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Core material used in wakeboards

Extreme to the core

Regular water skiing no longer cutting it? Looking for that next big adrenaline rush? It might be time to try out a foilboard. Using a hydrofoil that extends under the surface, these surfboards let riders literally fly out of the water when towed by a powerboat or kite. If you're ready for some serious altitude, check out the X Air "Black" board manufactured by deBotech, Inc. Built with Divinycell structural core, it's light enough to let you soar above the waves and tough enough to take anything you can throw at it.

 

Taking carbon fiber to the extremes
Founded by Hans deBot, deBotech, Inc. of North Carolina is a leading American manufacturer of high-end performance and specialty composite products. For over two decades, deBotech has successfully engineered solutions for many industries known for testing the limits of carbon fiber products, ranging from auto racing and water sports to aviation and aerospace. With a record that includes the 2010 gold medal-winning Olympic bobsled, 2014 Sochi Olympic medal winning bobsleds and skeletons, components in Americas Cup sailing along with multiple championships with his local Nascar Teams. deBotech was the obvious supplier for Georgia-based X Air when they were looking for a carbon fiber expert to design and produce a cutting-edge foilboard, the X Air "Black."

Composites that lift you up
To meet the performance needs of foilboarding, deBotech's design needed to consider both the stiffness and weight of the board. While a solid laminate would have provided the required thickness, it would have been far too heavy to generate lift. Use of sandwich composites offered the perfect solution for these technical constraints.

Known for dependability and a quality product, Diab was deBotech's first choice to supply the foam core for this unique project. Diab recommended Divinycell H80 for its supreme strength-to-weight ratio, as well as its ability to withstand the excessive heat used in deBotech's precise manufacturing process. Weighing in at a mere 6.47 lbs, the finished X Air board is guaranteed to fly out of the water thanks to its Divinycell core.

Fast to build, fast to ride
Taking advantage of Diab's kitting services has allowed deBotech to ensure consistent quality while simultaneously cutting manufacturing time. Diab provided sheets of Divinycell H80 pre-cut and shaped to the design specifications. With a pre-machined foam core, deBotech also saved on labor and material costs and minimized material stocks and waste.

Foiling the pros
In addition to being lightweight, Divinycell H80 can withstand repeated slamming and impact loads, and the strength of the material makes for a rigid board to provide the responsiveness that professionals demand. Extensive testing by pro riders to stress and damage the X Air "black" have been fruitless. There's no question that this is one extreme board--right down to its core.

Read more about deBotech, Inc.: http://www.debotech.com/

 

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