I am not saying Epoxy is THE way, but is definitely A VERY VALID WAY to go.
The whole claim that the epoxy boards ride "funny" (paraphrasing, not an actual quote) is suspect IMO. They may ride differently, but what makes the standard PU boards the "correct" way, and epoxies the "funny" way? It is all a matter of what you are used to, what adjustments/acclimation you are willing to make, and just how anal-retentive you are about your boards. If you choose an epoxy board that is indeed stiffer than a PU (in this case I am talking more about hand-shaped 2lb EPS foams, not as much the XPS foams), rocker (once again, IMO) is more critical than in a PU board. A PU will flex a little more through turns than an EPS epoxy shaped and glassed the same way, which will help make up for inefficiencies in the rocker and interactions of other variables- unless you overglass a PU board, which makes it stiffer and less lively/interactive with the rider's applications of pressure and weighting/unweighting- sound like a familiar complaint?
Rather than epoxy materials being the problem, it could be that the synthesis of these variables just needs to be more "on" in epoxy boards, while PU boards have a built-in fudge-factor (?)
I can say wholeheartedly, my favorite board I have ever owned was a Rainbow (FL shape) epoxy 6’6” shortboard. Hands down. Rode waist high to DOH like a champ. Everything about the board was just “on”. While all my PU boards have gone thru an obvious "deadening" as they aged, that board sang like a diva for 5 years (ridden a whole lot) until the day I snapped her getting clobbered by a closeout in +2x overhead Playa Hermosa. Very sad day for me.
Yes, I had a few delam problems with these (Rainbow) boards, but this was indeed back in the day when the epoxy-users were still figuring things out AND I was young and dumb and left them in the sun on accident (100 degree days lifeguarding on the beach- put them in the shade in the AM and by the PM they are in direct sunlight if I forget to move them).
A few years ago I had the pleasure of visiting Greg Loehr's shop. I have seen his boards and boards shaped by people under his direct and indirect guidance, ridden some of his boards, and talked with him about his philosophy, approach, and methods and have been nothing but impressed and encouraged. I have seen some of his boards over 7 years old that were not necessarily taken care of, and they are still 1) solid and 2) no delams whatsoever.
Greg claims that they have solved most, if not all, of the delam issues of the past for his EPS boards. The boards I have seen suggest this is true. Additionally, if the claim (foremost by Javier/Epoxy Pro) that the delam problem has been solved for Extruded foam (or at least alleviated to the point that it is equal to standard PU, because let's face it, PU boards will and do delam- they are not perfect), why not reserve the passing of judgement until one tries one out? I just don't get how someone can pass judgement in the cook-off without sampling the food.
The Parmenter quote of "These “extruded” foams are indeed far more watertight. What they fail to mention is that in order for these foams to achieve this they have had to mimic properties of a regular polyurethane Clark Foam blank" is bullsheet. If Clark foam was mimicked, why do the extruded foams not absorb water while the Clark foams soak it in and get all mushy? This is just one example of why I cannot stand Parmenter's arm waving, the sky-is-falling propaganda.
As far as how “green” epoxy boards are, they are not the holy grail. Polystyrene is not organic, so of course it is not environmentally good or neutral; I doubt if Clark (et al) foams are either. "Epoxy" resins come in a myriad of chemistries, and some are better than others. I do believe that GL's Resin Research epoxy is in the "better" category. It is not drinking water, but is not cyanide either. Loehr's shop had a sweet smell to it, but I did not suffer any dizziness or apparent ill effects after standing in there and chatting it up for 2 hours with a few boards curing on the racks a few feet away (garage door was open, but the wind was absolutely dead calm). You can smear dogsh*t on your hands and be none the worse for wear, but if you drink/eat it you are likely going to suffer some ill effects. I'm not going to go drink a glass of epoxy either, that is for sure, but I'd rather be locked in a small room with a curing RR board than a board glassed with standard methods.
Finally, I don’t give a damn as to whether the board under my feet is PU or Epoxy, as long as it rides well, does what I want it to do, and satisfies my cravings. I therefore do and will continue riding boards of both chemistries. And I’ll be smiling, and that is all that matters in my book.
