Bruce, Kevin and John’s Wooden Surfboard Workshop Experience

We were blessed throughout the week with beautiful Cornish summer weather, but unfortunately for our workshoppers, a classic summer flat spell was also in effect, so visits to the beach were spent basking in the sun and checking out Porthtowan cafes instead of surfing.

Still this gave us plenty of time to focus on bringing three fresh new wooden surfboards into being, spending each day learning, making and shaping.

Kevin joined us from Abergavenny, and having recently decided to retire, was using the surfboard workshop as one of the first steps towards a two year plan to surf his way from the arctic to the equator, an awesome sounding adventure we are looking forward to hearing more about! Having worked in certifying sustainable forest management, Kevin was a great source of knowledge when it came to discussing forestry and sustainability, subjects very close to our hearts!

Kevin made a 9’1’’ Wicket, our progressive longboard shape allowing for a high level of manoeuvrability and a board Kevin will be able to use in a range of waves, we hope very well suited for his upcoming journey!

At the middle set of trestles, from London via Australia, Bruce was making a 7’10’’ Clipper, a board suited to big waves and holding a fast line. Being the publishing editor for Stormrider Surf Guides, Bruce has a great knowledge of the surf world, and he regaled us with some amazing stories from his days in the surf industry. A very well travelled surfer, Bruce will hopefully be using the Clipper whenever he plans trips to surf world class waves.

Another keen Australian surfer, and joining us from Kent, John, our third workshopper, was making a 7’2’’ Roller Coaster, a performance orientated board with paddalbility and extra floatation in mind. A former chiropractor, John informed us he is interested in retraining as a carpenter, and wanted to use the workshop as an introduction to making a range of similar watercraft in the future. We enjoyed conversations around the specific details of hollow wooden surfboard making, and hopefully John was able to take away some good tips!

At the end of the week we all shared some beers in the sun outside the workshop, everyone relaxed and satisfied with the results of their hard work, 3 brand new wooden surfboards ready for a lifetime of waves!

If you would like to join us to come and make your own wooden surfboard, click here.