Surfing is one of the most popular sports on the planet. With tens of millions of surfers across the world, the surfing community is connected together by the vastness of the oceans that form the stage for the sport. Due to its growing popularity and global reach, modified forms of surfing are also fast becoming popular with the masses.
Surfing is a sport that is intricately linked with the water bodies on earth. As a result, surfers are naturally environmentally conscious and visibly concerned about the health and welfare of the water bodies of this blue planet of ours. In fact, surfing can be considered as a truly ecological sport as it can help raise awareness about the condition of the environment in general, and of the oceans and seas in particular.
Since the 1950s, the vast majority of surfboards have been made using three main ingredients: a foam core covered in fiberglass cloth and cured (formed and hardened) with resin. Lately, advancements in technology along with a growing consumer interest in the lifecycles and materials has fueled an industry-wide push towards finding a better, more environmentally conscious and sustainable way to build modern surfboards.
Surfboards have always been as individual as their owners. They exist in countless shapes and designs; the models are adjusted for diverse needs and demands. The construction influences the turning behaviour, buoyancy and speed. Whether small and maneuverable or long and tip-resistant – every surfer has his or her favourite board for every type of surf. Professionals travel to their competitions with a dozen or so boards. The best models are manufactured – often individually – in a vacuum-supported resin infusion process.
Vacuum ensures strength
Thanks to an innovative “New” vacuum process, significantly less resin is required to saturate the layers of fibre more thoroughly than was possible with conventional methods. The vacuum process guarantees that the resin is uniformly distributed and completely fills the holes between the fibres. This creates twofold advantages for the final product: the finished composite material is particularly light and yet still demonstrates great stability.
Hemp In The Surfing Industry
People have used Hemp for hundreds of years. They’ve used the super-strong fiber for ropes, clothing, building materials, and more. History acknowledges that the fibers are some of the strongest in nature. While it might just be a new industry to some, hemp has been used for industrial and commercial uses for ages.
Hemp has eight times the tensile strength compared to cotton and is way more durable. Plus, the fact that hemp is natural and easy to grow makes it the ideal element for making surfboards.
Thanks to the strength of this material, they can be confident that the boards will last. Using a board that is eco-friendly helps the environment. It also works to decrease the demand for non-renewable resources in our environment.
Advantages of Using Hemp Boards
The ideas of using hemp-based surfboards and paddleboards are ones that carry multiple benefits for the environment as well as the surfers themselves. Let’s explore some of the many benefits that hemp boards have:
- High Degree of Robustness-Hemp fiber is naturally robust, and hemp composites are one of the strongest materials available. Studies suggest that hemp is actually stronger than steel. Naturally, surfboards made from hemp are very sturdy and can withstand the high level of wear and tear that accompanies riding the waves. This results in an increase in the longevity of the boards.
- Entirely Biodegradable- A surfboard made from hemp is wholly biodegradable. This means that after you dispose of the board, all its components are going to be reclaimed by nature.
- UV Resistant-Hemp is UV resistant, so your surfboard and paddleboard will be naturally protected from the harmful rays of the sun. Using hemp-based surfboards means you no longer have to worry about going out to ride the waves on those sunny days.
- No Harmful By-products- As hemp surfboards and paddleboards are made from one hundred percent recyclable and natural products, their manufacturing processes do not release any pollutants into the environment.
Stay Tuned, we are relaunching our next generation HEMPEARTH Surfboards and Paddleboards Soon!
