The core of your bodyboard is very important!
The core is the heart of your bodyboard. The core material has a huge influence on the behaviour in the water and how your board behaves during turns. The temperature, under which conditions your bodyboard is used, has a significant influence on the surfing behaviour.
Here we would like to introduce you to the three most important cores:
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polyethylene (PE)
- Mixture of PP and PE
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a polypropylene core?
A boogie board made of polypropylene is very stiff and therefore has less flex. Below a water temperature of 21 ° C, the PP loses its flex and controlled surfing is difficult. The board starts to bounce on the water surface.
Polypropylene is a very light and robust material. Light boards are very fast on the wave and you can surf good power turns with them. Making a light product robust is very difficult. PP combines both.
- light
- very robust
- generates speed
- UV resistant
- keeps its shape
- mainly suitable for warm water
- little flex
- unsuitable for most European waters
Conclusion: Only suitable for warm water and surfing areas.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a polyethylene core?
A bodyboard made of polyethylene is characterised by its good flex. This means that the board adapts better to the wave. This gives you more control while surfing and the manoeuvrability does not decrease even in cold waters.
The higher weight is not necessarily a disadvantage. In small weak waves, the higher weight is a disadvantage and you lose speed. In big fast powerful waves, the weight is an advantage because the board sits deeper in the water and conects better with the wave at high speed, making it more controllable. The durability of this material is not as perfect as the PP.
- suitable for cold water
- good control
- Material is heavier than PP
- not as durable as PP
Conclusion: Perfect for European waves and waters.
Core-mix-sandwich construction methods
In addition to the classic bodyboard core, a combination of both materials in sandwich construction has recently become popular. These cores combine the positive characteristics of both core materials.
1. two-colour 3D core
This core for your bodyboard consists of two parts. Instead of using only one conventional material, both are used here.
The mixture of PE and PP makes the board robust, light and gives you super performance. The two core materials are laid on top of each other in a sandwich construction and joined together under vacuum. The PE makes the bodyboard flexible, the PP material ensures that it is very robust and lasts longer.
2. low-density PP cores
This PP core is foamed with a low density and is therefore much lighter, which makes the bodyboard faster. Stiffness is reduced and the material can be used in colder or all surf conditions.
3. EPS core
An EPS core made of Expanded Polystyrene is mainly used in bodyboards for children. The material is very cheap. The buoyancy and flex is acceptable and you will have fun on the waves only at the beginning.
- easy
- very robust
- generates speed
- UV resistant
- keeps the shape
- good flex
- suitable for all water temperatures
- not as robust as a PP core
Steve´s tip:
We always recommend a 3D core combination. You won't go wrong and you will have fun in all surf conditions. And fun is the most important thing in surfing.