Stretch Surfboards 2026 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Surfboards 2026 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Stretch
Interviewee: Hugo Almeida Designer Mkt. Director

The latest market studies show a 25% growth in worldwide participation between 2018 and 2024? Does this translate in your sales pattern?
No since the brand is really new and still in launch/development stage.

Can you share the sales ratio between stock boards, custom orders, online D2C vs brick and mortar shops?
20% // 20% // 60%

How can we lure back the newcomers into hardboards while softboards are their go-to choice?
I don’t think we should. Softboards are the perfect solution for their problem.

Which are the most sought after designs in 2026? (Mids, fish, grovelers, hi-perf, logs…)
In Stretch Surfboards Grovellers.

In comparison, which designs tend to fall back?
Hi-Performance shortboards are not our best selling boards.

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?
Stretch mainly works with epoxy construction, since we have our own construction that is different from standard methods and has been proven to work. I don’t think the PU will disappear but it’s not our main focus of construction.

Organic grown and eco-blanks are available for mass production nowadays: what is your take on those?
We’ve tried a few and they are great but in my opinion the customer is not ready yet since theres not many pros/good surfers using them. I feel like another factor is that the brands that are doing those blanks are focusing their marketing in alternative boards and surfers so it’s hard to the normal surfers relate with those solutions.

Any tips for retailers trying to sort out their order sheets with more designs available than they can actually stock?
We have a very complete range of boards but the 5150 and the 5150+ are some overall models that been proved by Natal Fletcher and they re selling very well.

Key Products:

5150:
The 5150, originally designed for Nathan Fletcher, is a compact daily driver built for small to medium waves, blending skate-like performance with control. Its shorter length and snub nose improve speed, tighter pocket surfing, and drawn-out rail lines. Featuring a flat-to-single concave with reverse tail channels, it can be ridden as a quad or 5-fin setup, and is recommended slightly shorter and thinner than standard boards.

5150

MR BUZZ:
Designed with Nathan Fletcher’s vision for the shortest possible surfboard, Mr. Buzz delivers a skateboarding-like feel on water. Its SK8 deck increases leverage and rail sensitivity, enhancing control and connection through turns. Built as an ultra high-performance quad for vertical surfing and big airs, it features low entry rocker, extreme tail flip, and a single-to-double concave. It can be ridden significantly shorter and wider than a standard thruster.

MR_BUZZ

The Super Buzz:
developed from the Mr. Buzz platform by Nathan Fletcher and Stretch, bridges the gap between a groveler and a performance board for less-than-ideal waves. It features a SK8 deck, single-to-double concave with V tail, relaxed rocker, and a curvier outline for wider usability from waist to overhead surf. It can be ridden shorter and wider than a standard daily driver, offering versatility and performance in weaker conditions.

SUPER_BUZZ