By their powers combined, they are Captain Planet! Indestructible and eco-conscious? AND made in America? That sounds damn near perfect. Lib Tech and …Lost recently partnered up to combine their years and years of snow- and surf-board mastery to create a wave-catching machine that offers outsized controle without any distracting concerns surrounding its durability.
…Lost founder Mike Biolos offered up his reasonings for forming the partnership: “Since I first saw Lib Tech’s ECO ISO construction, I wanted to build a board with it. The strength to weight ratio, eco minded materials and techniques, and the fact that this tech was being built in the USA was incredibly interesting to me. I am stoked that the time has finally come and hope people enjoy riding them as we have enjoyed building them.”
Lib Tech founder Mike Olson added his own thoughts: “I have been working with alternative environmentally safer, high performance surf construction all my life…our ECO ISO construction process is much healthier for the craftsmen while at the same time using more environmentally friendly materials and having incredible durability. We are so stoked that Matt took notice of what we are doing up in the northern corner of the USA near Canada, we couldn’t imagine a better partner.”
How is the board indestructible and eco-conscious? It it built relying on ECO ISO construction, which guarantees that the board is both technologically tougher as well as environmentally nicer. Lib Tech provides a granular breakdown of what that all means.
Thirty years in the making Lib Tech’s new phase 3 ECO-ISO construction pushes performance, durability, environmental materials and process too new levels. At the heart of the board is Nitrogencell foam that is loaded with nitrogen and has engineered elongated cell structure for maximum compression strength and energy return. Nitrogenecell will not absorb water and is 25%-40% recycled material and we recycle 100% of the offcuts into new foam. Hexzylon Fiberfoam surface skin greatly enhances ding resistance break strength while adding a silky smooth ride. Basalt fiber chosen for it’s high strength properties and vibration absorption is placed directly beneath the Hexszylon adding strength and performance. All this is fused using a unique resin matrix that bridges the gap between polyester and epoxy…the best qualities of a new polyester with the lifespan of an epoxy. Lib Techs all come with our Freedom of Choice FOC 5/8” for and aft adjustable fin system; the lightest and toughest fin box system on the market. Fits many two tab systems and some solid base fin brands.
How did Ian Crane — who tested the board out — like it? For him, it was the perfect small wave board, fast and skippy, as well as ideal for those small days when he doesn’t like to wear a leash but also doesn’t want to worry about dings and whatnot from the rocky coastline.
Want more pro reactions? Here is a video of Ryan Carlson, the aerial legend from Huntington Beach, taking a few turns on the Puddle Jumper as well.
For more information on the Puddle Jumper, check out the website.
