I have been surfing for eight years, and while surfing is the action sport I do least, it is absolutely one of my favorites. There is no feeling quite like the one you get when you catch a good wave. For me, it is because it is the most simple. It does not require a chairlift to bring you to the top, or a motor to keep you going. All you need is a board that floats, two functioning arms, and energy produced from the ocean in the form of waves to give you this feeling. In this sense, the sport is completely sustainable, besides the need to drive to certain spots (or take a ferry in the case of living in Vancouver).

I decided to dig deeper to learn about what my surfboards are made of so I can get a better sense of the sports’ impact on the environment. I found that surfboards are made from EPS, or expanded polystyrene or polyurethane foam. These types of foam, which are “derived from petrochemicals, are not only unnatural but blatantly harmful to the environment” (1). Ecovative design has revolutionized the surfboard with the Mushroom Surfboard. They have started creating boards out of biocomposites, specifically mycelium material which if a foam substitute made from mushrooms. This mycelium material is able to be molded into complex shapes, and can be carved like a traditional surfboard. They have shared this material and their process in hopes that someone can perfect this craft, and change the surfing industry. I have linked to a post below discussing the process of creating a 100% mycelium surfboard. It would be incredible to see other large surf brands like Channel Islands, Firewire, and Pyzel incorporating mycelium into the construction of their boards.

The Latest on Mushroom Surfboards. (2015, February 18). Retrieved from https://grow.bio/blogs/ecovative-blog/the-latest-on-mushroom-surfboards