Frequently Asked Questions

BUFO and Hydroflex - What's the difference?

BUFO™ is our own surfboard brand.
Hydroflex technology™ is the name for the technology developed by BUFO in the last years. We named the technology differently than BUFO, because we want independent shapers to profit from our technology also. Other surfboard manufactors or shapers may now produce and sell their shapes using our revolutionary technology. So look out for the Hydroflex-Logo. It stands for a technology that you can trust.

What exactly are Custom-Made Surfboards?

A Custom-Made Surfboard is made for one person only. The board's dimensions are exclusively fit to the surfer's weight, height, shoe size and skill, to guarantee the best perfomance of the shape. The opposite of a custom-made board is a board of the rack, known as "stockboard". These boards are produced for a surfer with average size, in order to cover a wider range of customers.

What are the advantages of a Custom-Made Surfboard?

A customized board ensures the best transmission of the surfers impulses onto the board. Boards made in mass production on the other hand are thrown on the market and can't be adapted to the individual surfer's requirements. These boards are more and more produced in certain forms and the board "popping out" of those forms are all the same size and can't be customized (so called "pop-out boards"). But a 6'2'' surfer weighing 198 lbs with shoesize 11 handles a board different than a 5'9'' guy with 154 lbs and shoesize 9 1/2. That's the main reason why pop-out boards do not convince advanced surfers.

BUFOs Hydroflex Technology - What's the deal?

Only new high-quality materials are used. Hydroflex stands for a bionic construction based on plants structures and principles. Our boards function without a wooden Stringer, are flexible, long lasting and customizable. Every surfer gets his unique personalized board with best characteristics and long durability. The boards are super fast yet easy to turn, ensuring radical styles. After each flex the fast restoring forces establish the original rocker, producing a phenomenal rail-to-rail-performance and boost. The board responds directly to every given impulse, because forces are transferred right away and channeled where they are needed. 
With our high-precision custom shaping process we are able to copy every dimension of so called "Magic Surfboards" board and reproduce it with our materials. We mirror every boards characteristics 100%, add flex and durability and then scale the board due to the surfer's requirements. Flexing capabilities  can be adjusted to the surfers requirements. 

Why are BUFO Boards more expensive than polyester surfboards?

We only use materials of the highest quality for our Hydroflex Technology™. These materials are much more expensive than other commonly used substances. Every board is customized to the surfers needs - this increased effort is more time consuming compared to mass production off the rack. The bionic Hydroflex construction demands many complicated manufactoring steps, and many of them are done by hand.
The higher cost pays off in more durability and better performance. BUFO Boards are made in Germany and not in low-wage countries, where manpower is often exploited ruthlessly (so called sweatshops).

Are BUFO Boards indestructable?

No! An indestructable board will never exist - as you well know, the power of water is exceeding. But thanks to the bionic Hydroflex construction BUFO Boards are way more rigid than other surfboards.

How long does a BUFO board last?

It's up to you! All used materials are approximately 10 times tougher than materials of usual stringer/polyester boards. Due to the bionic construction the board is very strong, it bends under pressure and absorbs forces instead of fighting them. Damaged boards are easy to repair and due to the water-repellent blank you don't even have to repair little cracks, if you don't want to. 

But be advised, that bouncing around on the board outside the water or practicing wild stunts as seen on our videos is not a good idea. Surfboards are meant for surfing!

Are BUFO Boards 100% environment-friendly?

No! But BUFO Boards are much more environment-friendly than usual boards, because they last longer, no toxic materials are blown into the environment, no toxic dissolvers are dispensed, and no waste products come into being. The special blank is CFC-free and no TDI (Toluylendiisocyanat) is added, one of the main reasons for Clarc Foam's shut down. It is foamed with Oxygen only. Even during the production and glassing process, the worker's health is not at stake and they do not need breathing protection at all. No wooden stringers are needed, therefore no trees have to be chopped for your surfing pleasure. All materials used during production can be recycled.
The question about a 100% environment-friendly product has to be answered with no though: Throw your BUFO board in the forrest, do you think the board is biodegradable? We are still talking about resin, foam and fibre here! But BUFO Boards are absolutely neutral to the environment and don't emit toxic materials.
In case you'll hear manufactorers telling about their environment-friendly products after the shut-down of Clark Foam - take a minute, before you buy the story. Look precisely at the used materials. A wooden stringer soaked in toxic resin is hazardous waste.

How am I supposed to repair my board?

Small damages can be repaired easyly and fast with our own Hydroflex repairing kits. You are able to repair your board right away, for the blank is totally water-repellent.
Serious damages can be repaired at every professional surf / shaper shop where epoxy resin is used on a daily basis. But we advise you to always use our Hydroflex epoxy resin, because other epoxy resins act differently and may not have the same flex abilities and restoring forces as our Hydoflex resin does.

Bufo explains how to repair a BUFO Surfboard here.

Are there any Showrooms?

Yes, for listed shops and showrooms check the link "See and touch".

Where and how are BUFO Boards produced?

BUFO Boards are made in Germany. For more details about the Hydroflex Technology™ and the production process follow the link why bufo.

We apologize for not presenting all details and revealing our secrets concerning the production. Lots of people are interested in our know-how - we don't want you to get mixed up with bad copies of our product.

