Wood inside a board may sound a little unusual. This picture introduces the end-grain balsa used in premium sandwich construction and the features Starboard HQ highlighted.
01. It's about the structure inside, not the look
Balsa is a natural wood, and end grain means using the cut end of the wood grain. The original explains that using this material in a sandwich construction gives strength and lightness.
So rather than assuming every board that looks wood-colored has the same construction, it's good to read the model's construction name and material description together.
02. Read the small icons one by one
The picture has icons for strength and weight, FSC certification, carbon footprint, toxicity and pollution in production, and plastic use. Each one shows why the original introduced this material.
The certification mark is part of this document's material description. Please don't read it as meaning every board you're looking at has the same certification or performance.
03. Read comparisons together with their conditions
The original compares the material's properties with PVC, but this one page doesn't contain every comparison condition or product-specific test value. Rather than using it as a ranking that says one material is better in every situation, treat it as a way to understand construction.
When you choose a new board, check the material specs for that model year along with what you'll use it for. Connect that to how you'll care for the board so it lasts, and the material story becomes useful for a real choice.
Sources and scope
The artwork is Starboard's original infographic introducing end-grain balsa sandwich construction at the time; the explanation is Starboard Korea's commentary. The claims about properties compared with PVC, FSC certification and environmental reductions are those of the original, and they don't guarantee the certification or effects of every current model.
The illustration is Starboard's original artwork; the explanation is Starboard Korea's editorial guide, translated into English here. Sources checked: 2026-09-08.
