Torq BigBoy 23 ACT - Futures - 5 Fin - Mid-Length

"I grinned so wide, my teeth got sunburned!"

This is a wolf in sheep's clothing. The dark horse, the charlatan, the imposter. Do you think you're looking at a funboard? Look again. This is a funboard on steroids. This is Jekyll and Hyde.

On paper, it's a funboard, and if you want to catch green waves and make some turns, the width, volume, and length will ensure this board does that all day long – then it's perfect for you. But in the hands of an experienced surfer, it truly comes alive. Think of it as a shortboard with a bit more width in the nose, but with all the performance features to surf hard and fast. A customer literally said: “I grinned so wide, my teeth got sunburned!”

Are you a big guy who rips, a longboarder looking for a shorter board, or an intermediate surfer? Then look no further.

Fin(s) included: None.

Construction - ACT

Torq's ACT surfboards are the world's first EPS/Epoxy pre-preg surfboards. Pre-preg is the best performing composite process, offering the best strength-to-weight ratio and the best reflex (springiness) of any fiberglass layup.

That's a bold claim, so here's some more:

“Pre-preg fabrics virtually eliminate all process variation found in traditional layups or vacuum infusion. As a result, pre-pregs have completely revolutionized composite manufacturing.”

They have "maximum strength properties" and ensure "less mess and less waste. All the excess of hand laminate – cups of resin, sticky rollers, drips – is no longer an issue."

"Without the pitfalls of hand laminating, there are no resin-rich spots and no dry spots." "Pre-pregs are considered the most advanced system for composite manufacturing."

These are quotes from industry sources, websites, and manuals. Google 'pre-preg composites' and you'll find pages full of this kind of information. It is unanimously considered the most advanced composite process.

What is it?

Pre-preg is short for pre-impregnated. Resin and hardener are applied to the fiberglass fabric by machine, creating a fiber-resin matrix.

That matrix has a perfect resin-to-hardener ratio and perfect resin content and distribution.

The matrix is machine-cut (Torq has cutting files for each model and size, so exactly the right fiber and resin weight is used on every board) and then laid onto the surfboard mold and cured under high heat and pressure in an oven.

What are the advantages?

Reflex or springiness:

Hand laminates, even with a vacuum bag, retain a significant amount of excess resin. This adds weight, makes the whole thing more brittle, and limits the properties of the fiber, as it is encased in a thick skin.

Pre-pregs are machine-impregnated with precisely the right resin density. Whatever fiber is used – glass, carbon, or basalt – the pre-preg process allows the fiber to perform without the limitation of excess resin.

In surfboards, this translates into a lively, responsive feel. Any flex you push into it during a turn comes back immediately as reflex instead of being dampened by the resin. They return all the energy you put into them. Because the board can flex naturally, they also absorb much more vibration than you are used to from light epoxy boards.

Strength-to-weight ratio:

The other advantage of not having unnecessary extra weight from excess resin is the extra amount of fiber that can be used for the same total board weight. ACTs have a sturdy fiber lay-up, making them significantly stronger than a surfboard of comparable weight in any other construction.

These boards contain 2 to 3 times more fiber than a light PU of the same weight. They are not Torq's strongest boards, but they do have a much better strength-to-weight ratio.

How do they surf?

They feel lively from the first wave.

The feel is between a light PU and epoxy, with an extra springiness not found in either technology. They feel familiar with both, so you won't need much time to get used to them. But once you do, every other board will feel flat.

About Torq

Torq is known for epoxy surfboards that combine low weight and high strength, from accessible all-rounders to high-performance shapes developed with renowned shapers. Each construction – TET, TEC, or ACT – has its own character, but they are all built to last. This makes Torq boards a good fit for Hart Beach: boards that can withstand daily use in the North Sea and work for every skill level.