Surfing's next frontier isn't a spectacular new maneuver or an exotic destination, but something much closer to every surfer's heart: the board itself. A French startup has just presented a design that could represent the future of surfing. Using recycled seaweed and 3D printing, not only does the “surfboard 2.0” address sustainability issues, but it also offers superior performance. Everyone is happy, right?
Surfing, the problem of traditional boards
Polyurethane surfboards have become a symbol of everything that is wrong with the surf industry. Second studies conducted by the University of Berkeley and the University of Wollongong, a single short board can generate up to 170kg (375lbs) of CO2 during the manufacturing process and up to 272kg (600lbs) over its lifetime. When you consider that an average surfer might ride several of these boards in a single year, the environmental implications are staggering. Have you ever imagined it? The devil hides in the details.
The Paradoxal solution
Paradoxal Surfboards, the designer's "creature". Jeremy Lucas and his team have developed a 3D printed surfboard, made from recycled seaweed collected directly from the beach of Ris, Spain. This algae, once considered waste, is now the basis of one of the most promising innovations in surfing (and not only). The design of these surfdead boards is directly inspired by the honeycomb structure of the nanostructures found in the algae themselves. Using a 3D printing process that combines thermoset materials and biological fibers, Paradoxal is able to create unique designs that are reinforced in specific areas, making the entire structure more durable and resilient to ocean stresses.
Aesthetics and functionality
It's not just a question of sustainability, obviously. Even the eye wants its part: how are beauty and functionality arranged? Well, the clear laminate design and circular grid structure of these boards look gorgeous in direct light, almost as if they were sea creatures discovered on an alien planet. Damn, what a poetic streak. These circular structures, which give the board its improved strength, are the main advantage of 3D printing.
While enthusiasts wait impatiently (perhaps) for these boards to become available on the market, the future of surfing proudly meets the wave of the energy transition. Good luck!
