With all the available boards in the market today, it’s not easy to look for a board that will suit your skill level or the water sport where you prefer to use it. On the bright side, California Board Company or CBC has your back.
CBC offers a collection of different surfboards that you can use for surfing, bodyboarding, and skimboarding. Surfers admire this brand because every board’s quality always meets the expectation of its customers.
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Top 8 California Board Company Boards Reviewed
There are several brands in the market, and finding the best one can be challenging. If you’re considering this brand, regardless if you’re surfing, bodyboarding or skimboarding, here’s a California Board Company review to help you decide what to purchase.
- CBC Cal Bear Series 8′ Soft Top Surfboard
- CBC Wood Skimmer Skimboard
- CBC 6’2 Sushi Surfboard
- CBC Gerry Lopez 8′ Soft Surfboard
- CBC Foot Grabber 41″ Skimboard
- CBC Clutch 33″ Slick Bodyboard
- CBC Slasher 54″ Blackball Surfboard
- CBC Cal Bear Series 7′ Soft Surfboard
#1. CBC Cal Bear Series 8′ Soft Top Surfboard
Every aspiring surfer needs a reliable surfboard that can mold them to be a pro. If you’re looking for an exceptional one, you should check out what CBC has to offer. One of the best boards is the Cal Bear Series 8′ Soft Top Surfboard.
It measures 96 inches long, 23 inches wide, and 3.75 inches thick. Beginners enjoy riding this surfboard because it’s easy to control during any wave condition. Plus, it can hold up to 240 pounds.
It features a premium-quality of EPS foam core, which provides comfort as you ride it. Surfers love it more because it’s waterproof. Also, it comes with three wood stringers.
When it comes to quality, you can guarantee that it’s very sturdy. The deck comes with IXPE/XPE skin. Plus, the hard bottom-part comes from an HD polyethylene material, which is damage-resistant. Aside from that, you’ll also love its bottom and top graphics, making it look appealing.
Maneuvering the board is convenient because it comes with a traction pad. It provides the grip you need in executing tricks. It’s also speedy, thanks to its tri-fin system. Plus, you can use up to three fins, which comes with this set.
#2. CBC Wood Skimmer Skimboard
Aside from soft-top surfboards, CBC also offers a collection of skimboards for surfers who want challenges. If you can’t find a reliable one to purchase, you should check the CBC Wood Skimmer Skimboard.
This board features an exceptional graphic style, which suits the color of the sea. It also assures durability as the board comes from an excellent quality of wood. Also, the construction features a multi-layered lamination to make it long-lasting despite frequent usage.
It’s not disappointing when it comes to performance because of its board-shape and rocker. It keeps “nose digging,” making it favorable to intermediate to professional surfers to control. Plus, the rocker adds agility as you glide on a smooth surface by the shore.
Another feature that surfers admire is the resin-coated bottom, which makes it more durable and quicker. You’ll find ease in driving it in any direction, especially when there’s an approaching wave.
It’s available in two sizes, which are 39.5 inches and 37.5 inches. Both sizes are suitable for any surfing-level.
#3. CBC 6’2 Sushi Surfboard
CBC is also famous for offering exceptional fish surfboards to intermediate to pro surfers. It’s ideal for training and competition, especially if you need a performing one. Plus, it features an exceptional design in different shades of blue.
This board only weighs 7.5 pounds, yet it can hold up to 175 pounds. Controlling is not a hassle at all because it only measures 74 inches long, 22 inches wide, and 3 inches thick. Plus, its fish-shaped tail makes it speedier than other board-types, making it ideal for executing tricks.
Surfers also admire this surfboard because of its traction pad. It’s responsible for providing exceptional grip, letting you control the board with full convenience. It also comes with a durable PU surf leash to secure it with you as you fall while surfing.
Speed is the main advantage of this board since it’s a fish-type. Aside from its shape, this surfboard is quicker once you install its tri-fin system. Users consider this set because it comes with three blue-colored surf fins, making these a perfect match for the board.
You can never go wrong with its sturdiness since the deck comes with skin from IXPE/XPE material. The bottom part of the board uses HD polyethylene material. Plus, the core comes from an excellent quality of EPS foam that’s waterproof.
