Los Angeles

No matter how giddily you purchase sporting equipment, once the excitement fades you're left with nothing but a bulky, expensive reminder that you're playing too much Wii. If you're "taking up" surfing, the solution is to not-purchase, with SportsKnack.

Expanding from their main Santa Monica location into the Marina, Valley, and just now the South Bay, Knack's a surfboard loaner service that lets you select a ride, then keep it as long as you want -- like NetFlix, without the shame of having to hide Fool's Gold from houseguests. Just hit the website to find an available board and reserve a time to pick it up (from same-day to a month out); before heading over, give them a ring, so they can get your board ready/mock your broham-free phone demeanor. The stock includes everything from Shortboards to Longboards to Paddleboards; notables include the extra-wide 9' Walden Magic (perfect for beginners), the just-added, super-flexy Keahana (perfect for advanced riders), and the 4'11" PufferFish (perfect for Warwick Davis).

Soon, SK plans to expand to snowboards and skateboards, freeing your pad of guilt-inducing clutter, and really opening up some room for your Dance Dance Revolution.