Buy This, Not That
- jebshred
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 19 hours ago
A No-Nonsense Surfer's Holiday List
Let’s be honest, it’s a week before Christmas. It's late in the game. But don't fret! I got you.
The good news is everything on this year's Christmas list can still land under the tree on time... if you hustle! No backorders. No “print this email and promise it later” nonsense. Just things that ship, show up, and will get used by your surfer loved one. This timing of course does not apply to a custom surfboard, but the racks at the local shops have inventory this time of year, and they're hungry for sales.
As always, this list is simple by design. Nothing here is theoretical. This is gear I actually use, boards I actually ride, and brands that have earned my trust over time. Start filling your carts!
Stocking Stuffers That Don’t Suck
Small things. Big payoff.
A few small items that are easy to order, easy to wrap, and genuinely useful. These are the kinds of things surfers burn through, lose, or are lazy to buy for themselves, but always appreciate having. And yes, single fins and fin sets do fit into stockings! Every surfer should have the MR Twins+1 now in Futures, also the FCS Reactors pair nicely with longer rails and wider tails (I size them down to Med), the Christenson single fin is clearly my favorite single fin when the waves are good and I'm riding an HP Longboard, like the 9'2 Gee Rainbow Jebshred Model. This list also includes:
Sticky Bumps "Bright Bars" - Colored wax, why not? Nothing wrong with a good wax job, and I like changing up the color of the decks, it gives the board new life and personality, don't believe me? Try it. This is the #1 question I get out in the water, and through the website... where do you get the neon wax? Here it is man.
Pickle Wax Remover - I go through one every year or so, but they can last a long time
Freaks of Nature Skin Products - Kelly Slater's new Sunscreen. Does it work better than SunBum or others? IDK. Slater made it. Good enough for me.
FCS Fin Key Ratchet - FCS fin ratchet that I only use for my Futures Fins setups. Make it make sense. Real Watersports with the holiday deals right now, check 'em out!
HoStevie: Gear I Actually Use
Simple gear, done right.
HoStevie doesn’t overthink things. He finds a way to simply recreate high-end surf accessories while keeping them at a mid-ranged price. Sometimes, when he's having a SALE, there are flat-out deals to be had. I highly recommend the wetsuits, they hold up same as the big brands, plus Stevie is a nice guy, the customer service, and the overall vibes within his company. I follow his entire crew, they're a likable group, you can follow Stevie, Surfer Shane, and the rest of them on Instagram. I break down his wetsuits specifically in a blog back in 2024. Aside from the wetsuits, these are some items from the Stevie Warehouse that I use regularly, because they just work, and I suspect the rest of his gear that I haven't tried is just as good, no more hype required.
Board Socks - Canvas and Stretch. I really like the canvas HoStevie bag for dirty Costa Rica, sun protection in the back of the truck, it's rugged, but goes through the washing machine just fine. Mine's held up for 5+ years now on many trips. I also have the striped stretch sock for my 7'6 Quiet Flight Jumbo Sting Fish. It's as good as any other sock from the big brands.
Bucket Hats & Ball Caps - I use HoStevie hats a lot. To me, they're the best form of sun protection. The window for these are winter-spring in Florida, once it's too hot, I don't do hats. But I've had HoStevie hats for 5+ seasons, and with the improvements in the chin clips he's got a solid product. Like you only need one of these, it'll last a long time. I have the large, medium bucket rims, and a couple of ball caps. They all get used throughout the year.
I break down the HoStevie surf hats in this blog from a while back.
Big-Ticket Items to Make Somebody's Christmas
Boards. Boards, Boards
Quiet Flight Surfboards: Hybrids & Mid-Shapes
You've still got time to buy a Quiet Flight surfboard before gifts exchange. Just in case you want to surprise someone with a brand new stick under the tree. I see a lot of surfers in their 40s and 50s who don't have a funshape or mid-length surfboard in their quiver. So it's a great option to surprise someone with a new board with a good chance you're not duplicating something they already have. If you're local head to Quiet Flight Surf Shop in New Smyrna Beach, they're stocked with hybrids and mid-length shapes. Check out some QF hybrid rides of mine in 2025...
If you live on the east coast, and you’re thinking about going longer rails and wider tails, Quiet Flight Surfboards is a solid option. Overall, their hybrids make sense for the waves you'll typically find in these parts... unpredictable, mushy to wedgie, and all in one ride. These shapes also hide flaws #surfinginyour50s while providing enough performance to remind you why you surf. There's also the bonus of supporting the local board builders, and in Quiet Flight's case a brand connected to my youth, where I spent countless hours in the ocean aboard their crafts.
If you're not local, I think you're still in the window for shipping a surfboard before the Christmas deadline if you see a board on the Quiet Flight Surfboards website. There are a ton of great options with other board brands at my favorite local shop The Longboard House, this iconic family-owned shop is worth a look, there are some beautiful boards on their racks including all the latest tech from Slater and Firewire. Or if you live somewhere that has no surfboard stock, look no farther than my favorite ONLINE surf shop Real Watersports. They've got mid-shapes from multiple manufacturers in all types of builds that will ship to your door on-time. In general try to grab a mid-length 6-12 inches taller than the surfer, here are a couple interesting boards I found crawling these websites. Order from Real by December 22nd and you've got a board wrapped and ready for Christmas! It's a big-ticket item, yes, but your loved-one will be stoked!
You can place a custom order online with Quiet Flight. Bruce Ragan is an experienced shaper, and with glassing the factory can usually turn over your custom orders in less than 6 weeks. You will miss the Holidays if you do that, but I don't think the recipient is complaining about a custom board being gifted to them. Maybe you justify that there's no board under the tree because you wanted them to be able to personally fill out the custom order form?!? Sound good enough to me! New board = Instant Stoke. I like to put things on my Discover Card and then "discover" the bill later, not sure that works for everybody else.
Jebshred Merch... The Store is Closed. You Missed it.
Jebshred merch is Sold Out... if you got some, you know the vibe, if you didn't...
9'2 Jebshred HP Longboard
A high performance longboard built for east coast waves...
While I do unofficially have Jebshred HP Longboards for sale at $1200 (built-to-order, not custom) I don't anticipate any sales at the moment. I've done no marketing, and I've got no business plan. I did make a really solid HP longboard shape, based on an older shape, that is made specifically for our waves here on the east coast. There's a lot of secret sauce to this design, and I get into that in my unRIDDLING GEEnius series, if you're interested in all of that. I've got the Shape3d file and a really good manufacturer, so if you are interested in copping your own 9'2 Jebshred HPLB, drop me a note on Instagram. These come in single fin (w/ optional side bites), or thrusters, and quads. Pin tails. Responsive, pivot point. Yewww!
Final Word
I'm not a huge Christmas guy, but I do love stoking my loved ones with great gifts. So this gift list is here to be useful, hype up my board suppliers, and clue you into some surfer stocking stuffers (acknowledging it's late in the game). But you can still buy a surfboard if you hustle, let me know if you need some advice, or you want to put in your own Quiet Flight custom order. But you can't go wrong buying your favorite shredder a surf hat or a couple bars of wax. Either way, order today, wrap it up, and move on with your life. Then go surf! Happy Holidays and an Epic New Year to you and yours, however or whatever you celebrate. I really hope Santa Klaus brings everyone some fun waves and you’re surfing where you are!