Why are your boards so incredibly fast yet easy to turn?

It's all about the dynamic rocker™. Our flexible construction pattern gives us the opportunity to make shapes with a soft rocker. The rocker (defined by the curvature on the bottom of a surfboard) is responsible for the speed of a board and its turning capabilities. When the board is flatter with only a little curve, the resistense to the water minimizes and the boards floats better. More rocker ends up in a not so fast but better turning board. BUFO Boards come with an dynamic rocker™ which always adapts to the certain situation. The rocker is flat while you are pushing for speed. While turning the board bends during a turn. The flex is controled by the bionic construction.

Why are flexible Surfboards better than stiff ones?

Stiff does not mean rigid. A cookie is stiff - but cracks if you apply pressure. Try that with a gummi bear.. A stiff tree breaks in a vicious storm, but flexible plants bend under pressure and do not resist. BUFOs active flex™ does not only increase the durability but maximizes the performance. Thanks to the dynamic rocker™ the boards are fast and easy to turn, and just like snowboards or carving skis they bounce from turn to turn (and rail to rail), energy is increased and not wasted during the turn.

But: 'Flexible' does not mean wobbly as you may know it from several snowboard types. BUFO Boards still feel stiff and just as hard as your stringer boards when you hold them in your hands or shake them. While applying pressure though - i.e. hard turns, hard wipe outs - the board has the ability to flex and give in. The following video demonstrates how the board has the ability to flex yet still be hard. Video. 

Are you able to varify the flex?

Yes! Our Hydroflex Technology allows flexibility of all types. We offer three different types of flexibility - with more or lesser flex - but are able to make the board as flexible or as stiff as wanted. This is interesting for pros, who have different desires. New School Surfers who bust big airs and all kinds of maneuvers definately want more flex. Traditional Surfers like it 'harder'.

Are BUFO Boards suitable for beginners also?

Yes. A surfboard with a decent shape guarantees maximum riding pleasure for beginning as well as advanced surfers. The only thing to be aware of is, that beginners should start in smaller waves instead of challenging the big ones. Therefore we like to recommend our Funshapes or Eggs to beginners.
The active flex of the board makes it much easier to paddle for and catch waves. Besides durability this is a major reason why our funshapes are used in selected surfschools for beginners and advanced surfers.
If you are not sure, what shape suits you best, don't hesitate to ask. We try to help where we can.

What exactly are Magic Boards?

Good shapes are developed out of close team work between prosurfers and shapers. The surfer gives steady feedback and the shaper transforms this to the shape. Magic Boards are pretty rare, always unique and reserved for pros.
By the way, no shaper is able to produce a mirror of a magic board by hand. If a pro needs a copy of a magic board for contests in case the original one breaks, the shaper usually makes around 10 copies and the surfer chooses the one that gets closest to the original one. 
The high-precision digital shaping process from BUFO enables us to scan and mirror magic boards with a precision of 100%. Further, we are able to customize the magic board (that was once shaped for someone else) to your requirements. Pros now are able to make their magic boards available for everyone.

Don't you eliminate small backyard shapers?

Not at all. Quite the opposite! Most shapers are running out of business due to pop-out-boards, mass production and production in low-wage countries. A raising number of surfers are buying these stockboards from the far east and thus custom shaper's businesses are wacked.
BUFOs Hydroflex Technology™ enables every Shaper to focus on designing his shapes and stay in business. Referring to the data of these shapes, we reproduce and customize the shapes with the Hydroflex Formula. Shapers focus on developing new shapes, we take care of the production. Shaper sell their boards over the counter or via internet. 
For more info about our cooperation with all interested shapers and surfers and your new chances check HERE.

BUFO - What does it mean?

BUFO is the abbreviation for Bionic Unique Floating Obsession. Just kidding! The truth of the matter is, that BUFOs little brother was not able to pronounce his real name Rouven properly and therefore called him BUFO when he was little. :)

What kind of board is the best for me?

Its a pleasure for us to help you find your right board. Please feel free to use our Shaper Advice free of charge.

How is the buoyancy of your boards and materials?

This question comes up again and again. It is almost like in the movie groundhog day and one of the big myths about surfboards. The buoyancy of a surfboard or of any other object you throw in the water is defined by physical values. A feather does float, but so does a plain carrier. Please have a look at  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buoyancy

BUFO Surfboards are lighter than common surfboards with stringers and faster than anything you have surfed before. This should answer any questions about the buoyancy of BUFO boards :) 

How do I customize and buy a BUFO board online?

Please note: You must be a registered user to be able to customize your stick. Registration is easy and free. Register via the login button on the BUFO meta menu.

Are those lines on the board's deck and bottom only design?

No, those lines are not design elements on the board. Those lines are the Bioprocessors™, which are a key element of our Hydroflex Technology™. Bioprocessors stabilize the board, maintain the flex and the surfer's forces. The surfer's impulses are translated onto the board with the processors, special sections of the board can be made more flexible or stiffer. For further info click here.

All those dots on the board's surface, what about that?

The dots on the board are part of our micro roots. Every dot shows the enrooted fibreglas that is shot in the blank. This makes the board so strong and prevents delamination. Pictures of this can be seen here.