Dandelion Surf: Making Waves in Eco Board Design
Photo credit: Ben Battel
Ever since I got into surfing, the board design process has always intrigued me. Especially when shapers, like Dandelion Surf, make a concerted effort to put the environment at the forefront of what they’re doing. No matter what, designing surfboards isn’t going to be particularly friendly to the environment. But knowing that shapers are making decisions which are more environmentally friendly where it’s possible to do so, does make them more attractive in my eyes. Particularly when that means going against the mass-produced market that we see with bigger brands. (Something that I touched on in my previous blog post with Open Surf.)
Photo credit: Thomas Kirby
Based in Polzeath, Dan founded Dandelion in 2018 after becoming frustrated with the amount of waste and toxicity involved in the surfboard making process. “I’d been in the industry for 10 years and realised that there must be a better way to make boards that wouldn’t impact the environment so negatively. After all, surfing comes from a love of the ocean – so why shouldn’t we be making decisions to protect our planet at the same time as doing it?”
This is the question that drove Dan’s desire to found a more environmentally conscious surfboard shaping company. His goal is to help reconnect his customers to nature through their boards both in the water, and in the design of the boards themselves. “I want them to feel like they are making a positive change – no matter how small,” Dan says. “I also think that my range of boards provides the freedom to explore the incredible waves that we have in the UK.”
When it comes to Dandelion’s unique selling point, Dan tells me: “We are a sustainable surfboard brand, our boards are built to last and the designs are intended to be surfed by everyone – from groms to pros.” One aspect of board design that I have always wondered about is whether it’s possible to create boards that are particularly suited to the female physique. “I did consider making female specific boards but in the end I thought there isn’t really much point,” Dan explains. “The boards men and women ride just depends on your skill level coupled with taste. The only feature I thought would interest women with my boards is the weight of my bigger boards. They are very light which helps a lot if you’re smaller – whether you’re a man or a woman. Ultimately, Dandelion shapes are universal and timeless for UK conditions, every one can be ridden by newer riders and pros alike. You just have to choose the size that suits your own taste and ability. And I’m always more than happy to talk and give advice about the best choice with every customer.”
As well as building boards with the UK’s breaks in mind, Dan is also inspired by Cornwall’s seascapes and coastline. “The Dandelion brand aims to represent and respect the elements of the world that fuels us as surfers,” he tells me. “You can see, from our colour palettes to our materials, that each design aims to celebrate the natural world.”
Photo Credit: Thomas Kirby
I was intrigued to find out exactly how Dandelion upholds their commitment to sustainability and soon found myself quizzing Dan on what materials they use for their boards and how they are less environmentally damaging. “The boards are made from the strongest, recycled EPS foam,” he tells me. “Natural Tree Sap Resin is used for the laminating process and the excess resin from one board is re-used on the next – reducing our waste of materials. The factory where we produce our boards runs on 100% renewable energies (no fossil fuels) and we also use adaptable plastic free Flexi Hex packaging that is 100% recyclable.”
One question that often plays on my mind is whether surfboards are recyclable considering all of the different chemicals and substances used for their production. Dan soon cleared up my concerns though: “Our boards are built for life, but are 100% recyclable themselves after use.” This isn’t the case for a lot of boards, so I was glad to find out that the recyclability of their boards is something that Dandelion focus on. They also offer a board recycling service, so any Dandelion board that is no longer wanted can be returned to the factory and the materials will be put back into their circular production process.
Photo Credit: Thomas Kirby
Another element that affects the sustainability of a product is where the materials come from. Dan is conscious to use British suppliers for all of Dandelion’s materials, apart from the resin and blanks which come from America. He tells me: "This resin is currently the best available, but I’m always looking for viable alternatives produced closer to home. I hope to be producing our own blanks very soon also.”
In terms of how the pandemic has affected board sales, it sounds like Dandelion has been fortunate enough to benefit from it. “If anything, the pandemic has made us busier, which we are really grateful for! I think a lot of people have taken up surfing during lockdown, and I also think a lot of people have really started to think about their impact on the environment. This chance to slow down has made everyone reflect on the changes they can make.”
As far as plans go for 2021, the Dandelion team are (like many of us) praying for lockdown to end so that they can get back to some form of normality. “Our aim this year is to really embrace the new members of our surf community by offering demo days, collective surf days and lots more! We also would like to embrace our eco-activism by promoting more environmentally friendly practices and topics of conversation online.” Another amazing project that’s on the horizon is a new shop for boards to be repaired and recycled in Newquay. “What we want is to set up a space where we can have people in and teach them to repair boards and generally get creative.”
For my final question I couldn’t resist asking Dan what his favourite board in the collection is, he barely hesitated before responding: “Either the maliscious or the mini-maliscious – they are both the same outline but the mini is a great progressive 8,2 minimal whereas the 9,6 maliscious is my go to nose rider.” And as the more manageable summer swells are on the horizon, I’m sure it won’t be long until Dan is nose-riding into the sunset after a hard days work churning out his eco board designs.
To stay up to date with the Dandelion story and upcoming announcements, make sure to check out their website and social media.
Photo credit: Thomas Kirby