I’d like to introduce you to someone. I’ve just upgraded my quiver with something a little special. The Webber range of surfboards has intrigued me for quite some time but I’ve never managed to get around to updating my board, until now.
I sold my old board to a keen young Grom who was made up to get a good beginners board for a reasonable price and its nice to know that the board I learnt on went to a good loving home. That was just after christmas and I haven’t got to surf since.
Upgrading your board is a much harder task than I thought as there are so many things to think about to make sure you don’t make the wrong choice. You would think that coming down in size from a 7’2″ NSP board is the first consideration. It would be a frustrating experience adjusting to something around 6’0″ in anyones world but I knew I wanted to go shorter, but how much?
Considerations
I knew that I wanted to go for a Webber board but which would be best for me … Firstly, I eliminated the ‘Compact disc‘ because it wasn’t as sexy as any of the others. Next were their traditional shortboards. I believed going for a traditional shortboard would be a bad choice as this is the board of a pro. I needed something a little bit more forgiving. After this came the ‘Mini fish‘, I moved this aside because of the ‘mini’ aspect, too short for me.
I basically narrowed it down to two options, the Fatburner and the Afterburner. Very similar in style and beauty but slightly different as far as ride. The Afterburner is a fish, this means that it has a swallow shaped rear end which gives the surfer more stability when gliding through the water because it effectively cuts a path as it moves forward, holding the sides of the board more stable. Right up to the point of purchase, I was gunning for this one until I got some advice.
It always pays to get advice because when I approached the shop I was going to get it from, they told me the Afterburner would not be the best option. Enter the Fatburner.
Recent changes to the range
2010 saw the rebirth of both of the Afterburner and the Fatburner. The one I went for in the end was neither of them!
Webber decided to rename the Fatburner the ‘Pulse’, which on reflection is much nicer, it doesn’t make you sound like an unfit heffer. The ‘Pulse‘ has a few differences to the Afterburner in that it has more volume and subtle concaves on the underside which all add to its stability and glide in the water.
Once I reached this point I sought more advice about size. I was tempted by a Clayton 6’8″ intermediate fish which the shop advised would be much more suitable. It was cheaper but nowhere near as sexy so I stuck to my guns and was advised that a Pulse 6’6″ would be slightly more of a challenge but within my capabilities.
… and to summarise then
So with the Webber Pulse you get:
- A fully formed swallow tail
- A deep double concave
- Fuller volume which is well hidden along the middle section
- Smooth rocker from nose to tail
oh and did I mention… - A gorgeous FIVE fin setup
In the Flesh
Swallow tail
Deep double concave
Volume hidden
Five fin setup
I’m well pleased, time to hit the waves.
I have just purchased a 6` 9″ webber pulse going to north cornwall for two wks cant wait to try it out.
Thanks for the comment. I’m glad someone else has found this board too. I’ve taken mine out a few times and it didn’t disappoint. Have fun in cornwall dude.
I’m going through the same process you did. I think the Pulse is the right board, but what size? If I went by Webber’s weight recommendations, I’d get a 6′. I using a 7’6″ “funboard” by Becker, so I go through this 6’9″ or is 6’6″ too short. I’m glad to find someone that successfully chose. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Yes its a lot of money to spent on something if it just doesn’t suit you. If you go too short you will probably regret it. It was great advice I got from sorted surf shop. They were spot on, I just needed someone to point it out. Good luck finding the right one. 6’9″ sounds about right.
I’m a beginner. I could consistently popup and ride whitewash on a 7ft mal and am at the point where I’m trying to get close to the curl, drop in on an unbroken wave and turn.
But my mal got wrecked =(
Would the pulse be a good next board for me?
The local surf is small and messy a lot fo the time so I would never go to a shortboard anyway. But I was thinking of a funboad then I saw the the Pulse/Fatburner. One advantage is that I’d be able to duckdive, but I’m worried the more pointy nose will mean I pearl a lot more easily and perhaps I’m not ready for it yet.
But Webber himself says in one of his youtube vids that this can be a beginner board.
I’m 75kg so would be on the 6’3.
I think I mention in the article that one of the main bits of advice I found useful was not to go too short too quickly. I wouldn’t go straight from a 7ft mall to a 6’3″ anything, if I were you.
Saying that, the pulse is really stable because of it’s concave rails which hide a lot of volume. If you really want a pulse you’d probably be better off getting the 6’9″ first, this should be more forgiving and cause less frustration as you are adjusting to it. You should be able to get onto an unbroken wave with any board so I’d suggest getting used to this before considering a shorter board.