SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Surf, No Turf

I'd be lying if I said I'd tried these puppies out (I can barely use a boogie board, so surfing is pretty much outta the question for my balance-challenged ass), but they look amazing. It almost makes me want to get my Blue Crush on (remember that awful movie with Kate Bosworth and Michelle Rodriguez?) and take surfing lessons (mental note: must check medical insurance status to see how much they'll cover in terms of my injuries). These are just two examples of the 30 styles of boards (each available in 5 sizes) that are being introduced as part of the Playboy Surf by Wallin line, the first-ever collaborative collection between California-based Wallin Surfboards and Playboy.

Founded in '91, Wallin Surfboards has created surfboards for such major companies as the Gap (in 2003, over 500 surfboards were created for use in front window displays in over 250 stores), Old Navy (in 2005, Wallin executed a surf-centered campaign for the company), Toyota and Pontiac. They've also established their own competitive surf team, which includes riders like Rory Parker, Travis Potter and Troy Tecklenburg.

Aside from their advanced technology, Wallin boards are known for their eye-catching artwork — and the Playboy designs are no exception. In one board, the iconic, tux-wearing rabbit head pops up amid cobwebs (it's subtly placed at the center of the cobwebs for a trippy effect) while, on another style, it's cleverly superimposed on a bamboo-like background. Mudflap girls and silhouettes of nude, rabbit ear-wearing vixens also pop on in many of the designs for that trademark Playboy feel.

Prices range from $600 to $2000. Visit http://www.wallinsurfboards.com

Swim Fans

Urban fashion gurus Lifted Research Group (or L-R-G for those of us who need to keep it short and simple) continue to impress me with just how creatively they brand themselves in an increasingly competitive industry, seeking out other people with whom to collaborate on limited-edition product runs. From Casio to Yamaha, their collaborations have furthered their rep as trailblazers. Now they're teaming up with Victoria Skimboards, the country's leading skimboard manufacturer, to produce a limited-edition skimboard set to hit select retailers in April.

The L-R-G X Victoria skimboard features an iconic L-R-G design: a panda bear atop a green backdrop (and he's positioned in such a way that it gives the illusion that he's utilizing the skimboard). The underside, meanwhile, features abstract renderings of criss-crossed bamboo stalks in various green hues with touches of hot pink.

Those of you who aren't familiar with skimboarding, here's a primer. The sport dates back to the 1920s in Laguna Beach, California, when folks hydroplaned across the sand and onto waves using plywood boards. In essence, skimboarders sit and wait for a wave to come and when they see it approaching, they run (skimboard in hand) and upon reaching the wet sand, they hop onto their skimboards, glide into the ocean, and ride the waves (in the way that surfers do, but skimboarders can actually spin on their boards, which makes the tricks all the more interesting)

Victoria Skimboards has been a leading manufacturer since its creation in 1976 by Tex Haines, a Laguna native. The company currently uses such innovative materials as: polyester, polivinyl foam; e-glass, S-glass and carbon fiberglass; vinylester, and more. By constantly experimenting with their technology and designs, they guarantee that their boards are the fastest and lightest in the game.

The L-R-G X victoria board will be available in three models (ultra, poly and carbon) and will retail for $305-$478. Visit http://www.vicskim.com for more info.

Snow Bunnies

Snowboarders are almost mythical creatures to me (I'm of the clumsy variety -- as in I trip just coming out of bed in the morning). They wait for that powdery snow and just zoom down the slopes, doing crazy ollies and other gravity-defying tricks. Female snowboarders, then, are completely and totally badass.

So I was beyond hyped (yeah, I'm bringing the term back) when I discovered Shredding Betty, a company that specializes in snowboarding gear and apparel for the ladies devoted to the sport. The best items in stock, of course, are the snowboards, all designed to maximize fluidity and speed but bearing feminine prints (that still look cool -- nothing too girly-girly up in here).

Even if you're petrified at the sight of a snow halfpipe, you'll appreciate the ill graphics on these boards (such as this amazing Solomon Lark directional board and the Rome Vinyl snowboard). They almost make me want to risk the broken leg (an inevitable end result for someone of my accident-prone ilk) and head to the slopes... Or maybe I'll just cope one of these and hang it in my living room, so I can stare at it from the safety of my couch.

Whatever your predilection,consider investing in one of these.

Rome Vinyl snowboard, $296. Visit http://www.shreddingbetty.com