This stick is so light (six pounds for the seven-footer), a stiff offshore breeze nearly ripped it from my hands. Made from Salomon’s S-Core epoxy blank, it has a hollow core with a layer of carbon fiber and three triple stringers for a corky, lively feel. In junky, blown-out surf with eight-foot faces, drops felt surprisingly smooth and easy. It’s a great choice for the transition to shortboards or a solid everyday board for skilled surfers who weigh 185-plus.
Bonus: Mucho speed.
Bummer: S-Core seems more fragile than other epoxies. 7′ and 7’4″; www.rustysurfboards.com