The 2016 Guide To Step-Up Boards For Bigger Waves
COASTALWATCH | REVIEWS
Cover photo by Jackson O'Brien
WELCOME TO THE 2016 STEP-UP BOARD GUIDE
A step-up surfboard is also referred to as a semi-gun. It comes out when your regular board is feeling a little bit loose and skatie and you need something a little bit bigger to handle the speed and power of the wave.
When looking for a good step-up you’re looking for a board that provides you with greater control, not speed. The waves you’ll be riding will give you all the speed you need so your step-up should help you harness that and allow you to make big powerful maneuvers or steady barrel rides.
SEE ALSO: The Essential Board Bag Guide For Surf Travel
Tim recommends that when looking into what to buy you should choose for your ability, you want more volume than you’re usually riding and with the length you generally add an extra 2-3 inches to your regular all-rounder or high-performance board.
Some shapers and board store owners recommend you stick with same brand board so you have the familiarity, that makes the transition between your all-rounder and step-up smooth. Others believe that different brands provide slightly different adjustments and specialties for the bigger sizes. If in doubt drop into your local board store and have a chat about what the best options are for your surfing and the waves you’ll be riding.
After talking to a number of the top surfboard stores around the country, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular and recommended step-up shapes available;
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THE GUIDE
Lockdown Diaries: Meet the American Surfer Who Got "Stuck" at Supersuck
"They closed the borders, everything got cancelled, I got shut-in, and I stayed at Supersuck for four months. Pigdog heaven."
Watch: Episode 7 of Rivals – Bede Durbidge at Home in 4-5ft Straddie Barrels
The best surf tv show format keeps on rolling!
The Social Visa: Wondering How All These Surf Stars Are Cruising Around Indo? Here Ya Go
Remember when all this carnage started in March? And how briefly it looked like a whole Indo surf season would be going untravelled?
Watch: Episode 7 of Rivals – Bede Durbidge at Home in 4-5ft Straddie Barrels
The best surf tv show format keeps on rolling!
Smashed In Vicco: A Couple Of The Lockdown State’s Finest Get Caught In The Mangler
Master and Apprentice: Bethany Hamilton and Erin Brooks
Mick Fanning: Save This Shark
Watch: Episode 6 of Rivals – Shaun Cansdell at Home on the Coffs Coast
Watch: Episode 7 of Rivals – Bede Durbidge at Home in 4-5ft Straddie Barrels
The best surf tv show format keeps on rolling!
Smashed In Vicco: A Couple Of The Lockdown State’s Finest Get Caught In The Mangler
For a good chunk of this winter, it seemed like the Vicco crew had become the poor cousins of the surfing world...
Master and Apprentice: Bethany Hamilton and Erin Brooks
When Erin Brooks was nine and at the very beginning of her surfing journey, she met Bethany Hamilton.
Mick Fanning: Save This Shark
This is Mick Fanning’s take on that crazy incident at J-Bay in 2015 - the most watched moment in surfing history.
Watch: Episode 6 of Rivals – Shaun Cansdell at Home on the Coffs Coast
The best surf tv show format keeps on rolling!
The Social Visa: Wondering How All These Surf Stars Are Cruising Around Indo? Here Ya Go
Remember when all this carnage started in March? And how briefly it looked like a whole Indo surf season would be going untravelled?
Smashed In Vicco: A Couple Of The Lockdown State’s Finest Get Caught In The Mangler
For a good chunk of this winter, it seemed like the Vicco crew had become the poor cousins of the surfing world...
Watch: Episode 7 of Rivals – Bede Durbidge at Home in 4-5ft Straddie Barrels
The best surf tv show format keeps on rolling!
Padang Comes to Life as Late Season Swell hits Bali
Golden hour at perfect Padang Padang - it's been a good week to be in Bali... Photo: Childs
Daydream The Indo Season with Riley Laing & Crew's Swell Expedition
Offshore barrels and dreamy setups
