Catch the big one.

• Position: What's New? - Surfboards - Brief Article - Evaluation

* We've found two sports--skiing and surfing--long intriguing, but were too chicken to give either a try. That still holds true for the winter endeavor of racing down a mountain at breakneck speed, yet the early summer has somehow imbued us with the courage to take a stab at surfing. And while we have yet to rise high above the churning sea on a killer wave, we have been able--if only for a few brief moments--to taste the thrill that comes with harnessing the ocean's fury by riding the white water.

Naturally, such an undertaking can't be done all at once, so before daring to actually stand on a surfboard in the middle of a roaring wave, we opted to first try out bodyboarding, originally known as boogieboarding since it appears you're dancing, or "boogieing," on water. (To tell if the board is the right size, stand it upright on the tail; the nose of the board should be one inch below your belly button.) That led us to Morey Bodyboards, Emeryville, Calif., a division of WHAM-O that has been producing this type of handcrafted equipment since 1971. Wanting to cover all the bases (and hoping not to drown in the process), we tested three pieces from its 2002 Performance Series line: the Wedge ($115), Big Kahuna ($110), and Cruiser ($65).

All we know is that we were hanging on for dear life, our belly plastered to the board--although you also can ride on your knees or your side--and our heart pounding every second of the way. That was nothing compared actually to standing somehow on The Ripper ($250), Morey's six-foot soft surfboard for beginners. Its cushy construction is especially important, as more-advanced models can cut you (the fins) or knock you out cold (the board itself). Neither is an appealing, or safe, option when fighting a wave. The Ripper remains the only surfboard on the market with printed instructions on how to surf:

First, with your board in tow, walk into the water to waist level; then lie on the board. Make sure you're where the white water is rolling in and not outside the breaker line. Wait for a solid chunk of white water; turn to face the shoreline; then start to paddle in. When the white water reaches you, and you feel the board surge forward, stop paddling. Do a push-up and quickly pop your feet underneath you. Place one foot in front of the other, with your toes pointing perpendicular to the centerline of the board. Then stand in a stable crouch--and pray! There's no feeling...