Construction Guide
Stringered EPS
Epoxy construction, built for everyday speed.
After years of R&D developing and refining EPS constructions, we've come full circle. We stripped the construction back to the basics: foam, a timber stringer, resin and fibreglass on the deck. And it’s the best materials combo we’ve found yet.
Now available across select DHD models.
The Construction
How It's Built
Plenty of brands are building EPS again. Not many will tell you what they wrap it in.
We went back to basics after years of R&D. EPS foam, a full-length timber stringer, epoxy resin, and 160g biaxial fibreglass laminated onto the deck. The glass is the part that does the work most people don't see.
01
The Glass Job
Biaxial cloth is stitched, not woven. The fibres run straight and sit at 45 degrees across the board, so they take load the moment your weight goes on and spring straight back. A standard woven cloth has to pull itself flat before it stiffens, which is why a lot of light boards feel sharp for a month and dead after that. Biax is what keeps the deck springy under your back foot deep into the board's life.
02
The EPS Core
A shaped EPS blank makes the board lighter and more buoyant, and it sits higher in soft water. Same DHD outlines, same volumes, same sizes as the PU.
03
The Timber Stringer
A timber stringer runs the full length. It dampens the chatter you get in wind and bump, and it gives the board the flex pattern of a stringered PU board rather than the twitchy feel of a stringerless EPS.
Together they make a board that's light and lively without giving up control. Not a small-wave board with a caveat. A board that works on the days you actually get.
Shop the EPS Series
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Construction FAQ
Common Questions
EPS/epoxy construction has excellent strength-to-weight characteristics and epoxy resin is generally more impact and pressure-resistant than polyester resin. Like any surfboard, an EPS board can still ding, dent or break.
Yes, our EPS construction makes the board lighter and gives it a springy, responsive feel underfoot. If you know how a DHD model rides in PU, the EPS version will feel lighter and livelier.
The EPS Series covers a select range of our most popular DHD shapes. You can see the current EPS models above.
Want a different DHD model in EPS construction? Get in touch with us about a custom order.
Want a different DHD model in EPS construction? Get in touch with us about a custom order.
EPS boards must be repaired using epoxy resin. Do not use standard polyester resin, as it can chemically attack and melt the EPS foam. If you're unsure about the repair, or the damage is more than a small ding, take it to an experienced surfboard repairer.
EPS isn't the right construction for every board we make. Different models are designed for different types of waves and surfing — step-ups, for example, are designed for more critical conditions and benefit from the characteristics of a traditional PU construction.
For the EPS Series, we've selected the models where we believe our EPS construction offers the biggest performance benefit.
For the EPS Series, we've selected the models where we believe our EPS construction offers the biggest performance benefit.
Yes. One of the biggest advantages of EPS/epoxy construction is its lower weight. The exact weight difference will vary depending on the board's size and glassing schedule.
No. The volume is the same.
The EPS Series uses the same sizing and volume as the corresponding PU models. The difference is the construction, not the design. The EPS core makes the board feel more buoyant and responsive, but we don't add volume.
The EPS Series uses the same sizing and volume as the corresponding PU models. The difference is the construction, not the design. The EPS core makes the board feel more buoyant and responsive, but we don't add volume.
Yes — particularly in very small or weak surf.
The EPS foam core is more buoyant than PU, giving the board more lift and helping it sit higher in the water. Combined with the lighter, livelier feel of EPS/epoxy construction, this can help the board generate speed and maintain momentum when the waves are weak.
The EPS foam core is more buoyant than PU, giving the board more lift and helping it sit higher in the water. Combined with the lighter, livelier feel of EPS/epoxy construction, this can help the board generate speed and maintain momentum when the waves are weak.
No. Avoid leaving your EPS board in the sun for long periods of time whenever possible.
EPS/epoxy boards are more sensitive to excessive heat than traditional PU/polyester boards. Don't leave your board sitting in direct sunlight or inside a hot car for extended periods.
When storing, we recommend keeping it in a shaded, cool place.
EPS/epoxy boards are more sensitive to excessive heat than traditional PU/polyester boards. Don't leave your board sitting in direct sunlight or inside a hot car for extended periods.
When storing, we recommend keeping it in a shaded, cool place.
Choose EPS if you want a lighter, more buoyant and livelier feel, particularly if you surf a lot of smaller or weaker waves.
Choose PU if you prefer the familiar weight and flex of a traditional PU surfboard, particularly in more powerful or critical surf.
Choose PU if you prefer the familiar weight and flex of a traditional PU surfboard, particularly in more powerful or critical surf.