Imagine this...

I've been surfing since I was basically 13 but I grew up in a landlocked VA town so it really wasn't until I was in my early 20's that I started going through surfboards. Even still I'm guessing that over the years I've owned probably 20 - 30 surfboards all of which were or are PU/fiberglass boards with the only exception being the SUP that I ride which is an epoxy. I've also always been at least somewhat conscious about my consumption of goods and production of waste and really am enjoying the attention being paid to being Earth consciousness that's more prevalent in recent years. Surfboards are TOXIC - period. Surfboards are non-biodegradable, non-recyclable, and made from non-renewable petroleum resources that are at the heart of most major international conflict. As in touch with the Earth as many surfers are we contribute to some of the worst things going on this planet and treat it no better than anyone else when it comes to our waste surfboards. I hate to say it but it's true... Until now.

Back in December Andy sent me an email with the subject line "Check..." and in the body of the email it simply said "... this out" and he provided me with the following link on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_fI1nzJSl4&feature=PlayList&p=53E285814A9046AA&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=23 Better yet here's the YouTube video:



So it turns out there's this guy in Montreal, Canada that has figured out a way to use RECYCLED foam to make surfboard blanks which are WATERPROOF then he glasses them with flexible bamboo Fiber! Are you kidding me? I was in Costa Rica at the time and did as much research on the guy and the company as I could find online and when I got back to the US spoke to my brother about it. We both agreed that it's a great idea and were both really amped to find out more but like all surfers we were nervous about how they would ride and what the hell does anyone in Montreal know about surfing!! I emailed Corran at Imagine Surfboards introducing myself and asking for more information and got back a long detailed email and was told that one of his riders was actually on the island with some boards and that he would arrange to have him come by the shop and show them to us. Stoked!! Julian came by the shop a few days later and we were blown away with what he showed us - beautiful white boards with a real wood stringer that flex nice with a little pressure. Julian hung out for a while and told us his experience with the boards and shared some other killer personal experience (you'll have to come by and talk with one of us to get the FULL skinny). The bottom line is this: We ordered boards and are expecting our first batch this week, I've ordered 3 for myself and Kevin & Andy are getting one as well, my other boards are on the used rack as are Andy's and Kevin already sold one of his, I feel GOOD about these new boards coming - I know that when they were shaped the offcut foam was collected and is going to be put back into a bin to be made into another blank - I know that the board was glassed with bamboo fiber which is one of the most renewable fibers on the planet - I also know that when I get a ding in one of these boards I don't need to worry about water gettin into it because the foam is waterproof and if and when I break a board I can strip off the glass and ship the foam back and have it recycled back into a new board blank.

This is what surfing needs - a truly new approach to building boards not just another formulation of the same toxic things. I'll be posting more about this but please ask me questions and come by the shop and I'll chew your ear for hours!