It might not take a rocket scientist to build a surfboard but that isn’t stopping a couple of surfboard makers from using aerospace engineering to create a line of light, strong and ascetically pleasing boards. Kitson Boards, LLC, a company that looks to change the way surfboards are made, and do so with new materials.
The company has been developing recreational boards that feature sleek designs yet are built for the long haul with carbon fiber, which offers a long history of strength to weight ratio. Additionally, as we noted in our recent Weekend Reading List coverage, “the typical surfboard is a slab of petroleum-spawned polyurethane slathered in layers of toxic polyester resin.” Carbon fiber could be an improvement on this, in part because of its ability to essentially last a lifetime. While polyester resin may break down in the surf and sun, carbon fiber is not inherently photodegradable and thus endure season after season.
Kitson’s designs can be further customized, as owners can request unique graphics to set their board apart.