It's easy to get a surfing inferiority complex in Miami. Thanks to the Bahamas choking off the wildest surf blazing across the Atlantic, the waters off South Beach often look more like a bathtub than a roaring Hawaiian fantasy. But all it takes to wipe away that surfing depression is a quick stop to chat up the always-encouraging, hugely knowledgeable staff at Liquid Tube Surf Shop. Whether you're stuck between a Strive longboard ($625) and a Surftech Ultraflex ($475) or just trying to decide between the wide selection of rentals for $15 an hour, director and team rider Eduardo Oropeza will help you make the right selection and point you toward the choicest waves. If you're looking to learn how to break through the glassy waters of the Atlantic, Oropeza will teach you his surfing ways, as long as you call in advance and see when he's hitting up the shore. The Miami Beach shop also has a display of body, skim, and stand-up paddle boards, as well as skateboards for some fun in the sun. About the only thing you can't rely on Liquid Tube for is a convenient tropical storm to turn South Beach into Oahu's North Shore for a few days.