Are Wooden Surfboards Any Good? How Wood Compares to Foam and Fibreglass
If you're drawn to wooden surfboards, it's probably for the look, the craftsmanship or the sustainability. The question most surfers ask next is simple: will a wooden board actually surf as well as the foam and fibreglass board under my arm?
The honest answer is that construction matters far more than the material. A poorly made wooden board can be heavy and lifeless, just as a poorly glassed foam board can be fragile and dead. A well-crafted wooden surfboard, on the other hand, can be shaped as precisely and feel as light and lively as any foam board, while lasting far longer.
Where the "heavy and stiff" reputation came from
For a long time, most wooden surfboards were built by hobbyists in backyard sheds. Many were solid or overbuilt, which earned wood a reputation for being heavy, stiff and clumsy in the water. That reputation has stuck around, but it no longer reflects what a good wooden board can do.
Specialist builders have since put years of research and development into hollow and chambered construction, precise internal framing and lighter laminates. The best modern wooden surfboards can hold a line in a steep, hollow pocket or trim comfortably on the nose of a longboard. Makers worth looking at include Sine Surf and Verdure Surfboards, whose boards show just how refined wooden construction has become.
Wooden surfboards vs foam and fibreglass: what to compare
Whatever the material, a good surfboard should be light enough, flex in the right way, hold up to regular use and, above all, have a great shape. Here is how wood stacks up on each.
Weight
Foam and fibreglass: generally light, depending mostly on how heavily the board is glassed.
Wood: anywhere from light to heavy. Precise air chambers in a hollow board, or a light wooden skin over a foam core, keep weight down. Timber choice matters too: Paulownia is light enough for hollow boards yet hard enough to resist dents.
Shape
For both, the shape comes down to the shaper. Wood doesn't limit the outline, rocker or rails a skilled builder can produce.
Flex
Foam and fibreglass: usually quite flexible, depending on the glass job.
Wood: can be built flexible or stiff depending on the construction. A stiffer board suits longer boards with flatter rocker, while thinner skins and lighter internal frames give a livelier, springier feel.
Durability
Foam and fibreglass: generally not very durable. Decks pick up pressure dents, dings let water into the core, and boards commonly snap.
Wood: where wooden surfboards really shine. A well-built wooden board resists pressure dents, is very unlikely to snap, and can last for decades rather than a few seasons.
Sustainability
Foam blanks and resins are petrochemical products, and a snapped foam board usually ends up in landfill. A wooden board made from fast-growing plantation timber, built to last, is one of the most sustainable choices a surfer can make. Read more about the sustainability of Paulownia.
Wood vs foam and fibreglass, at a glance
The five things this article compares, side by side.
| Foam and fibreglass | Wood | Edge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Generally light, depending mostly on how heavily the board is glassed. | Light to heavy. Hollow air chambers, or a wood skin over foam, keep weight down. | Foam |
| Shape | Comes down to the shaper. | Comes down to the shaper. Wood doesn’t limit outline, rocker or rails. | Even |
| Flex | Usually quite flexible, depending on the glass job. | Can be built flexible or stiff, depending on the construction. | Depends |
| Durability | Pressure dents, dings that let water into the core, and boards commonly snap. | Resists pressure dents, very unlikely to snap, and can last for decades. | Wood |
| Sustainability | Petrochemical foam and resin. A snapped board usually ends up in landfill. | Fast-growing plantation timber, built to last. | Wood |
Summarised from this article. A well-built board of either kind beats a poorly built one, so construction matters most.
Why good wooden surfboards are rare
Building a high-performance wooden surfboard is considerably harder than shaping and glassing a foam blank. Every internal frame, rail strip and skin has to be cut and fitted precisely, and every gram counts. That is why there are relatively few builders of genuinely high-quality wooden boards, and why each tends to have its own distinctive approach. If you'd like to understand the options, our guide to what wooden surfboards are made of covers solid, skinned and hollow constructions.
So, which is better?
It depends on how you surf and what you want from a board. If you want the lightest possible board for high-performance shortboarding and don't mind replacing it more often, foam and fibreglass is hard to beat. If you value durability, a board that ages well, a lower environmental footprint and something with real character, a well-built wooden surfboard is an excellent choice and performs far better than its old reputation suggests.
Before you buy, think about the waves you surf and the manoeuvres you want to make, and talk to the builder about whether a particular board suits you.
Building your own wooden surfboard?
We supply Paulownia for wooden surfboard builders all over Australia, including surfboard strips, skins, alaia and paipo blanks and thin Paulownia sheet for hollow board skins and ribs. See our prices or get in touch to talk through your build.
