Boards

Learn About Surfboards & Eco-friendly Surfboards

Before 2005, it was uncommon to see (foam) surf boards made of anything except polyurethane and fiberglass. That all changed when Clark Foam, the world’s biggest manufacturer of foam surf board blanks, closed its doors without warning.

Clark’s reasoning for closing was because of environmental and human health concerns. Polyurethane blanks emit VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) and isocyanates. According to the EPA, VOC’s “cause eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; as well as damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Some can cause cancer in animals and some are known to cause cancer in humans.” They also end up in our groundwater, spreading throughout the environment and through our bodies. According to OSHA, isocyanates are “classified as potential human carcinogens and known to cause cancer in animals. The main effects of hazardous exposures are occupational asthma and other lung problems, as well as irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin.” It is obvious that we, as surfers, should be looking for less toxic alternatives. By closing its doors without warning, Clark Foam created a vacuum which needed to be filled. This void created an opportunity for new, less toxic, alternatives to PU blanks to grow in popularity.

The most common alternative to PU boards is EPS foam blanks with epoxy resin. EPS foam releases only 2% of the VOC’s that PU does, and makes for an extremely strong and lightweight board. Traditional PU boards are so fragile, they are practically disposable. Anyone who surfs has caused pressure dings and cracks in their PU board. It’s inevitable. EPS/epoxy boards can take a beating. The most eco-friendly surfboard is one that lasts a long time.

The irony is that surfing is directly dependant on the environment, while the surf industry has become a wasteful, toxic, unsustainable monster. It goes against everything surfing stands for.
Through its lifecycle, it is estimated that a 6’0’’ PU/fiberglass surfboard produces 600lbs of CO2 throughout the processes of production, repairs, and disposal. Producing excess CO2 is bad for surfing in two ways. Climate change will undoubtedly alter every surf break in the world (except rare examples that aren’t in the ocean such as the Great Lakes), due to global sea level rise. Surfers are well aware of the effect that tides have on wave conditions and if the water level rises, breaks will be forever changed. The other major effect CO2 has on surfers is ocean acidification. Through chemical processes, CO2 in the atmosphere decreases the pH of the ocean, causing coral bleaching. When the coral reef dies, a barren wasteland is left behind, where nothing lives. It is beneficial for us, as surfers, to minimize the amount of carbon dioxide we produce. While it may not be viable to sell your car and ride your bike to work, buying boards which aren’t effectively disposable is a great start. As the saying goes, “You don't have to help row the boat, but at least get your freaking oar out of the water while the rest of us row!”

If you’re looking for eco-friendly surfboards, the best surfboard you can buy is a durable one. Epoxy boards are better for the environment in two ways. First of all, the EPS foam blanks are less toxic. Secondly, because of their durability, epoxy surfboards do not need replacing as often as polyurethane/fiberglass boards do. This combination makes the epoxy surfboard design an environmentally friendly option. Envirosurfer has collaborated with Avila surfboards, by Mauricio Avila, based out of San Diego to bring you that alternative.

The 6’0” bulldog is the perfect summer board. It was designed with a lower entry rocker, and a deep concave in the center that transitions into a double concave through the tail. Avila bulldogs are super versatile, being ideal surfboards for beginners because they are easy to ride, while that same attribute makes for a board that can be ripped hard in smaller surf.

If you’re looking for custom surfboards, Envirosurfer has you covered with our custom made boards by Avila. Despite their revered production surfboard designs, some people just can’t find what their looking for in the surfboard shop and need to tell the shaper exactly what their looking for. Mauricio Avila makes everything from great beginner surfboards to high performance designs. If you’re ready to try one of our custom boards, go ahead and fill out the order sheet and let us know exactly what you’re looking for. Satisfaction is inevitable.