Malibu Surf Spot Breakdown

 

When people refer to Malibu they typically are referring to Surfrider Beach on Pacific Coast Highway (US 1) in the town of Malibu.  This spot is as iconic to surfing as Duke K and it’s popularity is only dwarfed by the wave quality.  Regarded as one of the world class breaks in Southern California, 100’s of surfers descend on this place on a given Summer weekend and it’s not uncommon to have 500 plus surfers in the water on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.  Although crowds do thin slightly during the week, when the surf is crankin’ the break is packed giving it the well deserved nickname “Malizoo”. 

The cobblestone sea floor keeps the wave quality consistent while a S/SW swell is the desire direction.  When the surf kicks up, it is not uncommon to get 100 yard rides.  There are a variety of different waves at Malibu with the steeper faster ones coming in on the outside section while slower mushier surf rolls through as you get closer to the pier.  While most surfers are riding longboard surfboards, smaller boards will work depending on wave size and where you paddle out.  Malibu does have some localism but with large amount of surfers, it’s hard to enforce.  Just be respectful and watch out for others and you will have a great time.

Is Malibu
a good spot for beginners?  This is a good spot if you stay towards the inside and jump on some of the shoulders that run through.  With a basic understanding of surfing etiquette, you should have no problem catching a few slow rollers coming through.  Another alternative for beginner's is Sunset surf break a few miles to the south. 

 

Is a Retro Fish a good beginner surfboard?

I get this question all the time and wanted to address, “Is a Retro Fish Surfboard a good choice for a beginner”. I think the simple answer is NO. For reference I’m going to refer to retro’s under 6’4”. This shape is the best for surfers who have gotten through the fresh beginner stage are looking to move to a smaller board.

I highly recommend retro fish surfboards for those who are comfortable catching waves with a funboard, mini-longboard, or longboard and are looking to move down to more of a shortboard feel. Retro fish surfboards are great as transitional boards because they still offer the responsiveness of a shortboard but have the paddle power of the longer board. Typical thicknesses of retro fish surfboards range from 2-3/4” – 3-1/4” which provide the ease of paddle characteristic.

Choosing a beginner board is always stressful but it doesn’t have to be. I receive a custom recommendation on beginner surfboards please contact us at info@equinoxsurfboards.com.

Get Pitted! A Surfer's Remix

Twin Fin Surfboard vs Quad Fin Surfboard

Twin Fin Surfboard vs Quad Fin Surfboard

Recently there has been a lot of debate on which of these fin setups work better.This issue has made a recent resurgence with many of the top pros including Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds, and Bruce Irons wielding the four fin option. While the quad fin surfboards are increasingly popular, both Twin and Quad have their own unique characteristics. Because of the lack of center fin, both options ride faster than their more contemporary thruster counterpart. Both are also much looser while turning than a thruster because of the elimination of the center anchor point.

Twin Fin Surfboards:

While both are looser while turning, you really feel a significant difference on the twin. Think of it this way, when the fins are small and there are less of them, so therefore the hold is not as great. The fewer anchor points in the water, the less resistance you are going to feel and therefore rail to rail surfing is a must. Because the fins are usually placed closer to the tail of the board the pivot point also has been moved back on the twin fins.

Quad Fin Surfboards:

While this setup was first brought to the surfing stage in the early 1980's, when the thruster was fresh on the scene.It offered an alternative to the thruster, and provided a ride similar to the twin but with better holding power.The quads also provide much more drive then the twins.This is because the two fins on each side work together to channel the water out the tail of the board. Because the fins are set farther forward on the quads, the pivot point is pushed off the tail more than a twin. Another positive attribute is the ability to hold better in larger surf.This is why you will see many of the big wave chargers using quads.

Difference types of surfers prefer different types of surfboards. Each fin setup has their own pluses and minuses which can only be evaluated and chosen by the surfer themselves.

Thnaks for the read,
John @ EquinoxSurfboards.com

El Porto Surf spot located in Manhattan Beach, CA is a great surf spot for many reasons. It offers a quality wave for all ability levels. If you are a beginner surfer looking to catch your first waves, the inside section has many sand bar which break the waves and allow beginners to practice getting to their feet on the white wash. Grab your longboard, mini-longboard, or funboard and head on out! Once you have progressed from beginner to intermediate skill level, you can move to the outside impact zone. Depending on the season and movement of sand, this area can be firing! Tides also play an important role in making the waves mushy or closing out. If you want to test your ability level, make your way down to El Porto during the winter months. Typically the waves remain much bigger during this time, so your shortboard surfboard is a must. The order vibe at Porto is pretty easy going if you follow the most basic surfing etiquette. Get out there and enjoy the waves.

NEW shapes and designs

You can find out more information about any of these boards at http://www.equinoxsurfboards.com/



Retro Egg - Bandit

Vintage inspired egg with fuller rails and center box fin with two FCS side bite fins. This board is great for small to meduim size surf. A great option for the intermediate rider looking for a funky new shape.

$365







Retro Egg - Chimera

Vintage inspired egg with medium rails and center box fin with Quad Future fins set up. This board is great for meduim size surf. A great option for the intermediate rider looking for a funky new shape. *A favorite at Eqiunox*

$385






Retro Quad Fish - Coalition

A great retro fish shape for medium surf. Fuller rails and a Future Quad fin set up make this board responsive in all type of conditions. This board is great for meduim size surf. A great option for the funboard / longboarder looking to move to a smaller board.

$340


You can find out more information about any of these boards at http://www.equinoxsurfboards.com/