Das Surfboard Goes Green?

Germany has a long history of high quality design, engineering, and manufacturing, but surfing technology? Germany is not what we normally think of when we think surfboards. Well, enter ‘Bufo’ Brauers, a German surfboard shaper, who has created a surfboard blank, the HydroFlex, that may revolutionize surfboard construction and technology.

After many years of research, starting way back in 1998, Brauers has been developing his ideas for flexible surfboard blanks. The result was the ‘bionic’ surfboard construction process that won a prestigious IF-Award in 2005, one of the world’s most prestigious international design awards. After the award, Volkswagen invited Brauers to Wolfsburg and enabled him to produce his revolutionary blanks in Germany, at the VW manufacturing facility.

“Nature is the best designer,” Brauers believes, and his ideas for a flexible, responsive blank came from studying natural movements and experimenting with natural materials. He never believed in the EPS foam used in traditional epoxy blanks, as EPS absorbs water too easily and lacks shear strength. Eventually he developed foam that is strong, recyclable, and doesn’t absorb much water – a unique, natural construction that enables the fastest flex pattern possible. Flex is very important, and the HydroFlex blanks don’t lose their pop even after years of hard surfing. The blanks produce an amazingly strong, better performing surfboard, and because they use mostly recycled materials, the blanks are very environmentally friendly. They’re very light and stay light even after getting damaged – the blank does not suck water at all.

Today, some of the best shapers in the world, including Lost Surfboards’ Matt Biolos and Timmy Patterson of TPatterson surfboards, are using their customized designs with the HydroFlex technology, enabling them to produce magic boards to the weight, size, and preference of the individual surfer. The HydroFlex design team removed all materials that suck in water such as EPS, wood, and PU, and instead replaced it with their patented bionic process, which enables the surfer to inject air, as much as seven PSI, for the stiffest flex, or less air for more flex. Because the air naturally repels water, the blank stays drier longer, resulting in a surfboard that keeps its lively feel for years of use.

Tom Curren and Chris Ward are among the many converts to the new technology, and if you’re interested, (I know I can’t wait to ride one), feel free to stop by our Killer Dana shop in Dana Point to take a look at a custom TPatterson hydroflex board, and maybe you’ll be ready to join the revolution!!

-GW