36. Bellyboards

You would be forgiven for thinking that there are two types of surfing, standing up on fibreglass ‘surfboards’ or lying down on foam ‘bodyboards.’ However one innovative company in Devon has kick-started a revival in the original wooden bellyboards. For long before people stood up on ‘Malibu’ surf boards in Britain in the 1960’s, they surfed the Atlantic rollers lying down on thin flat wooden boards. The board design was based on the ancient Hawaiin Paipo boards (Paipo meaning short or small board). In Hawaii people learnt the art of riding prone on these short wooden boards before they attempted to stand up on the longer ‘alaia’ boards.

In Britain this type of surfboard was first used as early as the 1800’s, although it was not until after the First World War when veterans returned home in the early 1920’s that the sport of ‘surf riding’ on bellyboards started to become widespread.

The Original Surfboard Company hand craft their bellyboards in Britain from birch plywood. They individually cut and steam bend each board to give it a unique curve and nose. The boards are then either yacht varnished by hand or given a spray painted finish. The Original Surfboard Company are on a mission to preserve and revive traditional British made wooden surf boards and the art of surf riding. Hats off to them.