A few weeks ago, we had a look at the main differences between the most common constructions found in surfboards. Today, we’re going to take a look at the different construction methods widely available and what they will do to your board’s performance.
Future Flex
Future Flex consists of parabolic carbon reinforced rails, combined with a high density EPS blank and very high quality epoxy resin and quad-axial cloth. The blend of these materials translates into a very lively feeling board with lots of projection. The flex and spring back effect of the board gives you a ton of drive and speed.
This type of construction has a unique spring back due to the minimal twisting that can happen in other constructions, helping to store and release energy more efficiently. They have a slightly different feel than boards with a stringer under your feet, but once you get used to it, you learn to feel through the board better. The Haydenshapes Hypto Krypto is often ordered in this construction.
Hydroflex
Hydroflex 3D Glassing is a specific method that virtually eliminates the chances of de-lamination of the skin (fiberglass and resin) from the core (foam). They have found a way to anchor the skin into the core instead of it just sitting on top of it. This does more than just eliminate delam–it also results in an extremely lively and responsive feel to your board.
Hydroflex boards use a high quality epoxy resin which is stronger and more flexible and polyester, and gives you a better spring back while being less prone to cracking or delamination. These boards keep their youthful exuberance much longer than most constructions.
Carbon Wrap Technology
Carbon Wrap Technology, exclusive to DMS and Lost boards in Australia (for now), is again a stringerless blank with the strategic placement of carbon bands on and around the board.
By wrapping these carbon strips around certain areas of the board, you get a feeling of surfing a board with a lot of “pop.” Flaring the carbon out towards the rail and wrapping it around allows the board to use its torsional twist and translates it to a superior flex, giving you more drive when coming out of turns.
Image: Formula Energy
USC Construction
USC Construction, or “Ultra Stringerless Carbon” construction may be similar to other parabolic carbon boards, but really sets itself apart with the unique blend of materials and placement of the carbon.
With USC, you are using a stringerless blank, but a PU blank instead of EPS. The carbon is also laid around the perimeter, but more on the deck instead of wrapping under the rails.
The PU blank gives you that familiar feel we all know and love, while the parabolic carbon layout adds more speed, drive and flex. Combined with a unique bio- polyester resin, these boards lower their carbon footprint while giving you a board you can feel comfortable on as soon as you jump in it.
SUPERbrand Surfboards’ The Fling with SUPERflex technology.
SUPERflex
SUPERflex uses a high quality stingerless blank with a carbon netting along the bottom of the board and carbon reinforced rails. A unique feel in itself, the technology has a superior flex pattern with a quick release for your high performance surfing.
Varial Foam
The technology behind Varial Foam may be new to the surf industry, but it has been used in aerospace and automotive applications for quite some time now, from rocket ships to race cars.
This unique foam has a tighter cell structure and a consistent density throughout, and can be used with either polyester or epoxy resins. The strength of the foam actually requires no stinger or any other type of reinforcement other than glassing your boards as you normally would.
Maybe a small carbon strip for big wave guns to stiffen it up a bit, but for everyday surfing, you’re set. It is very lightweight with a great flex and spring back unlike anything you have felt before. Now really starting to make its impact into our beloved industry, you can add this to you options between PU and EPS as your core. All the constructions above have patents on how they are constructed, but not the individual materials themselves. With that said, there is still a lot of room for experimentation using and combining these materials.
All of the technology above have patents, but there are million-and-one different options that you can use:
Carbon Tape
Carbon tape can be used in many ways. Throw it down the center of a board, either on the top, the bottom, or both, and help stiffen up a board that might be too flexible for its intended purpose, or just to simple add strength for a longer lasting board.
You commonly see strips of it on top of the rails at the tail to help prevent the deck from crushing when doing powerful bottom turns when pushing from your heels or toes. Or, like mentioned numerous times above, around the perimeter or wrapped around the board in specific ways to help control flex. The possibilities are endless.
Vector Net
Vector Net is a woven carbon fiber netting that resembles diamond shaped patterns. It’s a great way to help reinforce your board while keeping weight down. You can also use this to alter flex patterns or provide longevity for heavy footed surfers.
Bamboo
Bamboo acts as a great alternative to carbon fiber. A great replacement when you are trying to create a more sustainable surfboard.
Usually found on epoxy boards, bamboo is generally a thin skin over the blank which can then be glassed over. This also helps to reduce the amount of fiberglass and resin needed, again adding to the sustainability of your board while keeping performance levels up.
Cork
Cork is also a unique alternative usually found in epoxy constructions. The cork can help to dampen the twitchy feeling you can have on an epoxy board, and there is almost no need to wax.
Vacuum bagged to the deck of the board that has already been lightly glass, the cork remains exposed, giving you a unique feel under foot and in performance. Added bonus: No more wax on you car seat.
Stringerless Blanks with No Reinforcement
Going stringerless all together can result in a super fun board. It really allows you to feel the wave through the board, giving you more of a feeling of riding with the wave instead of surfing on the wave. Sometimes found with retro inspired fish designs to help bend, flex, and project you around on mushy days.
Using this method on longboards gives you a totally unique flex pattern when surfing from different parts of the board like from the nose, the middle of the board or off the tail.
Most of these can be found on certain brands throughout Boardcave, but there are many more patented and patent pending designs floating around in the surf world that we have not even touched on.
Just like everything else surfboard related, there is an endless combination of designs, materials, constructions and methods that can be played with and have yet to be found still.
That’s what we love the most about surfboards: the best is yet to come, and the possibilities are endless. Surfboards will always continue to evolve!
This was originally posted on Boardcave.com Check them out on Facebook and Instagram pages and don’t forget to try out their surfboard volume calculator.
