THE SCIENCE
Torq ACT surfboards are the world’s first EPS/Epoxy Pre-Preg surfboards. The technological advantages are immense, but the most significant advantage is 100% controlled process with ZERO surplus resin.
On any surfboard the resin’s function is to hold the fiber in place. It offers little structural integrity of it’s own, little flex and little impact strength. As a material without the fiber it is heavy and brittle. Any surplus resin is dead weight - resisting flex, adding weight.
With Pre-Preg process the perfect amount of resin is added to the cloth by machine, before the shaped blank is laid up - zero surplus, zero dead weight.
THE PROCESS
‘Pre-Preg’ means the glass fiber weave is pre-impregnated with resin and hardener (kept cold to prevent curing). This fiber resin material is called a Pre-Preg ‘matrix’ which is cured under high pressure and high temperature in a fully controlled environment. This ‘baking’ process results in the strongest form of laminate.
As well as controlling the lamination and curing process, Pre-Preg means the resin content can be 100% controlled - the perfect amount of resin is in the fiber on application.
It is the most controlled, most accurate composite fiberglass process, with minimal wastage.
THE RESULT
Greatest strength to weight ratio.
Typically strong boards are heavy and light boards are weak. Torq ACT board’s have a super strong 4oz+4oz lay up on deck with a full bamboo sandwich layer and a fiberglass rail band but they weigh around the same as a light glassed PU board.
Most importantly, they respond better. The feel of these boards is like no other surfboard - they are incredibly responsive. The unhindered flex and zero dead weight means all of the energy that you put through your feet is delivered into the turn with none of the ‘deadening’ effect from the resin.
FLEX vs REFLEX
The idea of flex in surfboard performance is really only half of the picture. Flex is easy to achieve and represents the loss of energy rather than the return of it. The important aspect of flex is reflex; the ability of a material to return to it’s shape; releasing the stored energy.
Torq ACT’s have a naturally unhindered flex due to the Pre-Preg materials which ensure no surplus resin, so the laminated fiber is able to perform with maximum efficiency. When pushed into a turn they have a natural rebound that projects and generates speed.
We have enhanced the reflex with strips of uni-directional, non-woven carbon fiber, the strongest form of carbon fiber, which has a much higher reflex rate. The boards feel powerful underfoot and re-bound out of turns - lively and lightning fast.
