PU Surf Technology

Key features:

  • Premium materials: Bennett Australian Blanks, polyester resin, fiberglass, Single Tab fin boxes. Every material is selected to meet our exact design requirements.
  • This is the original and most prestigious construction used by master shapers. It delivers an unmatched feel on the water and remains the benchmark for high performance surfers.
  • 100% polyester resin construction over a 50 kg/m³ Bennett polyurethane foam blank.
  • Premium 3 mm to 5 mm wooden stringer to prevent flex-related deformation.
  • Deck layup: 2 layers of 6 oz fiberglass.
  • Bottom layup: 2 layers of 4 oz + 6 oz fiberglass, or 2 x 6 oz depending on the board.
  • Reinforcements: large 4 oz fiberglass patch covering the tail and fin box area.
  • CNC pre-shaped, checked against traditional templates, then finished entirely by hand.
  • Matte finish for better glide, improved scratch resistance and a competition-inspired look.
  • Easy to repair after impacts, especially with UV-curing polyester resin.
  • Hydrophobic foam blank that does not absorb water if the board is damaged.
  • Every board is 100% shaped and glassed in our factory in Asia, using the exact methods developed in France and refined through testing around the world.
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PU Surf Technology in Detail

PU construction is the historical benchmark for high performance surfboards. It combines polyester resin with a polyurethane foam blank and a central wooden stringer. This is the most traditional construction, the one that shaped the feel of modern shortboards and remains the preferred choice of many demanding surfers.

The 50 kg/m³ Bennett polyurethane foam blank provides greater density and places more mass at the heart of the board. This creates a very distinctive feel: smoother, more composed and more connected to the wave. The board naturally absorbs surface chatter, forgives small mistakes more easily and maintains exceptional composure at high speed.

The 3 mm to 5 mm wooden stringer reinforces the board along its entire length. It helps prevent excessive flex, works in harmony with the natural flex characteristics of the PU blank and delivers the smooth, progressive rebound that defines this construction. Compared with EPS, the flex is less reactive but more organic, fluid and confidence inspiring, especially through committed turns.

The polyester resin and fiberglass layup is carefully engineered to achieve the ideal balance of strength, weight, flex and feel. The deck features 2 layers of 6 oz fiberglass to withstand repeated foot pressure. The bottom uses either 4 oz + 6 oz fiberglass or 2 x 6 oz, depending on the board, allowing the construction to be optimized for each shape and intended use.

A large 4 oz fiberglass reinforcement patch strengthens the tail and fin box area. This section of the board is subjected to the greatest loads: back foot pressure, torsional forces during turns, stresses around the fin boxes and occasional impacts. The reinforcement increases durability without compromising the board's natural feel.

Every board begins with CNC pre-shaping to ensure absolute consistency in volume distribution, rocker, bottom contours and overall outlines. But shaping a surfboard goes far beyond machine work. Each board is then checked against traditional templates before being finished entirely by hand, ensuring perfectly refined rails, seamless transitions and the touch of a true master shaper.

The matte finish reflects the board's performance-oriented DNA. It offers a clean, understated appearance, is less prone to showing scratches and highlights the purity of the shape. It is a practical, no-nonsense finish designed for serious surfing.

PU construction is also easy to repair after impacts using the appropriate polyester repair systems or UV-curing polyester resin. The polyurethane blank itself is hydrophobic, meaning it does not absorb water if the board is damaged, reducing the risk of long-term issues when repairs are carried out promptly.

On the water, PU delivers a board that feels smooth, composed and exceptionally connected to the wave face. While it offers less instant rebound than an EPS construction, it provides outstanding speed control, inspires confidence when engaging the rails and remains remarkably stable in fast or powerful surf.

It is the preferred choice of surfers who favour deep rail engagement, clean lines, high speed control and the timeless feel of a classic high performance surfboard. Rather than generating explosive rebound, PU delivers smooth, flowing turns with exceptional continuity.

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How to Choose Between PU and EPS?

Choosing between PU and EPS is not simply a matter of surfing ability. It depends primarily on the conditions you surf, the feel you're looking for and how you want your board to respond under your feet.

A PU board naturally has more inertia thanks to its denser foam blank. That extra mass provides excellent stability as speed builds. In powerful waves, long walls or hollow surf, it helps the board hold its line, smooth out acceleration and remain composed. The faster you go, the more this added inertia becomes an advantage.

That same inertia is also valuable in windy or choppy conditions. While a lighter board tends to react to every movement of the water's surface, a PU board filters out much of that disturbance. It stays more connected to the wave, feels more stable underfoot and delivers a smoother, more predictable ride.

An EPS board, on the other hand, prioritizes light weight and responsiveness. It requires less effort to accelerate, generates speed more easily and transitions from rail to rail with exceptional quickness. In clean, smaller waves where the surfer needs to create speed, this liveliness becomes a real advantage. The board reacts instantly to every input, making it easy to link manoeuvres with very little inertia.

Because of its lower inertia, it is primarily the surfer, rather than the board's own weight, that positions the board on the wave. The feeling is more direct, more responsive and more dynamic.

The trade-off is that this light weight can become less comfortable as conditions become rougher. In choppy or windy surf, an EPS board follows the movement of the water more closely and may feel slightly more lively beneath your feet. Maintaining clean, precise lines therefore requires greater accuracy and commitment from the rider.

In short, choose PU if you're looking for maximum stability, confidence at high speed and a composed ride in quality waves or challenging conditions. Choose EPS if your priority is responsiveness, effortless speed generation and maximum liveliness in clean, small to medium waves.

There is no universally better option. Both constructions use exactly the same shape, but each reveals a different personality depending on the waves and the way you like to surf.

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