Ride into summer with these sustainably sourced, custom-made boards NICOLE SWENGLEY
Come summer, many a thought turns to spending time by the sea – and those who love to ride the waves as opposed to paddle in the shallows might be intrigued to hear about Driftwood Surfboards, a niche Cornish company specialising in high-performance, custom-built surfboards made from eco-friendly materials.
Unlike mass-produced foam-cored boards that rely heavily on synthetics, Driftwood Surfboards (from £1,450) are made from driftwood, sustainably sourced timbers such as Cornish cedar or reclaimed wood from church pews, pub panelling and old floorboards. Every last scrap of collected wood is usefully employed, with short strips laid diagonally to create herringbone patterns on decks (second picture) or bases and wood shavings used as packaging.
Each board is like an individual work of art. At the heart is a fish-bone structure like a spine whose ribs are precision cut from marine-grade European plywood. Wooden rails are attached to the rib edges and then sanded to merge seamlessly with a deck and base made from “skins” of the recycled or locally sourced timber strips. The board is then wrapped in fibreglass or silk and sealed using plant resin, before being polished – a stainless-steel vent equalises internal pressure and temperature.
Boards can be customised, incorporating nose and tail blocks (from £1,550) and fixed fins that can be specified to match the deck and base (from £1,600). Fabric inlays can also be added to create individuality (from £1,800).
Imaginative bespoke designs have included a tribute to Dutch graphic artist MC Escher (£15,000, fourth image) decorated with 2,000 reptiles, each with 24ct gold leaf eyes. Just as arresting is the CNC chambered board (£2,000, fifth picture), made from paulownia timber and decorated with a digitally printed silk inlay laminated into the board.
“Our boards are like precision-engineered musical instruments, offering high levels of performance and designed with function in mind – paddling power, early wave entry, speed, manoeuvrability and glide,” says founder David Forsyth. “Hollow wooden boards offer greater sensitivity between the board and water, so the wave feels more alive under your feet.” And really, what could be better than that?
