Torq Surfboard Construction Guide — TET, TEC, ACT and X-Lite Explained
Rider Shack is one of Torq's largest dealers in Los Angeles, and we've been carrying their lineup long enough to know it inside out. If you don't see the specific Torq model or construction you're looking for, we're always happy to special order — just ask us in store or send us a message.
This page covers everything you need to know about how Torq builds their boards and how each construction affects the way a board feels and performs. If you're ready to shop, browse our full Torq Surfboards collection.
Why Torq builds differently
When Torq launched in 2011, surfboard manufacturing had barely changed in 50 years. The hand-shaping process and materials — polyurethane foam, polyester resin, plain-weave fiberglass — were largely the same as they were in the 1950s. Meanwhile the broader composites industry had moved on to biaxial fibers, pre-preg laminates, and epoxy resins used in aerospace, motorsport, and marine applications.
Torq's founders asked a simple question: why weren't those materials and processes being used to build surfboards? The answer was mostly inertia. So they built a factory from scratch using precision CNC-cut aluminum molds, biaxial fiberglass cloth, and epoxy resin — a manufacturing process closer to building a Formula 1 component than a traditional surfboard. The result was a board that was lighter, stronger, more consistent, and more durable than anything being made the traditional way at a comparable price.
Today Torq builds across four main constructions — TET, TEC, ACT, and X-Lite — each with a different performance profile and price point. Here's what each one means.
TET — Torq Epoxy Technology
TET is Torq's original construction and the one you'll find across the majority of their lineup. It's the technology that started everything and remains the foundation of what makes a Torq a Torq.
The process starts with a blank blown to the exact finished size — no hand shaping, no CNC cutting of foam. The blank is covered in biaxial fiberglass cloth and Torq's unique Shield Skin, then a computer-measured volume of epoxy resin is applied. A second press mold — precision CNC cut from a single block of aluminum — is used to cure the resin under heat for perfect distribution. Every board that comes out of this process is dimensionally identical to the design spec. There's no shaping variance, no sanding guesswork, no inconsistency between boards.
The result is a board with a light, neutral feel — responsive but forgiving. Torq describes it as absorbing chatter well without the super-lightweight response of TEC. The extra fiberglass in the layup means TET boards are very durable — considerably more so than a standard PU fiberglass board of the same weight. The Shield Skin adds another layer of ding resistance that you'll notice after a season of regular use.
TET is what most of our regular Torq stock is built in — the Longboard, V+, Mod Fun, and Mod Fish all come through in TET construction. It's the right starting point for most surfers who want a reliable, durable epoxy board at an accessible price.
Browse our Torq surfboards: Longboard · V+ · Mod Fun · Mod Fish
X-Lite — Torq's Channel Islands construction
X-Lite is a molded epoxy technology developed by Torq specifically for their Channel Islands collaboration models. It's lighter and stronger than standard TET, and uses a 50% thinner Shield Skin for additional weight reduction. Like TET it uses the same lean, solar-powered molded process — extremely low waste and high dimensional accuracy.
X-Lite boards also feature an additional wood layer sandwiched between the two deck biaxial layers. This wood composite is described by Torq as incredibly ding resistant without adding the stiffness usually associated with that kind of strength — a meaningful upgrade in durability that you'll notice if you tend to put your boards through heavy use.
The Channel Islands shapes available in X-Lite are the Pod Mod, the Chancho, and the M23. These are the same Al Merrick-designed outlines as the hand-shaped PU originals, built by Torq in X-Lite epoxy. They perform with the accuracy and consistency that Torq's molded process delivers, and at a lower price point than the hand-shaped CI originals.
Browse CI x Torq: Torq CI Pod Mod · Torq CI Chancho · Torq M23
TEC — Torq Epoxy Composite
TEC is a step up in performance from TET, using a vacuum epoxy layup process instead of the press-mold system. Vacuum epoxy uses a hand lay-up process with vacuum bonding to bind the fiber to the board and remove excess resin — a process that allows Torq to use significantly more fiber while keeping overall weight comparable to a PU board.
The numbers are significant: TEC shortboards carry approximately 18oz of fiber on the deck and 10oz on the base — roughly double the fiber found on most boards of the same weight. The result is a board that is lightweight and highly durable, with a very direct, immediate performance feel. Torq describes TEC as having a response that's especially good in smaller or weaker waves, and in larger waves the advantage is they're considerably less likely to break under impact.
TEC also incorporates carbon fiber reinforcement in the layup, adding stiffness and snap where it matters most. The feel is noticeably different from TET — more lively and direct, less neutral. Experienced surfers who want a performance-oriented epoxy board will notice the difference immediately.
We carry TEC models occasionally rather than as regular stock. If you're specifically looking for a TEC construction board, contact us and we can check availability or arrange a special order.
ACT — Advanced Composite Technology
ACT is Torq's top-tier construction, using pre-impregnated composite materials — the same technology used in Formula 1 cars, aerospace components, and high-performance marine applications. Pre-preg means the glass fiber weave is impregnated with resin and hardener under high pressure and high temperature, resulting in the strongest possible laminate form with the most accurate resin-to-fiber ratio achievable.
The performance advantages are significant: more accuracy than any other process, less waste, perfect reproduction board to board, and exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. The flex characteristics of an ACT board are in a different category from TET or TEC — more precise, more controlled, and more immediately responsive to foot pressure changes.
ACT is Torq's premium range and reflects it in price. Like TEC, we carry ACT models occasionally rather than as regular stock. For surfers who want Torq's absolute best construction — or who want to explore what pre-preg composite technology feels like under foot — contact us and we'll discuss options and special order availability.
Soft Deck
Torq's Soft Deck range uses TET materials for the core and structure — lightweight, durable, dimensionally accurate — with a PE or EVA foam layer on the deck and rails. This gives you the performance and durability of a proper epoxy board with the safety and comfort of a soft surface. Not a traditional soft top construction — the base and structure are full TET epoxy — but a hybrid approach that works well for surf schools, families, and surfers who want a low-maintenance everyday board.
Torq construction summary
TET — Torq's original construction. Press-molded epoxy with biaxial cloth and Shield Skin. Neutral flex, excellent durability, accessible price. The majority of our Torq stock.
X-Lite — Torq's Channel Islands construction. Lighter and stronger than TET with a wood composite deck layer. Used exclusively on the Pod Mod, Chancho, and M23.
TEC — Vacuum epoxy with carbon reinforcement. Double the fiber of a comparable board, direct and immediate performance response. Available by special order.
ACT — Pre-preg composite technology, the pinnacle of Torq construction. Exceptional strength-to-weight and flex precision. Available by special order.
Special orders
As one of Torq's largest dealers in Los Angeles, Rider Shack has access to Torq's full range across all constructions and models — well beyond what we have on the floor at any given time. If you're looking for a specific Torq shape, size, construction, or colorway that isn't currently in our collection, we can special order it for you. Come in and talk to us or reach out through our contact page.
Browse everything we currently carry: All Torq Surfboards
