Envy Surfboards 2026 Preview
Retail Buyers Guide: Surfboards 2026 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Envy Surfboards
Interviewee: Nuno Viegas - Surfboard Designer / Owner
The latest market studies show a 25% growth in worldwide participation between 2018 and 2024? Does this translate in your sales pattern?
We have definitely seen growth in all segments of surfboards, and we have even been contacted more by elite surfers looking for a higher-performance board compared to what the mainstream market offers.
Can you share the sales ratio between stock boards, custom orders, online D2C vs brick and mortar shops?
When we work in a more high-performance market, 90% of our production consists of custom orders. However, when we supply surf shops and other more random models on the market, the stock level increases. We all know that a surf shop needs a variety of models and sizes to sell, which means a good surf shop needs a large inventory to offer a wide range of choices.
How can we lure back the newcomers into hardboards while softboards are their go-to choice?
I don’t agree that the preferred boards for beginners are softboards, but rather boards that they need to use during the transition process of their surfing. The next step will be to produce a model that helps them paddle well, get into waves easily, and provides relatively easy stand-up paddleboarding. This involves increasing the nose and chest areas and adding volume by working with a low rail that allows their weight versus the generous volume of the board to help them dig the rail into the water.
Which are the most sought after designs in 2026? (Mids, fish, grovelers, hi-perf, logs…)
In our case, we focus on performance competition boards, as we are strongly associated with renowned athletes and concentrate on refining their equipment. However, we have a wide range of models, where Grover boards and wider, more voluminous boards make up a significant portion of our production.
In comparison, which designs tend to fall back?
Twin-channel surfboards and some of our mid-length, retro-inspired boards tend to be discontinued due to low demand in our model lineup.
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?
I strongly believe in the evolution of surfboards, and I also believe that this type of construction has its place in a quiver, especially for a competitor. These boards offer different sensations and performance to competitors in certain types of sea conditions. There’s also room for PU (polyurethane foam), which will always be a part of surfing and will not disappear.
Organic grown and eco-blanks are available for mass production nowadays: what is your take on those?
I’m happy to know that there is demand for and use of sustainable materials in surfboard production, and we try to include them in our production line whenever possible. We also know that eco-friendly blanks only reach a niche market and still don’t offer the desired performance to be the main product used in conventional high-performance surfboards.
Any tips for retailers trying to sort out their order sheets with more designs available than they can actually stock?
Good communication between retailer and manufacturer allows them to jointly create a product line that meets the needs of both the store and its customers without overloading the inventory. Fast, customer-focused production also helps minimize inventory and opens doors for custom orders.
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