Cardboard Surfboards! | Aylesbury Box Company
The typical surf board is made from polyurethane or polyurethane foam, but could one be created from a reclaimed cardboard box and still be good enough to ride the waves?
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Cardboard Surfboards!

Aylesbury Box Company / Uncategorised  / Cardboard Surfboards!
9th September 2016 In Uncategorised By Catherine

Cardboard Surfboards!

Over the summer you may have squeezed into a wetsuit and headed out to sea with a surfboard in hand. There is certainly a draw to the adrenalin rush of riding a wave. The challenge and reward are sufficient to encourage many people to endure a lot of failed attempts, but still keep trying.

The typical surf board is made from polyurethane or polyurethane foam, which is coated with a layer of fibreglass or epoxy resin. This combination has all the right credentials that are needed in the water.

It is possible to recycle polyurethane, but less easy to find a recycling facility that deals in this material. When it is recycled, it is typically made into carpet underlay.

Traditional Surfboards

In times when such a material wasn’t readily available, wood was the material of choice for traditional surf boards including the Hawaiian Alaia. The simple design of the Alaia has made a return in recent years with beautifully finished boards selling for several hundred pounds. There are also an increasing number of surfers who are following age old techniques to shape their own Alaia from wood.

Wood is certainly easier to source from sustainable forests. It is also easier to repair damage to the board and recycle it at the end of its life.

Recycling a Large Cardboard Box

Having said this one surfer called Kieren Giffen has taken things a step further. With a large cardboard box that was donated by his neighbour, Kieren decided to have a go at modelling an Araia from this cheap, sustainable material.

Using waterproof glue, he layered the cardboard to create a thick plank. A thin strip of wood was added to reduce flexibility before the plank was cut to size with a jigsaw. This was then sanded and coated with Volan glass to give a smooth, strong finish.

When complete, Kieren was happy to put his creation to the test. After a successful day surfing the waves, it is fair to say that it is possible to turn a large cardboard box into a traditional style Alaia surfboard.

With a little time, effort and expertise, what could you upcycle from a large cardboard box? We’d love to see the results.

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