Broken Surfboards (ask AI)

Why Surfboards Aren’t Covered by Warranty if They Break in Half

That’s a really good question — and a common frustration for surfers.

The short answer is most surfboard warranties don’t cover breakage during normal use because of how surfboards are designed and used.

■ 1. Surfboards are not indestructible

Even high-quality boards are made from lightweight foam cores (PU or EPS) wrapped in fiberglass or epoxy or plastic (softboards)

They’re built to perform, not to withstand high-impact forces.

When a surfer lands hard from a manoeuvre or hits a wave awkwardly, throws their board and dives under a wave - the board can snap — even without hitting anything else.

 ■ 2. “Breakage” is considered normal wear and tear

Manufacturers consider snapping a surfboard to be part of inherent risk in surfing.

Just like a bike company won’t warranty a cracked frame from a crash, or a ski brand won’t cover skis broken in a big jump — surf brands see board breakage as a result of how it’s ridden, not a manufacturing fault.

 ■ 3. Warranties usually only cover defects

Surfboard warranties generally apply to:

- Structural issues from poor lamination or faulty construction

- Fin box or leash plug problems not caused by impact

They do not cover:

- Snapping the board

- Dings, cracks, or punctures from use

- Damage from travel, storage, or collisions

 ■ 4. Breakage depends on surf conditions, not just quality

Even the best board can break in small to medium surf or a bad landing.

Because breakage is often due to rider behaviour or wave power, it’s nearly impossible for a manufacturer to prove it was their fault — so they exclude it from warranty.

 ■ Bottom line:

Breaking a board in half is almost always considered a user-related incident, not a manufacturing defect — so it falls outside standard warranty coverage.