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gear list There's a simple freedom to rolling water-just the wave, the board and you (wearing nothing but shorts and sunscreen). But to really be free and com- fortable, bring a couple of other things along, like books for downtime, mos- quito repellent, playing cards and a bottle of ibuprofen. On any surf trip, plan to live in your trunks or swimsuit-you won't want a pair that chafes. If you haven't given them a good workout and don't know what to expect in terms of fiber integrity-also known as blow- out- bring a couple of pairs along. Billabong makes performance surf trunks (949'753-7222, www.billabong.com. $46-plus) and the Global Pack ($46) to keep your gear close at hand. Water Girl, Patagonia's sister company, makes durable, high·quality surfwear for women that stays on in the water (760- 436-2408, www.watergirl.com). Whether it's cloudy or bright, the rays reflecting off the water will burn you. Bring Headhunter sunscreen (www.fogdog.com. SPF 30, 3 ounces $9.99). It's completely waterproof and also lets you know when it's wearing off with its unique, off-color skin tone. In warm water, O'Neill's Thermo X rash guard (www.oneill.com. $55-$70 for short-sleeve or long-sleeve with hood) is a necessity. It will pro- tect your skin from the effects of coral and sun. Surf Diva makes excellent fitting rash guards for women (858-454.8273, www.surfdiva.com. $28). If you're surfing cold water but still want maximum mobility, slip into O'Neill's super-thermo Firewall-insulated Heat 3/2 ($299.95) to stay warm without sacrificing flexibility. O'Neill's Freaksock with toe ($40.95) and Heat Boot ($39.95) are also some of the best booties to have on for all rugged, rocky, cold conditions. Keep yourself in one piece with Adventure Medical Kits' Savvy Traveler (800-324-3517, www.adventuremedicalkits.com. $59), a complete kit with everything from sealable waste bags and tweezers to butterfly closure strips and bandage materials for those rough days out. Now the big question: are you going to bring a board and if so, - which board? No matter what size waves you expect, The New Blue by shaper Al Merrick/Channel Island Surfboards (www.almerrick.com. $470-plus) is a very versatile hybrid shaped board that performs well for a wide range of abilities and conditions. For good performance in the widest range of condi- tions, get at least a 6- to 7-foot or longer tri-fin ($430-$460), or maybe a longboard ($600-plus) for that classic style and "old school" ride. Patagonia also makes a great all-condition board for men and women in the Arc II (800- 638-6464, www.patagonia.com.$495).lt·s made of high durability foam that doesn't absorb water and has removable fins making this board ideal for surf travel. Surf Diva (858-454-8273, www.surfdiva.com) tests and designs boards specifically for women. When in doubt, ask a local shop to help you size the board to your ability level and waves that you'll be surfing. You'll want to keep your board safe and sound in a durable, high- quality bag that's been travel/battle tested. Stick all your surf gear in a heavy duty, padded Prolite board bag (949-631-1991, www.swell.com. $355), along with a couple six-packs of all-temperature Sticky Bumps wax (www.sticky- bumps.com, $7) and some X Trak leashes ($20·plus) to maintain your craft connection. Bring along some extra leashes, as well as some extra fins ($35-$50 from either longboard-specific www.surfgods.com. or all-around fins from Pro leek at www.surfcohawaii.com) .-Curtis Birch 39