Appletree Surfboards 2026 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Surfboards 2026 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Appletree
Interviewee: Wieger Buurma, co-founder Appletree Surfboards

How can we lure back the newcomers into hardboards while softboards are their go-to choice?
We don’t believe in chasing the absolute beginner market; for us, an Appletree is the perfect ‘next step’ board. We’d always recommend starting on a more affordable board until you’re truly committed to the sport. Once you’re past those first steps, that’s where we come in. Every board is built using our 50K closed-cell foam and a proprietary vacuum infusion system, creating a structure that ensures incredible strength and durability. Combined with shapes specifically engineered to help you evolve and perform in all conditions, an Appletree is a long-term investment for the rider ready to push their limits.

Which are the most sought after designs in 2026? (Mids, fish, grovelers, hi-perf, logs…)
We are seeing a massive shift towards high-performance foil boards, specifically specialized shapes for winging and prone foiling that integrate seamlessly with foil drive systems. This is exactly why we focused heavily on the Zapple S, Appleslice Prone and the Appleslice V4, offering the absolute best performance for these specific, evolving disciplines.

In comparison, which designs tend to fall back?
The interest in Directional kite boards has dropped significantly over the last few years. We think this is mainly due to the rise of wing foiling where a large part of the market has moved towards. At Appletree we still sell quite some directional kite boards, as we do a lot of custom builds and people that know what they want know how to find us. But for the general kite surfer that has a directional on the side, the market is down.

Construction wise, EPS/Epoxy+carbon is gaining momentum. Do you think the fancy tech constructions are all smoke and mirrors, and PU boards won’t disappear shortly?
We view our construction as pure engineering, focused on performance and durability. After two years of intensive research and development, our entire 2026 lineup now features a carbon base built with our proprietary vacuum infusion system, finished with our new Coat 25. We realized that traditional epoxy was adding unnecessary weight to our boards. By working closely with specialized composite industry suppliers, we engineered Coat 25 to replace the traditional ‘hot coat’ entirely. By stripping away this unnecessary resin weight, we have achieved a significantly lighter board without sacrificing a single ounce of structural integrity. Beyond the weight reduction, this proprietary material offers superior scratch resistance, keeping the boards looking fresh session after session. While PU and traditional methods have their place in standard surfing, they simply cannot offer the extreme rigidity and strength-to-weight ratio required for foiling. Our construction is engineered for riders who demand maximum stiffness, crisp, razor-sharp finish details, and gear that is built to last, not to be replaced every season.

Organic grown and eco-blanks are available for mass production nowadays: what is your take on those?
We celebrate the industry shifting toward sustainability. As a brand that integrates sustainable practices from the core, we believe this evolution is vital. However, we insist that this shift must go beyond marketing; it requires a genuine, sustainable mindset in both construction and production. We have our own foam supplier that we have worked with for years now. they have formulated our own foam that no one else in the industry uses as it requires a different lamination technique. At Appletree, we minimize our environmental footprint by recycling our foam cut-offs and running our factory on 90% solar energy. We are constantly evaluating new eco-materials, provided they meet our uncompromising standards for the quality and durability that define our boards. Ultimately, we believe the most sustainable board is one that is built to last for years rather than months, reducing the need for constant replacement.

Key Products:

Appleslice Prone:
The AppleSlice Prone is the ultimate tool for advanced prone riders. Born from our most trusted shapes, it offers explosive response, early lift, and refined control. Designed for steep, high-speed surf, its fuller outline and V-nose provide unmatched stability during paddling, while the aggressive bevels ensure sharp, confident rail transitions. This board is built to push your progression to the next level.

AppleSlice Prone set 4

Zapple S:
The Zapple S is our next-gen trench board, specifically crafted for advanced riders and wave-focused foilers using Foil Drive systems. It shares the DNA of our Appleslice Prone but is optimized for seamless integration with foil drive units. With an ultra-thin profile and an S-Glass nose that ensures perfect signal transmission, it offers razor-sharp sensitivity, stiffness, and incredible efficiency.

Zapple S – set 4

Appleslice V4:
The Appleslice V4 is the evolution of our best-selling wing board. Redesigned for next-level precision, it features a narrower outline for agility and a refined tail for clean water release. The shifted wide point creates effortless early lift, while the new concave deck ensures a locked-in, direct connection. Whether you’re chasing freestyle or carving waves, the V4 is our most balanced, reactive design yet.

Apple Slice V4 Set 3