I met with Michael Watkins a few months ago to discuss his innovative new Core Duo blank design, which combines traditional Polyurethane (PU) with Expanded Polystyrene Foam (EPS) and an innovative triple stringer design.

In a nutshell Michael’s goal was to combine the best of both blanks – the float and paddle-power of an epoxy with the rail sensitivity, drive and chop resistance of a PU. The unique stringer design also promises a notably springier flex pattern and considerable strength enhancement.

In our first meeting I had a short session on a board featuring a Core Duo blank that Michael had made. Although the board didn’t match my usual dimensions I could feel the blank offered a completely different sensation to a regular EPS or PU blank. Michael has put a lot of thought and R & D into the Core Duo blanks. When you hear how passionate he is about the design and how many intricate variables coalesce to make it work, you are immediately aware that this is not some quickly-conceived gimmick. 

However, to really understand the nuances of the new design I wanted to be a little more methodical.  So, we contacted my regular shaper, Stuart Paterson, who made a board that mimicked one of my regular PU boards, only this time featuring the Core Duo blank. The aim was to compare two boards with the same dimensions but different blanks. 

If you look at the photos, the green strip down the middle represents the section of the board featuring EPS (epoxy) material. The white flanks are the PU sections, which have been glued to the epoxy centre-strip.  Located directly under your chest and running the length of your body, the EPS strip definitely provides a welcome sense of buoyancy and paddle power. But you don’t buy a board just to paddle, so how did it perform?     

I rode the board in a combination of sloppy beachbreaks, punchy peaks and point breaks. The Core Duo blank definitely offered a refreshing and distinctly different mix of sensations from a regular PU or Epoxy board. The smooth projection and down-the-line/A-B velocity was noticeable, as was the pop off the lip. Although the central buoyancy and slight corkiness was apparent while riding the wave, it’s also fair to say that the rail engagement (this is the PU part of the board connecting with the water) had more sensitivity than a standard EPS (epoxy) board.

Now, there is more at play here than the composite blank. The board essentially features a triple stringer configuration – a central balsa stringer and two glue-point stringers where the EPS centre-strip and PU flanks of the blank meet. Importantly the tensional strength of the glue stringers is designed to complement that of the balsa, central stringer.

Materials can be said to have ‘memory’ describing how quickly they return to their original shape after being put under pressure. For example, a new tennis ball will have more ‘memory’ and ‘pop’ than an old one that has been hit thousands of times. If anything the Core Duo board feels a little stiffer and poppier than a traditional PU or Epoxy blank – more like a new tennis ball.  This is likely a result of the strong memory or flex-pattern created by the triple stringer.

In real terms the board wanted to be pushed harder through a turn than other boards I’ve ridden, and if you applied the pressure it would push back with impressive levels of spring and pop. At times the speed of the board’s response could be surprising, but once you knew the high-speed rebound off the lip was coming your reaction time adjusted. It was a swiftly moving switch-blade, not a dull butter knife.  

I initially had some concern that the combination of materials beneath my feet would make it feel incongruous, like there were two distinctly different boards at play. Perhaps the lack of uniformity in materials would create a hitch, like two incompatible flavours in something you’d just bitten down on. However, these fears were unwarranted; if anything the board was smoother and more consistent in it’s feel than other boards that I’d ridden. Eager to sample its performance in hollow waves I chased down any closeout pit I could and it felt particularly well connected to the wave inside the barrel – despite taking plenty of punishment it didn’t crease, buckle or snap.   

Another common criticism of Epoxy boards is that they don’t perform well in chattery conditions. The added buoyancy and height out of the water can make them feel skittish when they come into contact with ribs or chop in the wave face. I rode the Core Duo in howling, cross chopped four-to-five feet beachbreaks. While a regular epoxy board may have struggled to find grip on the wave face in such conditions, the Core Duo rode over the bumps without a hitch. Fortunately the wind cleaned up and the waves turned silky clean. The board had no trouble adapting to the improved conditions.

These performance claims are supported by experienced, high performance coach Gary Cruickshank, who encouraged his surfers to experiment with the Core Duo Blanks.  “Recently two of my athletes have tested the Core Duo Blank for the first time. The rise in performance in all aspects of their surfing was noticed, especially in the areas of drive and speed. Excited to see more surfers experience this blank technology and the true performance that the Core Duo has to offer.” And the following from 21-year-old Jasper Cruickshank.

“The first surf I had I almost instantly felt the drive and speed the Core Duo could generate in any section. I noticed through the arc of my turn that I still had amazing speed… ” The paddle speed was on another level, it felt like I could paddle through anything.”    

 As your surfing evolves and you’ve ridden a range of designs, the tendency is to seek out new sensations, so you don’t become bored or jaded. Of course such experiments must come with guaranteed performance – if you just wanted a sensation you’d paddle out on a plank of wood. The Core Duo blank provides a fresh and lively feel with high performance characteristics.

To order a Core Duo Blank or find out more click here.