1. PATAGONIA HANDBOARD Whether you consider it poor man's surfing or the purest form of waveriding, bodysurfing gets a boost with the Handboard, an oversize palm paddle that helps boardless surfers catch swells. It also helped me plane above the water for longer-than-normal rides. $89; Patagonia in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA, 760-634-9886

2. RIP CURL E-BOMB JACKET Shorty wetsuits are so last August. Proper attire today consists of a nimble top like the E-Bomb, paired with boardshorts. The 2mm-thick pullover and its compadre, the zipper-equipped version ($89), warm your core with superstretch neoprene—and leave your lower half unconstrained. $75; www.ripcurl.com

3. VICTORIA WOMBAT Witness evolution at work: The Wombat takes DNA from a skimboard, bodyboard, and surfboard, creating a new species of beach fun. A slick finish makes the fast four-footer a champion skimmer, and its surfboardlike shape is more responsive than conventional bodyboards. $250; www.victoriaskimboards.com

4. WERNER CYPRUS Dig in all day with the Cyprus, a carbon-fiber touring paddle that weighs a svelte 25 ounces. It comes in both a straight-shaft model ($375) and a bent-shaft version ($450) that reduces wrist strain on long outings. Both models let you micromanage the feather in 15-degree increments. www.wernerpaddles.com