Core Duo Blank
When it comes to surfboard construction there are primarily two options available to shapers: a polyurethane blank (PU) with polyester resin or expanded polystyrene (EPS) and epoxy resin. Many shapers use both types of blanks as there are points for and against both methods of construction. It all depends on the type of surfboard being shaped and for what conditions.
Some surfboard shapers have sought to combine the best of both world by running an EPS core two-thirds of the way up the centre of a PU blank. Whilst this method enjoyed a degree of success, it was recognised that where the EPS section ended within the PU blank could produce a weak point in the board that when surfed in critical conditions could see it snap.
But a new method of construction has arrived – Michael Watkins’ development of the Core Duo blank, combines EPS and PU with Ayous stringers.
"I want to improve surfboard construction and surfing itself by designing products for the future of the sport"
Michael has sought to balance the pros and cons of EPS and PU blanks. The EPS provides buoyancy to get onto small waves, but when the waves pick up and get more powerful, EPS boards don’t want to stay buried. This is a result of the amount of air and buoyancy in the rail causing resistance against the water density pushing it back. The surfer feels this in the back foot; they’re losing connection with the wave.
PU boards, on the other hand, are reliable and strong, allowing the surfer to stay more connected with a wave. With that said, the main shortcoming of a PU board is the stringer. With a standard stringer, a PU board will twist under load. The standard stringer, built from plywood and bent on a knife-edge, will continue to bend and will eventually twist when the surer loads it up, such as in a bottom turn. At this point the stringer starts to flex and absorb energy and then will either twist left to right or vice versa depending on which way the surfer is headed, as opposed to a desired equal flex from nose to tail.
The Core Duo is designed to not twist when it flexes, so the surfer can get controlled and stored energy release and energy flex out of a board, which in turn creates greater propulsion. Rather than compensating for the shortcoming of PU and EPS blanks, the Core Duo has accentuated their strengths and removed and barriers to a heightened performance.
There is a patent pending on the Core Duo Blank (#2023206098)
