Carbon Fiber. It’s one of those buzzwords that everyone seemed to be throwing around in the late 00’s along with cloud computing, the god particle, and throwing an “i” on just about any sort of gadget. At the time it was being touted as the material that gets humans to Mars or even potentially the cure to cancer. While not all of the fuss has panned out, carbon fiber has made major inroads in everything from cars to wind turbines, where people pay for performance. And here at Smith Board Co, we’re harnessing the remarkable properties of carbon fiber to revolutionize the wakesurfing industry.

What is Carbon Fiber?

Carbon fiber is a material consisting of thin, strong, crystalline filaments of carbon, very similar to a single strand of hair. The chemistry of a carbon fiber is unique in that it provides an extremely strong material with almost no weight. In the world of engineering, this is what we like to call a high strength-to-weight ratio (SWR) material. I.e. for how little it weighs, it is very strong.

On their own, carbon fiber strands don’t do us much good, but when we combine them with many other carbon fiber strands, they provide a material with excellent strength characteristics at just a fraction of the weight of other traditional materials like steel or wood. While carbon fiber sheets provide excellent strength, it isn’t until you put them in a polymer matrix, a fancy way of saying add plastic, that they become useful. It is the combination of these carbon fibers and polymers that gives rise to what most people think of when they imagine carbon fiber. This is what we call a carbon fiber composite. It’s these carbon fiber composites that you’re seeing when you see them used in cars or in wakesurf boards.

Carbon Fiber in Wakesurf Boards

In wakesurf boards, we use carbon fiber for the previously mentioned high strength-to-weight ratio. Carbon fiber allows us to create a board that is very strong while maintaining an ultra-lightweight. This results in a greater max speed, higher agility, and greater max air board. In short, it improves every single performance measurable.

Speed

When we talk about speed, carbon fiber decreases the overall weight of the board and increases the stiffness of the board. Both of these translate into a faster board. Because the board can reach faster speeds and has less weight, that means it achieves a greater takeoff speed and thus can reach greater max airs.

Agility

From an agility perspective, a lighter board decreases the moment of inertia at the edges of the board and allows you to have greater control over the board. That means faster spins, quicker movements, and an all-around more agile board.

Leading the Way with Carbon Fiber

At Smith Board Co, carbon fiber is more than just a buzzword; it is an integral piece of our path to a higher performing board. Carbon fiber is an unlock to a whole new level of board performance. We’re currently engineering carbon fiber into our full board lineup and will look to transition every one of our boards over from the industry standard glass fiber to the higher performing carbon fiber.

But why stop there? Carbon fiber isn’t just about making a better board; it’s about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in wakesurfing. It’s about giving you the tools to push your limits, to go faster, spin quicker, and fly higher than ever before. Each time you step on a Smith Board Co board, you’re not just riding; you’re experiencing the pinnacle of modern engineering and design. And as we continue to innovate, we invite you to join us on this journey. Whether you’re a pro rider looking for that competitive edge or a weekend warrior wanting to make the most of your time on the water, our carbon fiber boards are designed to elevate your experience.

Stay tuned as we continue to push the envelope, bringing you the latest in wakesurfing technology and performance. At Smith Board Co, we’re not just making boards; we’re shaping the future of wakesurfing. So, gear up, get out there, and make your voice count on the water with our cutting-edge carbon fiber boards.