Lib-Tech Funnelator Surfboard

Lib-Tech’s primarily known as a snowboard company, and for good reason, too—their award-winning snowboards are consistently mind-blowing, innovative, and damn fun to ride. However, the same can be said about their durable, eco-friendly surfboards.

It's been seven years since Lib-Tech cannonballed into the surf world, and at this point, their lineup is full of gems. They’ve partnered with Matt “Mayhem” Biolos of Lost Surfboards fame to offer several of his coveted models in Lib-Tech’s sustainable “ECO IMPACTO” construction, including the Quiver Killer (our favorite do-it-all deck), the Round Nose Fish, and the Short Round, among others. Lib’s in-house shapers have also refined a handful of noteworthy models. The Pick Up Stick, for instance, is a performance fun-board that’s available in a 6’6”, 7’, and 7’6”. While this board is a riot for intermediates, we highly recommend the 7’6” for beginners looking to size down from yacht-like foamies and longboards. The Pick Up Stick supplies float, stability, and paddle power while still offering the opportunity to progress and paddle into bigger waves. The Nude Bowl is another one of our preferred Lib-Tech shapes—check out this review we drummed up a couple of years ago after hauling the board on an extended surf trip through the tropics. 

This time around, though, we’re shining the spotlight on their latest in-house design, the Funnelator, which the brand dubs an “ultra-high-performance groveler.” The fat, wide Funnelator sports a double-V bottom contour, which essentially shoots water through the back of the deck and adds surprising speed in mushy surf. A thick, high-volume build means that you’ll catch plenty of waves, while straight rail lines will help you speed through softer sections and a thin half-moon tail will enable you to execute more aggressive turns if a set swings through.