Hi everyone... I am getting a new epoxy shortboard soon but I need some help please... Which one is better - Surftech TL2 or XTR??? Pros and Cons would help a lot... If you have one much more better (fist hand experience). Thanks!!!!!
surftech uses an epoxy that often feels like plastic. xtr is a greener epoxy with light water proof blanks that are super water repellent. meaning if you ding the board it wont fill with water. ive been working in a surfboard factory for 3 years and havnt seen a single xtr but many surftechs. surftech does make a very durable board however. the last one i saw was a stretch model and it looked like a super fun ride. personally i would go with xtr. the best advice is to find friends who have one or the other. im sure you'll be satisfied with either.
first choice for me would be finding a local shaper and have something done in resin-x...im stoked on the stuff..if it were between those 2 though id go with the xtr....i've had 2 surftech's i used them as beater boards. they surfed fine, but i still always would grab my poly
hey mate, I have a surftech board on both coasts and I cant say enough good things. Its durable and crazy light--feels llike 2 strokes faster than when i surfed glass. I have a 9.1 Mctavish "original" and I turned my bud on to a 8.0 carver. One is performance long board and the other is a little more aggressive. Good luck.
XTR all the way Pros:doesnt absorb water when dinged ( u dont have to fix dings smaller than 1/4") Super light and boyant similar properties and flex to a regular PU board Superior strenght, I've had the same board for 2 years with only small pressure dings. A summer kook put his nose through my board but only went through 1 layer of glass. A normal PU board would have been ruined. Price similar pricing to a regular PU CONS: these boards DO NOT like UV light. you cannot keep your board in the sun with out a board bag. They also cannot take heat very well, my model 5.2 only has a heat index of 145 before it will delam. (On their site they say that the new 7.0 can handle 175 which is a huge plus) Hard to find, not many shops carry XTR and if they do they most likely will not have the shape u want. Overall, i will say until there is a drastic change in surfboard technology, I will be riding XTR's. Due to the added strenght i can ride a 6'0 18 1/2 x 2 1/16 and not worry about it breaking. This is huge advantage for modern moves such as airs and tail wafts. Pretty much I LOVE my board and cant picture riding anything else
xtr are EPS foam, epoxy resin and fiberglass. The Surftechs are pretty much the same but they are vacuum bagged to be stronger. I don't like the flex in the surftechs shortboards. Hows this, The going rate on Surftech's paint matching is $60 a color. Which a lot of the ST have 3 colors. For you to bring a repair that involves painting, forget about it. I do repair work and I hate charging for a $35 ding then add $60 for paint. 2cents Chino ps if you have a local do it, you can have the board made the way you want. 4ozbottom 4oztop S-glass, carbon fiber fin patches! epoxy..
XTR is NOT EPS foam. XTR has XTR closed cell foam. EPS has microscopic gaps that can absorb water. Sorry just had to correct b/c they are TOTALLY different. You can technically surf a unglassed XTR without it absorbing any water!!!
TL2 no bueno amigo unless you get it at least 2" tad longer than what you were thinking. Seriously, don't shorten up on it too much bro.
