Why Materials Matter
A surfboard isn’t just foam shaped into a curve—it’s a carefully balanced construction of core, stringer, fiberglass, and resin. Each material influences how strong, light, and responsive your board feels. Understanding the basics helps you appreciate why one board feels lively while another feels heavy or stiff.
What Surfboards Are Made Of
- Core (foam blank): Traditionally polyurethane (PU) foam—light and easy to shape, but weak under pressure and prone to water absorption. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is lighter and stronger, but trickier to shape and more commonly used in mass production.
- Stringer: A strip of wood running nose to tail that adds strength and controls flex. Width and type of wood (balsa, cedar, basswood) change how stiff the board feels.
- Skin (fiberglass + resin): Fiberglass cloth is layered over the foam and hardened with resin. Polyester resin is cheap and easy but brittle and UV-sensitive; epoxy resin is stronger, bonds better, and resists yellowing—though it’s more expensive.
- Glass weight: 4 oz vs 6 oz cloth changes durability and board feel. More layers mean stronger boards, but also add weight.
The result is a balance between strength, flex, weight, and cost. Shapers adjust these variables depending on whether the board is for performance shortboarding, big waves, or everyday surfing.
How TRAX Helps You Compare Boards
Different materials feel different under your feet—but which ones actually improve your surfing? TRAX gives you data on speed, paddle efficiency, and responsiveness across boards built with PU, EPS, polyester, or epoxy. That way, you don’t have to rely on guesswork or marketing claims—you’ll know which construction really performs best for you.
Related Reading
- Frustrated With Your Surfing? Good. That Means You’re Ready to Grow.
- How to Catch More Waves (Without Just Paddling Harder)
- Don’t Paddle In After Your Best Wave — Do This Instead
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