§ 01 — Materials
The material
makes the glide.
Foam, resin, cloth, wood. A board is an assembly of choices — each one commits weight, flex and lifespan.
§ 02 — Material glossary
The vocabulary of materials
There is no "best" material, only right matches between a programme, a surfer and a wave. The PU / polyester pairing remains the reference of traditional shaping; EPS / epoxy wins small waves and high volumes.
The historic blank. Even density, lively flex, easy repair. Glassed with polyester. The reference of traditional shaping.
Lighter and more buoyant than PU, glassed with epoxy. Ideal for small-wave boards and high volumes. Stiffer, livelier.
Fast to work, glossy finish, controlled cost. The classic pairing with PU foam. Strong smell, less flexible than epoxy.
Stronger and lighter for the same strength, less toxic. Required over EPS. Makes a more durable board, often a touch stiffer.
The wood strip running through the blank. It gives rigidity, drive and flex return. Can be multiple, offset, or absent in some builds.
The cloth laminated over the foam. Measured in ounces (4 oz, 6 oz): heavier = stronger but less alive. The dosage makes the board.
Localised reinforcement (carbon) or eco alternative (flax) to stiffen or lighten without excess resin. A matter of programme and flex.
The raw foam block a board is born from, with its pre-formed rocker. The shaper works from there to cut foil and outline.
These materials only make sense once cut: it's the craft that shapes them, and the board family that dictates the right choices. The rest of the technical vocabulary is gathered in the glossary.
Which build for which board?
See board types