Jun 14 2012
Samsara Surfboards has created a stringerless surfboard using Composites Evolution's Biotex Flax Fabric in the place of standard carbon or glass fibre.
Samsara Surfboards - Stringerless Board
According to Samsara, carbon fibre is currently the surfing industry standard reinforcement for stringerless boards. Jason Wiggers, Owner of Samsara, said "Composites Evolution was referred to me by Carbon Fiber Australia. After looking at the Biotex technical data I was impressed."
Samsara, based in Victoria, Australia, pride themselves on producing Australia's most eco-friendly surfboards using the latest materials to create the most environmentally friendly boards they can. All materials used are sustainable and the boards are either precision machined or hand-made.
Wiggers explains "Biotex can be used in the same way as fibreglass or carbon fibre allowing us to do a wet layup directly onto the board, which meant we didn't have to change the process. Biotex cuts the same and, once wetted out, can be applied to the foam in the same way."
Under test, the flax surfboard reportedly performs very well. "The surfboard performs amazingly" says Wiggers. The new design gives you more return in high energy from the board through rapid spring back, so when you do a turn the board is flexing under tension and when you exit the turn the energy is released back to you resulting in ultimate speed" continues Wiggers.
Samsara now plans to do a run of production boards featuring the flax fibre and will be running a competition to find a test rider to sponsor who will assist with honing the design. They will also be experimenting with different surfacing textiles to work with the Biotex; they current use a 6/4 oz fibreglass mat combination but going forwards they expect to change this to a bamboo fabric which is laminated under tension and is significantly lighter.
Brendon Weager, Managing Director of Composites Evolution, said "we are delighted to be working with Samsara because they have a real passion for sustainability and are pushing the boundaries in green surfboard manufacturing. By using Biotex in combination with other eco materials, they have created a product that performs well, looks great and has minimal impact on the environment".