Carbon or no carbon

scott mckerc said..
Over the years I've tested many different forms and lay ups of carbon in windsurf and sup, with there being so many variations it makes the mind boggle.
for one there's carbon, and then there's carbon.
There's such a huge variation in weave/weight and quality it's that's insanity to have a broad ranging statement carbon vs non carbon, because there's so many comparisons to be made just within carbon lay ups.

In certain instances yes, they way they were laid up made a board too stiff and lost flex when you push through a turn.
In others you get the lay up right and you get the benefits of reduced weight/ plus increased reflex/response.
it was impossible when making prototypes to compare to the carbon production boards, because if not full pvc wrapped and carbon, the straight up Eps and glass, with or without a woodgrain deck felt like a dead log.

If carbon is Uni directional running the length of the board, on the deck and and the bottom of the board. Yes. It will be stiff as.
If the carbon is Bi AX, meaning it's a weave running at 45' then you get the best of both worlds. Reduced weight and added reflex.

When solomon were toying with surfboards and sailboard,s Pierre made a bunch of different boards where it was blind testing, in that he wouldn't tell me what the lay ups were. (boards coming out of the same mould)
The difference was insane. One board would have the smoothest turn where others just horrible pigs. (exactly the same shape)