Surfboard construction has come a long way since the days of wooden boards. Foam blanks were introduced in the 1950’s and revolutionized Surfboard construction. In the last few years, space age technologies have begun to re-revolution surfboard construction. Below is a breakdown of some of the most popular types of construction in use today.
Polyester is the traditional type of Surfboard construction in use since the 1950’s. A shaped polyurethane blank is glassed by hand using fiberglass cloth and polyester resin. several layers of resin are applied to the board before it is sanded and given it’s final finish. These boards simply feel good, look clean and ride unreal.
Epoxy Surfboards are made with either an EPS (Expanded Styrene) or an XPS (Extruded Polystyrene) blank. The EPS blank is a beaded foam which is much like those found in beer coolers. It is an open cell foam that absorbs water like a sponge if exposed to water. The Extruded blank has a closed cell core and is much more resistant to compression and damage. Fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin are used to hand glass the blank. The glassed blank is then finished in the traditional method. Using epoxy resins create a more lightweight durable board.
SLXC Epoxy pioneered by Global Surf, the SLXC features a stringerless carbon railed blank which is glassed using vacuum bag technology. The combination of stringer removal, carbon biaxial rails and biaxial deck fibers helps keep the surfboard from twisting in a turn keeping the flex from nose to tail. This makes the board feel very responsive and alive under your feet.
Future Flex, another technology pioneered by Global, the blank is a high density EPS. The key to the flex pattern is the parabolic carbon fiber frame constructed with the laminate. The carbon fiber frame is designed to maximize speed and drink while maintain a flex pattern that flows in the wave.
Carbon Vector
Carbon Vector (CV) construction delivers unmatched performance by harnessing the flex characteristics of epoxy and the strength of carbon. CV combines a stringerless, high-density custom shaped EPS core laminated with biaxial fiberglass, epoxy resin and a distinctive carbon fiber webbing, (positioned on the bottom and around the rails).
The carbon fiber webbing serves to evenly distribute tension across the entire surface area of the board to produce a lively, yet controlled flex pattern with remarkable memory recall. The biaxial fiberglass on the deck serves to add strength and also help prevent delaminating. CV boards feel fast, light and highly responsive in all conditions.
Created by GSI to compliment a range of board models and designs, this construction has proven to have superior flex properties over our other board technologies by up to 20%.
CARBON WRAP TECHNOLOGY
CARBON WRAP™ Is a patented surfboard technology, structurally engineered for optimum flex and performance. Originally created by Gold Coast surfboard manufacturer, Dan MacDonald, to be light weight without sacrificing strength and provide #nextlevel performance. Carbon Wrap eliminates the standard wooden stringer, alters traditional flex principles and re-envisions the way a surfboard’s flex patterns are created and controlled. Ultra-light, EPS cores are “wrapped” in an exoskeleton of strategically positioned, carbon fiber bands. Aligned together at the nose, they gradually curve outward towards the rails. The curve creates and controls a unique torsional flex that livens up as it nears the tail, just in front of the fins. The carbon then “wraps” from the bottom, around the rails and onto the deck. This unique method creates Carbon Wrap’s lively flex that loads and releases…resulting in nextlevel speed and drive. Running along the rails, on the deck, the carbon acts as a rear foot power point, (increasing drive and control) and a patch to minimize pressure denting. Using optically brightened epoxy resin, the boards are encased with a proprietary composite of fiberglass and our exclusive carbon deck inlay, which is strategically positioned to add fast re-flex memory under the surfer’s stance and allow subtle, natural deck caving around the arch of the front foot. By tapering the carbon into long, pointed ends, forward and aft, the flex blends out naturally towards the nose and tail. A full layer of 45degree “X-Glass”, encases the deck. The X-Glass’s flat, bi-axel weave dramatically adds strength without rigidity, or excess weight and allows the board to maintain flex while alleviating crease points created by standard, 90degree fiberglass. The 45degree weave radiates foot pressure outward, directly connecting the foot to a longer section of the rail, adding greater edge control. CARBON WRAP TECHNOLOGY: Lightweight, without sacrificing strength. Increases drive and provides and unique and lightning fast re-flex effect, propelling your surfing into the #nextlevel of performance.
FLEXBAR TECHNOLOGY
Introducing patented Flexbar technology by Channel Islands and Barron Flex. Flex, rebound, and resonance all play a role in how your board works. Harnessing and controlling these will take board performance to the next level. The Flexbar optimizes the energy and spring derived from both longitudinal and torsional tail flex in your surfboard by refining and focusing these forces under the back foot. Utilizing a combination of alternating foam densities and fiberglass through the entire board, Flexbar finally allows the surfer to feel and use the energy in your board through maneuvers. All surfboards will eventually lose their “pop” and begin to feel dead, Flexbar maintains the optimum flex pattern through the life of your board. All of this backed up by a one year warranty against breaking (read the warranty HERE), Flex-bar technology is the ultimate in performance
Spine-Tek
Channel Islands is proud to announce our collaboration with Shapers Australia to launch SPINE-TEK; a precision engineered stringer spine utilizing a unique composition of fiberglass and resin. SPINE-TEK is based on the principles of elastic energy, to flex under pressure and then return the surfboard back to its natural rocker, providing surfboards with a more lively and responsive feel.
Performance through innovation, SPINE-TEK® is a world’s first with its unique fiber-based composition, delivers optimal flex based performance through the principles of elastic & kinetic energy. Through this process the surfboard loads up on energy and then releases, generating additional drive, speed, power & flow.
Weighing a mere ¼ of a pound and installed in the surfboard deck, SPINE-TEK replaces the traditional heavier timber stringers and is virtually break free.