The Lib tech Surfboards X Lost Sabo Taj surfboard.

Could surfboard construction Nirvana actually be here?

As surfers we've all dreamed about owning a high performance surfboard with all the positive attributes of a traditional PU board but with none of the inherent fragility that comes with this construction.

Lib Tech are about to change everything you know about surfboards and everything you thought was possible in surfboard construction.

Using 31 brand-new components to the surf industry and calling on 30 years of experience constructing environmentally friendly surfboards, skateboards and snowboards, it was inevitable that Lib Tech were going to produce some remarkable surfboards using this ground breaking, environmentally friendly manufacturing process. Each of the Lib Tech surfboards is handcrafted in the USA with an unwavering focus on building THE toughest high performance surfboards in the world with a commitment to operating in an environmentally responsible manner.

The construction process uses a Nitrogen cell Foam (25-40% recycled content) core for maximum strength and pop. The foam is closed cell, completely waterproof and won't absorb water.
Hexzylon Fibre Foam Skin, this is a smooth, strong, impact and ding resistant layer with the signature Hex pattern.
Next comes the unique Woven Basalt Fibre which is additive free super strong and resists heel dents.
The Bio-Matrix Resin is super strong and environmentally friendly with the best flex qualities of traditional PU and a longer lifespan than Epoxy.

Lib Tech surfboards are fitted with the lightest and toughest fin boxes on the market which are compatible with Pro Box, FCS, and all FCS dual tab style fins. They also use Sprock Blocks at the tail to add even more durability to the most fragile areas on the board. Even the leash plug has been given the same attention with 6061 T6 Aircraft aluminium pins and lightweight fibre composite cups.

"Since I first saw Lib Tech's ECO ISO construction, I wanted to build a board with it. The strength to weight ratio, eco minded materials and techniques, and the fact that this tech was being built in the USA was incredibly interesting to me. I am stoked that the time has finally come and hope people enjoy riding them as we have enjoyed building them." - Matt Biolos

Sabo Taj surfboard is the result of a well established shaper/surfer relationship developed over the last decade.

Matt Biolos and Taj Burrow got together to create a "grab n' go" one-board-quiver for Taj to take on one of his last minute trips where he had no time or the desire to pack a full 4 or 5 board quiver.

This board needed to cover all eventualities, 2ft beachies to 8ft Indonesian reef breaks and everything in-between. It was agreed that the start point should be the Lost Rock Up; one of the many shorter, wider and low entry rockered boards the guys had developed over more than 10 years of collaboration. Refinements and tweaks were made to the original Rock Up chassis and the result is a board that Matt and Taj believe to be the best yet and a stand out in this most sought after "quiver killing" sector.

As expected the Sabo Taj goes with a modest, overall rocker which is kept towards the back of the board to maintain that low nose entry for early wave entry and a fast and drivey feel. The tail rocker is more significant and more akin to a performance "step-up" for faster and snappier turns in and around the pocket. A clever rail-line delivers a shallow concave under the riders feet which creates lift and generally gives a livelier feel. Any concaves disappear at the nose and tail creating a more forgiving and predictable feel with nothing to catch or hinder your progress. A minimal double concave through the fins develops lift and speed in smaller conditions and at the same time keeps things drivey in more significant waves.

The very pleasing flowing, elliptical outline delivers that smooth and "catch free" performance you'll need especially in the bigger stuff. This outline teamed with the low overall rocker allows the Sabo Taj to be ridden pretty short. The round tail pulls in very late leaving plenty of surface area under your back foot so the board can still perform beautifully in the sub-par, average conditions most of us encounter on a daily basis. The tip of the tail is still pretty narrow which gives good hold in challenging big surf and hollow, barrelling conditions.

The Sabo Taj can really do it all; fun and chuckable on average days at home and dependable when paddling into double overhead conditions on your travels. You can size your Sabo Taj depending on your personal preference and the most likely size of surf you plan to tackle. Taj rides his an inch shorter and a tad wider than his Pro-formance shortboard, but you could equally go a bit shorter or much, much longer if you know exactly where and when you want to ride it.

The Sabo Taj really does cover all bases and it makes good sense to get acquainted with a single board that feels nice and familiar when the surf becomes a little more serious.

Boardshop is happy to consider trading in your old board against a new board, so If you have any questions about this we'd be delighted to answer them and advise on any potential board choices or enquiries you might have, just drop us an email to [email protected] or call us on 0044 (0) 1243 674250.