bumbledust

I managed a small surf shop for a few years and one of the local rich kids was trying to manufacture a carbon-fiber surfboard of his own in the early 90's. From what I remember, the weak link in the chain for his idea was the carbon-fiber itself. That type of board is just too stiff. A certain amount of flex is necessary for the board to perform and carbon-fiber, either used as the stringer(s) or as the shell/covering, is just too stiff.

Not only that, but the most desirable board design varies from surfer to surfer. How do you want your rails? Nose? Tail? Thickness and width? Anyone serious enough to throw down the cake for this type of product will surely want his/her own say in the shape.

If the board could be customizable and allow for some flex, it would be great, but I really don't see that happening.

As for the color, from what I've seen at bike shops, carbon-fiber can be painted like anything else so as to not attract too much heat. This would save the wax, but then I guess you couldn't see the crazy-cool fiber-look.

PlaneParts

Eliboat

shift_nismo

I have no clue why you think boards break so often. I'm guessing I ride at least 3,000 waves a year here in Southern California (175+ sessions x 17 waves per surf), and I break a board in half at most once a year, and that's usually when visiting Hawaii. I admit that I break fins out and put dings in boards regularly, but usually that's when the board hits something solid, like sand, reef, or my head. If anything, the constant pounding of my feet and body against my boards are what do the most damage. Sure, a lot more boards snap in half in big wave locations, but still, you are greatly exaggerating how often boards break in two. Based on your comments, surfers would go through a dozen boards a day! At $400-$650 per shortboard, surfers are too poor to afford that!

liquidsoapdispenser

rimplestultskin

MacBandit

What has me disenthused, though is, that the very point a normal (e.g. in-one-piece) surfboard will break when you miss the angle to the wave (which, I imagine, happens in 8 out of 10 attempts, unless you are a pro, and then it might still be 50:50) is in the middle. And those, what - 5cm? - long tubes will not be any protection against this. It'll break like a salt cracker. Some boards have internal carbon or plywood stringers that run vertically the whole length of the board, and even those boards break.
Ok, I am a windsurfer, and windsurfboards still have to deal with A LOT more abuse from the elements (imagine waves beating at a frequency of > 1 Hz against the bottom of your board, while sailing at 40-50 km/h - doesn't sound much? try it, it's both exhilarating and frightening, even if you know how to handle it), but wave surfing is no kid's play either.
I have been dreaming for years of a board that inflates or can otherwise be made small, but still have not seen anything that comes even close.
And, with my latest 2.15 m board, the longest parts are the (already separable) mast and sails anyway.

And, yep, airline regulations suck. I am moving on a regular basis with a 2.50 double boardbag and a bike bag by plane, with two big Ortlieb waterproof duffle bags thrown in for good measure. And I think, I have my equipment already reduced as far as possible...

Nice idea, anyway. Maybe insertable vertical carbon stringers that run the whole way from tail to nose, in parallel, 5 cms apart, might help. But, remember, you also have to pull out and insert those things with sand present. And that, my dear friends, does not only spell doom to the romantical myth of sex on the beach. Too much friction simply hurts.

yogibimbi

DeadWriter

gizak

NZRUSS

PJ_the_jackass

igneous

igneous

Elvisisdead

Compact

strider_mt2k

TKE-Egon

TKE-Egon

Andune