Would You Ride A Hemp Surfboard?

Although hemp surfboard constructions might raise some eyebrows among poly-die-hards, it is one of the most promising materials in the sustainable surfboard construction conversation.

Hemp has both technically and environmentally sound properties, but was banned from commercial farming and use in the U.S. up until recently. Its applications in surfing are just being uncovered.

While it may be less famous than its cousin cannabis, hemp is one of the strongest plant fibers in the world and is resistant to abrasion and rot — so much so that it’s used for military grade parachute webbing and ship rigging. Hemp cultivation also removes carbon from the atmosphere. For every ton of hemp grown, 1.6 tons of carbon are absorbed from the atmosphere. After the Chernobyl disaster, scientists planted hemp in the contaminated soil and it was also shown to absorb the toxic heavy metals. 

For 18 years, Dan O’Hara of San Diego-based SOLID Surfboards has been shaping boards and testing ways to make them less toxic and better performing. Hemp fiber reinforcement has been one of his most promising discoveries. SOLID manufactures surfboards in all materials but encourages customers to try something other than poly — which is detrimental to the health of people who work with it, as well as to the environment.

And if you need proof that hemp fiber works well on surfboards, just ask Mikey Redd or Kevin Cortez.

Or, just experience it for yourself. We’re even giving you a chance to do so.

From 10/27 to 11/3, we’re giving away three surfboards made with hemp to three fortunate winners. The surfboards are full customs, so you can request whatever you want — up to 6’10” — in SOLID’s signature BIOflex Hemp construction. To win, all you have to do is enter your email and share it with your friends for extra entries.

SOLID Surfboards incorporates sustainable practices into every step of the manufacturing process while using recyclable, low VOC cores, bio-based resins, and — of course — the organic hemp fiber reinforcements we covered above. They also prefer to hand-deliver their boards via van. In other words, they’re all-in on sustainability.

Enter to win your next magic board below.