#4. CBC Gerry Lopez 8′ Soft Surfboard
Performance is crucial when it comes to surfboards. If you’re an aspiring pro, you should invest in a reliable board, and CBC is where you should check. One of the top boards for soft-top surfboards is the Gerry Lopez 8′ Soft Surfboard. Other surfers call it “Costco.”
This set comes with a sturdy PU surf leash with a dual swivel and an ankle strap. You don’t have to worry about lost surfboards because it will secure it in your ankle.
It measures 96 inches long, 22 inches wide, and 3.25 inches thick, and it has the right size for beginners. However, intermediate and pro can also use it for practice or casual surfing. Also, it can hold up to 200 pounds despite weighing 13.5 pounds.
This surfboard is exceptional as it features a shape designed by Gerry Lopez. It even has its logo-graphic and signature on the top deck. Plus, the board-deck uses an IXPE/XPE skin to preserve its style even if you surf most of the time.
You can expect optimum stability from this surfboard because it’s longer than typical shortboards. Even when you ride it on big or small waves, you can guarantee its steadiness. Also, it comes with a traction pad to help you control the board.
#5. CBC Foot Grabber 41″ Skimboard
Skimboarding is becoming popular these days, and if you want to give it a try, you need the best skimboard to help you execute your skills or keep the right balance as you slide. CBC has one from its collection, such as the Foot Grabber 41″ Skimboard.
This board is exceptional because it’s very versatile. It’s suitable for beginners to pros. Also, it’s very sturdy, thanks to its premium-quality material. The deck comes from quality-wood with lamination, which stays durable even if it gets wet repeatedly.
The EVA foam on the deck gives comfort to the rider, and it’s excellent for traction. It provides exceptional footing, letting surfers perform at their finest. Plus, the style is not too meek for an entry-level from its skimboard-collection.
Pro surfers love using this board because of its performance. The rocker adds speed to the movement, as well as maneuverability. Regardless if you’re gliding smoothly or approaching waves, you can count on this board’s performance. Plus, it measures 41 inches long, yet it’s 0.50 inches thick, which is favorable to beginners.
#6. CBC Clutch 33″ Slick Bodyboard
CBC is one of the versatile brands in the industry because it also offers bodyboards aside from surfboards and skimboards. If you want to start with a basic board as you improve your balancing skills, consider the Clutch 33″ Slick Bodyboard.
This board measures 33 inches long, 17 inches wide, and 2 inches thick. It features a stylish design in green and light green colors. Plus, beginners will find it easy to carry or use because it only weighs 2 pounds.
It comes with a slick bottom from HDPE material, while the deck features an EPS core to guarantee a sturdier quality. The contoured-shape of the board adds convenience as you control it on big or small waves. Also, the bat tail-design helps in keeping stability as you glide along waves.
This board has a leash plug and a web-leash to secure it with you during your ride. It’s also convenient to grip along its nose rail for optimum maneuverability. It will undoubtedly enhance your balancing skills on a different angle, giving you more fun than solely surfing from time to time.
#7. CBC Slasher 54″ Blackball Surfboard
Another exceptional fish surfboard that professional surfers can consider is the Slasher 54″ Blackball Surfboard, and CBC makes sure it doesn’t provide any disappointment to anyone who’ll use it.
It’s speedy by default, yet it can go quicker after installing the two surf fins, which are part of the set as you buy it. It uses HD polyethylene material for the deck’s bottom-part. Plus, it features an EPS foam core to make it long-lasting.
You’ll find it convenient to control because it only measures 4.75 pounds. You can ride it with full comfort because it can hold up to 140 pounds with a volume of 35.12 liters. Aside from that, the 54-inch size is not hassling to control at a thickness of 2.50 inches.
It features a minimalistic style in a white deck, and it uses IXPE/XPE deck skin. The simplicity of this board’s design doesn’t compromise the performance it provides, thanks to its three wood stringers and twin fins set-up.
It suits intermediate or pro surfers because it needs excellent balancing skills. However, kids can use this board in shallow areas with an adult companion, since the size is kid-friendly.
#8. CBC Cal Bear Series 7′ Soft Surfboard
If you’re looking for a brand that doesn’t fail in meeting the expectations of all customers, CBC is a recommended one. It provides a variety of surfboards, and one surfboard from its list is the Cal Bear Series 7′ Soft Surfboard. If you need a heavy-duty board, you will love this one.
