Old school flex / New school strength

Through new construction techniques and materials, surfboard design has taken a turn for the better in the last few years. But with all the new companies producing a myriad of diff erent methods of manufacturing our sticks, it’s easy to get lost in all the technology. The most important thing to know is that the foam situation has changed. Partly due to Clark Foam’s industry shaking closure, and partly due to new materials being accessible to the public, traditional Polyurethane foam has been one-upped by a new kid on the block, Expanded Poly Styrene, or EPS foam. And one thing that’s clear is that Santa Cruz’s Surftech is the industry leader in this EPS foam revolution.

We decided to go to the source of this revolution by contacting the Product Development Director at Surftech and getting the low down on the production process, its environmental benefi ts, and the overall performance characteristics that EPS foam boards enjoy over their foam counterparts.

First off, can you explain how all your products are easier on the environment that PU foam?
Sure. There are four key elements that make our boards better for the environment.

Durability/ Longevity Surftech boards are considered upwards of 5x stronger than their polyester counterparts. While no board is indestructible, the increased strength of the board means snapped surfboards are far less common with Surftechs. Additionally, being less susceptible to water damage or deck delaminating leads to lifetimes unheard of for a standard poly board. The result: Less waste fi lling up space at local landfills.

Quality of Materials (EPS) foam signifi cantly out performs polyurethane foam as a green alternative. TDI (toxin) free, EPS is a non-corrosive, non-toxic and recyclable material.

Epoxy resin vs. Polyester resin VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) including toluene, styrene, xylene and acetone are a component of the surfboard glassing process that continues to be a concern for the environment. Epoxy resin has about 75% fewer VOCs than polyester resin, and about two-thirds fewer VOCs are released into the atmosphere when it cures.

Production methods By molding our blanks, there is virtually no excess foam unused. Carefully calculated amounts of EPS in a beaded format are poured into exact tolerance molds to be “pressure molded” to the desired dimensions. Glassing of Surftech boards is done in a large facility where multiple boards are continually worked on in unison. Because of this system little to no glass is wasted. The glass and resin that is trimmed in the glassing process is reused in building fin boxes, fiberglass longboard fi ns or recycled in other areas of our factory.

What are the differences between TL2 and Tuflite models?
The major difference is the outer high density foam used in the two constructions. This is the layer that greatly aff ects the flex and response characteristics of each board. The Flex characteristic of TL2’s are designed to better refl ect the patterns seen in a NEW Poly board (Poly boards tend to soften over time/use). TL2’s retain the same fl ex and response they have the fi rst day ridden throughout the lifetime of the board!

Explain the benefits of TL2 products as opposed to other PU and Epoxy surfboards.
TL2’s are a sandwich construction. In the simplest terms, we can use an exceptionally low density(super light) foam for our core because the core is completely wrapped in a layer of super strong high density foam that is sandwiched between layers of epoxy and glass. This gives the board superior strength, while remaining very light. As discussed above, this construction is also how we get the fl ex characteristics we are after. Because of the strength of the sandwich wrap, we do not use wood stringers. Wood stringers are a popular debate, but in our testing and experience they are an area of inconsistency in relation to fl ex and strength. Our full sandwich rail provides a better flex pattern that retains its consistency over time instead of softening.

When Did Surftech start producing boards?
Randy has been involved in Surfboard shaping since the 70’s, but Surftech started with a small selection of Wood Veneer boards in 1989.

When did Surftech start TL2 technology?
TL2 technology is really new. We started with a small range of models from Randy, really getting them under various people’s feet in the industry. The response was so resoundingly positive that in the summer of last year we began working with a selection of our existing shaping partners to off er models for their respective pro riders. The initial run was with JC as Shane Dorian and John Carper worked closely on developing the TL2. We then expanded with models including Josh Kerr models from Rusty, Timmy Reyes models from Patterson, Fletcher and Josh Mulcoy models from Stretch, Pancho Sullivan models designed by Bushman and some Byrne models designed to represent the boards being ridden by his team including Phil Macdonald. All these boards are aimed at off ering professional surfers the design and feel of their favorite board with longevity that far exceeds what they currently ride. We are bringing some new models to the market which should off er a wider range of advanced surfers’ board models suited to their dimensions.

Explain the SurfTech Demo Centers and how someone can take one for a test drive.
Demo centers are the greatest, most underutilized project we off er through our partnership with retailers. You can try models and make sure they work for you before buying! No better way to guarantee that you are stoked on your new board. It also gives people a chance to try boards that they were otherwise afraid to buy. I can’t tell you how many times people come back after riding a board with channels or different hips that they might never have bought, claiming them as the best board they ever rode. Select retailers all over the country off er demo centers and their info can be found at surftech.com.