OLO Surfboard Tour

A loose collective of surfers and wooden surfboard enthusiasts are attempting to bring the first OLO (FP12) surfboard to the UK to ride our unique British waves. Following the Hawaiian tradition of sharing everything and spreading "aloha," they plan to pass this wooden surfboard from guardian surfer to guardian surfer in key surfing areas around the UK - allowing it be ridden in a variety of waves by a wide group of surfers from beginners and groms through to some of the top UK professional watermen and women.

For the last 20 years underground artisan craftsman Roy Stewart, based in New Zealand, has been recreating boards of this style from Paulownia wood and combining traditional board shapes with more modern design concepts taken from the fields of aerodynamics, fluid mechanics and hull design.

These surfboards have historically divided the surfing community; however not many surfers have actually ever ridden one; those that have all agreed that these are indeed special boards that offer a completely unique way of surfing waves. It's a lifetime surfing opportunity not to be missed!

They are hoping that the surfboard will visit the numerous and diverse breaks on all coasts of the UK, spend some time in Ireland and surf the bore up the river Severn over the next 18 months.

The project is being funded through donations from supporters, most of whom will ride the board; with a target of £1200 to cover the materials and import of the board; with an amazing response so far, they're already over 75% of the way towards reaching this. They hope to be able to ship the board from New Zealand to the UK in June or July in time for some balmy Summer surfing.

There are opportunities for amateur and professional photographers, artists, film makers as well as surfers to be involved in this project.

To find out more check out the magicseaweed community, visit their website www.woodensurfboard.co.uk or join their facebook page "olo surfboard tour".