Snowboards – Wakeboards – Skateboards

In the mid 90′s a new concept of surfboard design was introduced and it was to enable surfboards to become lighter, faster, stronger and most importantly, extremely high performing!

Randy French under his shaping label Surftech was producing surfboards like no one else before him. He used a sandwich construction with a number of new experimental materials to bring surfboard design into the 21st century. Two of the main ingredients for this new type of surfboard were the EPS Fused-Cell core and Epoxy Fiberglass that when combined gives the boards their lightweight and ultra strong strength.

Lets take a look and find out what’s so great about this type of surfboard design and what makes it so different to the standard traditional polyester foam and fiberglass surfboards, as well as how they can help your surfing.

Durability – Surftech’s most popular and first creation was the Tuflite, The name speaks for itself, summed up the surfboard is Tough in strength and light in weight. One of the big drawbacks with a standard PU surfboard is the core strength that it has, to give a board ultra high performance its weight is kept to a minimum using 4oz fiberglass cloth. This has a huge effect on the surfboards overall strength and how long it is going to last you. I know personally when I use a PU surfboard on a regular basis I will need to replace it with a new one after about 3 months! This can be a total nightmare and a huge dent to the bank account, especially for the mere mortal un-sponsored everyday surfer. What Surftech surfboards bring to the table is great because not only do you get a surfboard that is going to last you years but also one that is going to perform at a level probably higher than any PU surfboard you have previously owned. This is also great for when you want a new surfboard as Surftech’s hold their value a lot better than traditional boards due to their sheer strength and ability to stay in good condition.

Weight – If you put the question to an old surfer “what would you consider to be one of the most important things when it comes to having a high performance surfboard?” chances are they will tell you weight. If you are riding a heavy surfboard you are going to struggle to do sick moves in surfing like fast snappy turns or busting big airs. One of the standout things you will notice is how difficult you will find it to generate a huge amount of speed with a heavy, sluggish and slow surfboard, generating speed is considered to be a necessary fundamental of surfing waves.

Performance – One of the top things to look out for in a surfboard is this; a board that is going to perform well for you in the waves that you will be hitting on a regular basis. One of the best things about surftech is that they have setup partnerships with some of the greatest surfboard shapers on the planet. The shapers have chosen models that are proven to be very high performing and are their best sellers. Another great advantage with this is with Surftech’s technology they are able to replicate these boards perfectly every time so you know the surfboard you are going to be riding is a proven high performing shape not an experiment gone wrong.

In this world there will always be people who are unsure of something new, but in order for us to progress we must evolve and move one, the same thing goes for surfboards. The beauty of what Surftech are doing is they are taking on and writing the next chapter in the evolution of surfboard design. If you are a surfer who is wanting to become better and really push your surfing to the limit then it really dos pay to have the most advanced top end surfing equipment. Personally I like trying new and different equipment, I find it to be one of the great joys in surfing that you can mix it up so much. Without that ability surfing wouldn’t be as amazing as it is.

Surfing is not necessarily a summer sport. A real surfer will enjoy surfing throughout the freezing winter months just as much as they’ll enjoy basking in the warm summer sun. So long as the water isn’t too choppy the winter months will often provide better waves. There’s also the added bonus the beaches and water will be a lot quieter.

Surfing in your favourite bikini isn’t safe regardless of the time of year. You may look good but if you come off your board or end up getting dragged along the sea bed, you’ll wish you invested in a good wetsuit. Keeping you warm and safe is the main function of any good wetsuit. Any hardcore surfer knows they spend the majority of their time sat on their board waiting for a good wave. If you’re going to be sat out in the sun you may find you’re more comfortable in a wetsuit with shorter sleeves and legs. For colder waters like those of the UK coasts you’ll need to look at about a 7mm thickness. Try and invest in a good brand name wetsuit if you can afford it. Brands like rip curl and Roxy wetsuits are very reputable and you know you’re paying for quality.

If you are looking to buy a wetsuit there are a few things you need to bear in mind. If you feel like your movement are being restricted the chances are it’s too tight. It’s essential that you can move easily as you’ll need to be able to swim in it. The wetsuit needs to keep you warm so if it’s too lose it will let water in and it won’t work. Always buy from a surf clothing specialist who will be able to advise you. A stockist with a large selection of brand is also less likely to push any one particular make. They’ll also be able to help you chose between billabong wetsuits or rip curl wetsuits.