Talk:Surftech

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Hello - I think the description of the performance of Surftech boards is not accurate and should be changed. I have been surfing most of the time since around 1958 in northern California and Hawaii and have ridden balsa longboards, and countless long and shortboards constructed of polyurethane foam and resin. I have also ridden a Surftech epoxy longboard for 5-years, while continuing to ride several high performance custom boards made from polyurethan and resin. There are performance differences to be sure, and these depend a lot on the type of board and conditions it is being used in. The epoxy boards are not as good for nose riding in point break types of waves. They aren't heavy enough and don't have the forward drive of the more traditional boards. But in the high performance long board category, the Surftech epoxy boards (and some of the other molded boards) are the best thing out there - they are much lighter and turn and accelerate faster.

There are several reasons they are not ridden by more top surfers. One is the aesthetic appeal - the painted finish of molded epoxy boards does not measure up to the attractiveness of traditional boards. There is little variation in appearance - they are mass produced and the paint jobs on many of them is unattractive. Further, there is an appreciation of the handcrafted character of traditional boards. Surfers like the idea that someone, struggling at a labor of love, made this beautiful custom board, just for him or her. But the traditional surfboard manufacturing industry is terrified that their livelihood will be ruined - and it may be, by increasing public use of the mass produced epoxy boards. So, they generate a lot of hype, myth and fiction about the epoxy boards. One myth is contained in your article above - that epoxy boards snap in larger waves - supposedly more easily or frequently than poly boards. They are stiffer, and may well "pop" clean through when at the breaking point. But they are much stronger and are much less likely to break - or it takes a lot more impact to reach that point. The poly boards now that are lightweight for higher performance are extremely weak, often with only single layers of 6 ounce or 10 ounce fiberglass cloth. They commonly wind up with stretch cracks all over the bottom and fail prematurely if they do not break outright in powerful waves.

The traditional manufacturers also give free boards (longbaords and shortboards) to their "team" riders or to professional surfers as an advertising strategy. The pro's trash the poly boards sometimes in a few months, but that is not reported, and they of course don't care.

Another fable is the benefit of "flex" in longboards. The poly boards flex, and we have gotten use to that feel over the last 10 or 15 years. But, the softer flexible feel, in my opinion has nothing to offer performance. Board are shaped with design elements built in - that cannot work if the shape of the rocker is altered through flexing. I know some top shapers and riders swear by "flex" but I think it is bunk. Saying a board that flexes and bends in hard bottom turns shoots you out onto the face of the wave like a whipcord is like saying flexible sports car frames would produce faster cornering sports cars. That of course is not the case, and tons of research and development are expended in stiffening high performance cars. Same thing for fast sailing dingies. For years I owned and raced International 14 sailboats - a light stiff hull is part of the winning formula.

I notice that most of the epoxy long boards are being ridden by old guys like me. They cost significantly more money initially than a poly board. Many of these guys and gals are not beginners or novices, but choose epoxy boards because they have grown tired of the fragility of the poly boards.

Bill Farrel, Monterey Bay California — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.54.204.140 (talk) 22:10, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

Surftech surfboards
Good day to you

Some of the statements made in the main article are definitely untrue and I'd like to add to the (correct and well informed) comments made by Bill. Firstly the Surftech surfboards are not mainly ridden by novices or beginners as they are too costly as a starter or first-time board. Also the vast majority of buyers have owned several boards before and know enough about board design and construction to make an informed decision about which one of the hundreds of Surftech models they will invest in.

Secondly, the statement made about their use by pro surfers is misleading, creating the impression that they are shunned by the pro community. The pros go through boards the same way a pro golfer goes through balls or a professional guitarist goes through strings. Al Merrick stated in an interview that he will shape around 30 boards for Kelly Slater, of which after trying them out Mr Slater will use only 2 or 3 a year. The Surftech boards are made to last. Also, the pros generally ride "zero tolerance" boards, shaped for limited use in very specific conditions.

The Surftech products are great, as are the Firewires, Hydro Epics, Avisos etc. and as always a custom from your local shaper. They're all choices available to consumers and should be such without any malicious stigmas attached.

Sullendaze (talk) 18:38, 10 December 2007 (UTC)

What, if any, is the difference?
Peter Horn 01:16, 14 February 2008 (UTC)
 * polystyrene
 * polysterene