstanding, but surfing sounded better than Black Friday shopping, so I headed to the beach.

Apparently my fear of water is greater than my fear of people's opinions, because I ended up grabbing my sister's NSP (I like to call it the Butterfly Racer - pictured below). It's wider than my short board, which helps in smaller waves, but still responsive enough to do some carving. I wouldn't advise you to go out and buy one by any means, but I've been surprised at how much fun I've had on this thing.

Riding the "Butterfly Racer" at Trestles...don't judge me.