The traction pad for gripping is one of the primary features of this surfboard. It helps surfers in maneuvering the entire surfboard. Plus, you can execute any tricks because it only weighs 10 pounds. Despite its lightweight advantage, surfers love it because it can hold up to 210 pounds.
Quality is another reason why many surfers use it. The foam core comes from an exceptional quality of EPS material that’s waterproof. As for the board, the bottom uses an HD polyethylene material with IXPE/XPE skin. The full base and top graphics are pleasing in the eyes, making it very appealing to other surfers in the area.
Speed is also a reason why you should consider buying it. It’s agile, thanks to its tri-fin system. Aside from that, it comes with three surf fins and a PU surf leash with a Neoprene-based ankle strap.
Getting the Best CBC Surfboards – Buyers Guide
In buying an exceptional surfboard, there are vast factors to consider. Some include the type of board, the fin system, the rails, and rockers. Even the tail-design can influence its performance, which is why it’s crucial to determine what you need. Yet, before jumping to that, you need to determine where you are going to use it.
Where to Use It
If you’re thinking of buying a board from CBC’s collection, you should consider where you need to use it. It offers boards under various activities aside from typical surfing, such as the following:
Surfing
If you’re planning to surf solely, it will be easier to choose the best surfboard from CBC’s collection. There may be different types available, such as soft-top, shortboards, fish, or longboard, yet every board has its edge. If you’re a beginner, you go for soft-tops and longboards. If you have a surfing experience from training, you can go for shortboards and fish surfboards.
Some of the surfboards to consider from CBC include the Cal Bear Series 7’and 8′ Soft Surfboards and the Gerry Lopez 8′ Soft Surfboard.
Skimboarding
This activity is more challenging than typical surfing big or small waves. It’s an activity that takes place along the shore. It’s like skateboarding on water. Plus, the board-size is shorter than typical surfboards, yet most boards are suitable for either an intermediate or an expert.
CBC offers the Foot Grabber 41″ and CBC Wood Skimmer as its top-picks when it comes to skimboarding.
Bodyboarding
This activity is more convenient than surfing or skimboarding because you can ride waves without the need to stand. All you need is your body and a paddling strength, and you’re all set. Bodyboards are shorter than typical surfboards, yet they can use fins for exceptional propelling, unlike skimboards.
If you prefer to explore this activity more, CBC also offers competitive bodyboards, and one of the bestsellers is the Clutch 33″ Slick.
California Board Company: Company & History
California Board Company or CBC is one of the highly respected brands in the industry since 2008. The company won many hearts of surfers for offering exceptional boards with optimum performance and excellent quality. Plus, there’s a lot of options for them to consider since it also provides boards for skimboarding and bodyboarding.
Four people, who were friends for ten years, founded this company after a dinner conversation in September 2008. Mark, Scott, Charlie, and Michael had careers in the industry, having experiences as surfers and shapers. As they grow their knowledge, they started to introduce their signature surfboards, and the company became successful.
As the years pass by, the brand is becoming more and more popular because the team commits in providing exceptional quality and performance to all surfers, which can mold them to be pro surfers.
Conclusion
Finding a top-performing surfboard will help you enhance your surfing skills, and if you aspire to be a pro, you need to rely on renowned brands, such as CBC. This brand never fails to satisfy its users when it comes to performance, quality, and durability. Plus, it’s also versatile as you can find other board-types for skimboarding and bodyboarding.
Regardless if you prefer surfing, bodyboarding, or skimboarding, you can count on it. If you need to buy a surfboard of any type, you should consider buying from this brand.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: Can kids use bodyboards and skimboards?
Q: Can kids use bodyboards and skimboards?
Q: Do I have to buy the leash and fins separately?
Q: Does CBC sell other items aside from boards?
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Torsten Bird is a talented and adventurous waterman from Western Australia, passionate about surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, hydrofoiling, skimboarding, snowboarding and skateboarding. Torsten has spent countless hours mastering his skills and his dream is to one day represent Australia as an Olympic athlete. Follow Torsten’s adventures on Instagram.
