Torq The Don NR ACT - FCS II - 2 + 1 Fin - Longboard

The Don Nose Rider is a blend of the all-round performance Don model and a more traditional noserider.

Upfront, it features a wide nose, a low entry rocker, and a teardrop concave—a guaranteed combination for stability and time on the tip. But unlike a traditional noserider with soft, round rails and a vee bottom, the Don NR combines a hard rail with a double concave vee in the tail of a more modern longboard.

This combination blends the best of a traditional noserider with the best of a modern longboard, in a lightweight and super strong epoxy package. Turns out you can please everyone at once.

Fin(s) included: None.

Construction - ACT

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

That's a big claim, so here's a bit more:

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

They have "maximum strength properties" and ensure "less mess and less waste. All the hassle of manual layup – cups of resin, messy rollers, drips – is no longer an issue."

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

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

What is it?

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

This matrix has a perfect blend of resin and hardener, and a perfect resin content and distribution.

The matrix is machine-cut – Torq has cutting files for each model and size, ensuring the exact correct fiber and resin weight is used on each board – and then laid onto the board shape and cured in an oven under high heat and pressure.

What are the benefits?

Reflex or spring:

Hand laminates, even vacuum bagged, 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 bound in a thick shell.

Pre-pregs are machine impregnated with the perfect resin density. Regardless of which 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 resilient, responsive feel. Every flex you push into the board through a turn comes back immediately as a reflex and is not dampened by the resin. They return all the energy you put into them. And because the board is allowed to flex naturally, they absorb much more of the vibrations that can be encountered with light epoxy boards.

Strength-to-weight ratio:

The other benefit of not having unnecessary extra weight from excess resin is the additional amount of fiber that can be included at the same overall board weight. ACTs have a heavy-duty fiber layup, making them significantly stronger than a surfboard of comparable weight in any other construction.

There is 2 to 3 times more fiber in these boards at the same weight as a lightweight PU. They are not Torq's strongest boards, but the strength-to-weight ratio is much better.

How do they surf?

They feel alive from the very first wave.

The feel is somewhere between a lightweight PU and epoxy, with an extra spring not found in either technology. They feel familiar in both, so you'll get used to them quickly. But once you're used to them, every other board will feel flat.

About Torq

Torq is a surfboard brand known for strong, light epoxy boards in its own constructions such as TEC and ACT. From smooth longboards to performance shapes: Torq builds boards that offer a lot of volume without sacrificing feel. At Hart Beach, they fit perfectly, as they can withstand the North Sea all year round.