Why You Can’t Build the Same Surfboard Twice
Have you ever seen a photo of a pro surfer flanked by ten or more identical-looking surfboards and wondered if it’s just an extravagant and frankly absurd flex?
Well, let’s be honest. It is definitely that. But there’s also something more to the story.
Depending on a surfer’s level (and their shaper’s level of emotional and financial tolerance), they can order upwards of 100 boards per year.
The obvious question: Do they ride all of those boards?
The simple answer: For the most part, yes. But not for very long.
Typically, when a surfer orders a big batch of boards, there will be slight variances in each. A little more rocker here. A tighter curve there. Maybe even a different tail. If you never experiment, you'll never know.
A surfer will try all these boards. Some for a few sessions. Some only for a few waves. Like a nightmarish Tinder date, when you know it's not going to work, you just know it's not going to work.
If a surfer is lucky, one of these boards will truly stand out from the rest. The only word that could fairly describe these boards is "magic."
So, the surfer will keep them on ice. Only ride them in heats, when it counts. And inevitably cry when they break.
Because — even with all the tools of modern surfboard manufacturing — you can not fully replicate a surfboard.
Why? Let’s break it down.
Blanks: Where boards are born
Every surfboard starts as a blank. It's easy to be romantic about a surfboard blank — they represent a dream waiting to be sculpted. But the truth is a bit dirtier than that. In simple terms, a blank is made by mixing a bunch of chemicals together under the right environmental conditions.
Most blanks are hand-poured, meaning there's room for variation between each batch. Plus, suppliers of raw materials can change, which will result in slightly different outcomes.
And then there's the stringer. Stringers are made from wood. Wood comes from trees (duh). And no two trees are the same. Even within a single tree, each slice of wood is unique. That means no two blanks are ever perfectly identical. Sorry.
Shaping: We're getting there
We've come a long way since the late '70s, when people (slowly) first started using machines to help them shape surfboards. Even with today's highly technical CAD programs and CNC machines, in most cases, a human still needs to touch the board up before it gets glassed.
And this probably isn't news to you, but humans are not perfect. No two hands move precisely the same way every time. Tiny variations accumulate, creating subtle differences in the shape of each board.
Glassing & Sanding: Even more human touch
Noticing a theme here? Machines don't make surfboards. Humans make surfboards with the help of machines. But when it comes to glassing, for the most part, humans are on their own. That — drumroll, please — means each glass job will be slightly different.
And then you have environmental conditions. Most boards aren't glassed in a perfectly controlled environment. A board glassed on a hot, dry day will be different from a board glassed on a cool, wet day. Even the sanding process introduces small differences in each board.
So, where does that leave us?
Even if you buy a model from a big brand, you’re never getting the exact same board twice. For most surfers, the difference is negligible. But highly skilled surfers can and do notice.
Embrace the uniqueness. Play around with different designs, enjoy the nuances, and don’t get too caught up chasing perfection.
Even if you could replicate a board, your body changes, your surfing evolves, and no two waves are the same.
For us, the magic isn’t in the board — it’s in how you relate to it. And when you design your own board, we bet you will relate to it on a whole new level.
