Alan Stokes x Otter Surfboards

“Climate change is happening whether we like it or not, but we can do something about it. To highlight the importance of sustainability and marine conservation, we’ve partnered with Bullfrog Studios, pro-surfer Alan Stokes, Otter Surfboards & FORM Surfboards to raise awareness for the environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS).” – Minor Figures

Alan visited us several times at the workshop to collaborate on the design of his board with us – a hollow wooden version of his favourite FORM 5’6” ADPT twin fin – and to watch how we make our surfboards. It’s the smallest surfboard that we’ve made to date, not only in terms of its length but also its overall volume and weight, and because it’s a high performance small wave board the compound curves at the nose gave us a nice challenge to think about. We were delighted with the results, and excited to see Alan surfing it.

His first go out on the board, in overhead waves at his local Fistral Beach, was in front of cameras – Jack Flynn and the team from Bullfrog Media and Alan’s long-time in-water videographer Anthony Butler. As expected, he adapted to the characteristics of the hollow wooden board immediately, tucking into barrel sections and throwing it into arcing grab-rail cut-backs.

“I knew the board would work, in terms of how it would cut through water, but I didn’t know how much performance it would have… given the development of twin fins over the years, we picked the right time to make a performance twin fin out of wood. Riding this for the first time I was surprised at quite how much performance there was.

The board went well, it was really quick, I had no idea it would be so fast. You get a bit more speed and a kind of weight to a carve or turn that is just lovely. It takes a little bit of adjustment, but if you pull into a barrel and trust in the board’s characteristics, you can do stuff that you wouldn’t necessarily be able to do on a foam board, that’s what I like about the difference.”

-Alan Stokes, UK Pro Surfer

Alongside Alan’s surfing, the film explores the importance of sustainability and local communities through the lens of the climate crisis, with Alan and James sharing their thoughts and their vision for the future of surfing and surfboard construction.

All of our sustainable, hollow wooden surfboards are made using wood from local, regenerative woodlands and are intended for a lifetime of waves. Custom made or make your own.