They mainly affect the rigidity of our bodyboard and its weight. This is why it is essential to understand the different materials used in the manufacture of a body board, to be able to choose correctly our bodyboard.
Since a genius called Tom Morey came up with the great idea of going to the shore with his broken surfboard, the bodyboard has evolved to what we know today as one of the most extreme and awesome sports in the world.
The bodyboard is growing in a dizzying way, everyone is hypnotized by those impossible flights, monstrous waves and paradisiacal destinations. Although they may seem like an easy thing, a Bodyboard board has a lot of work behind it. We need very technical and specific materials to withstand all those flights and extreme falls. Its evolution in terms of materials is being non-stop, almost every season new shapes, channels, stringers ...
Polypropylene or PP is a bodyboard core with high density 1.9pcf, latest generation. It is build by fusion, to create a core that has a flex and recoil to the immediate hit, a good longitudinal rigidity and an incredible resistance to compression, which goes to greater durability for the rider. It is also 100% water resistant, does not absorb it, which guaranty that it stays hard throughout the life of the bodyboard. Ideal for any temperate and warm water, and extremely durable for those who surf a lot!
Polypropylene bodyboards have been developed over several years in different ways according to brand innovations. Although each brand gives it a different trade name, like Kinetic PP, Freedom X, at the end it is always a high density polypropylene foam.
The Polyethylene bodyboard or PE have a density of 2.5pcf, they are ideal for colder waters. In the past it was the most popular core among most bodyboarders, although over the years, different manufacturers have brought a less dense material. The low density polypropylene was created to fill that gap, but anyway, PE is still a very popular option, especially for people who normally surf in cold waters or who like to have their bodyboard with flex. PE boards usually carry one or two stringers to counteract the softer core.
The Polyethylene bodyboard or PE have a density of 2.5pcf, they are ideal for colder waters. In the past it was the most popular core among most bodyboarders, although over the years, different manufacturers have brought a less dense material. The low density polypropylene was created to fill that gap, but anyway, PE is still a very popular option, especially for people who normally surf in cold waters or who like to have their bodyboard with flex. PE boards usually carry one or two stringers to counteract the softer core.
Called EPS, the polystyrene is composed of relatively large bubbles. It is very light, very cheap, but it gives much less mechanical properties than polypropylene and poliethylene. It is used mainly for boards of initiation, along with a stringer to give greater resistance to the board.
Apart, there are some brands that also make some fusion of cores, it consists of making a "sandwich" (without onions) between several types of core. With the two outer layers of PP, and a combinable of PE or NRG. Tension tech has been a recent innovation and is often used for the brands medium / low ranges.
The PFS is a good example, it is an innovation that introduced Versus bodyboard, which basically consists of a central core construction in PP 1.9 and the edges in PE 2.5. this transform into a hard body that does not reduce speed and the edges providing an extra flex for better control and to land maneuvers with less suddenness and easier. This PFS has been one of the last advances for the comfort of the rider.
It is what everybody look for, the king of the slicks, has properties similar to rubber and absorbs all the blows to damage as little as possible the core.
HDPE
High density slick that provides more hardness and speed, but sacrifices shock absorption. It is made of PE density.
Made mainly of polyethylene. It is the deck that is used for boards of high level, it does not damage the core when it flexes when surfing.
It is also a polyethylene cover. Structure of superfine cells with less than 1% water absorption.They are bubbles more closed than the previous one.
The fiberglass stringers gives durability to the board but with a certain flex to provide comfort and control.
The carbon has a greater rigidity with respect to glass, the carbon fiber stringer provide rigidity and better reactivity to the board. They are into the high range body boards. Manufacturers can vary the percentage of carbon fiber to adjust the rigidity of the stringer, and thus regulate the flex of the board.
ISS: It was a revolution some years ago that consisted of being able to change the stringer of your bodyboard through a plug in the tail. There are few ISS stringers, according to their hardness and composition.The normal thing would be to have this for when you travel and adapt your bodyboard to the temperature of water you visit, but far of that, it has remained basically in image and fashion. I at least have not seen people changing it really out of necessity! Besides, according to some riders, the tail of the bodyboard is flexed, because this stringer goes all the way down to get it out.
The ISS system is a system of interchangeable stringers for each type of condition in the water and can change the "flex" of your bodyboard. This is ideal for those who travel a lot at different temperatures of the water and thus be able to adapt to each surf session.
They are by their hardness and there are 5 levels:
Soft: The softest of all with maximum flex for very cold water.
Medium: For temperate waters, with a little more flex without losing speed, is the one that carries a bodyboard ISS series
Stiff: Harder like a door, for hot water and get the bodyboard out of its maximum hardness and speed.
Carbon: This is for warm / warm water, a bit harder for more technicality and projection on the wave.
This system of shape Quad concave has been designed very recently by some brands like QCD, VS, NMD, Pride, which consists of a bottom with 4 channels instead of 2. This provides more control in the wave as well as speed. The bodyboard has more grip into the wall of the wave (similar to placing 4 fins on a surfboard to get more grip) and allows you to better control the situation.
The mesh goes right between the foam and the slick (sliding layer) of the bodyboard, which provides rigidity and more resistance for the board in aerial maneuvers.
We hope that this article has helped you when choosing your bodyboard. Any questions you can raise in the comments of the blog, there we will answer you!
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