What is C3?
C3: Cork Carbon Composite Construction takes the rare performance characteristics of light weight, flex and durability, and puts them together to create a unique surfboard that is truly worth the additional coin compared to normal PU/Poly. These boards feature stringerless EPS blanks with carbon rails and an exposed cork deck.
C3 Tech Specs:
Stringerless EPS Blank: Ultra light, incredible flex. Laminated with epoxy resin that can bend further before cracking.
Carbon Rails: Gives the board strength and lively spring out of the turns. Reinforce the board on the rails (where all buckles and breaks start)
Exposed Cork Deck: Absorbs vibration, reinforces deck, still flexes. Makes board less dependent on wax for every session. Some people never wax them; others wax them once in a while. Cork feels delicious under your feet.
Proven Shapes: All the models/designs from Matt Biolos @ …Lost, available stock or custom order through REAL.
What we like:
These boards are incredibly lightweight and strong for their size, with great flex and spring out of the turns. The biggest question is “What’s up with the cork deck?!” The cork is exposed on these boards (the Stretch EPS Tech corks have a layer of fiberglass covering the cork). The exposed cork adds traction and makes the board less dependent on wax. Cork is very strong vertically which reinforces the deck, but also flexible which allows it to be bent to match the contours of the deck and also flex with the board.
In the past, board builders used high-density foam to reinforce the deck. It worked great for durability, but didn’t flex and was also prone to vibration rather than absorbing it. The result was a really durable board that nobody wanted to ride. C3 takes the rare performance characteristics of light weight, flex and durability, and puts them together to create a unique surfboard that is lighter, more responsive and lasts longer than normal PU/Poly, and yes, now you actually WANT to ride it!
Not having to wax the deck is really convenient for countless numbers of reasons. With our first two boards here last summer, we tried never waxing one ever (Trip’s Bottom Feeder) and also waxing one every once in a while (Matt’s V2 Rocket). Both ways worked, bottom line is that the boards are way less dependent on having to wax them every session.
Are they worth the extra $$?
The C3’s run about $150 more than a standard PU/Poly. Are they worth it? In just the added deck life of your board, YES. Plus the board is lighter, with insane spring out of the turns and you can expect this performance to last longer than a standard PU/Poly. If you think about where your boards always buckle or break, it’s always on the rail first. By having the strength at the rails with the carbon (versus the center with a typical stringer), this reinforces the board from failure.
Insider Info:
If you’re surfing bare back, you will get a nipple rash the first few sessions, as the cork is a little more abrasive. Nothing radical though and you get used to it just like anything else. If you never wax the board, the first few rides are a bit slippery, then the cork gets grippier the longer you stay out. The price is higher than PU/Poly, but not that high actually, given everything that’s going on in the board.
Why you want a C3 …Lost?
Lighter, stronger, faster. Sounds kooky, but it’s true.