Flama News
On saturday 21st of September the Flama-MadDonkeys team made its first appearance at the Kostafest 2024, in the vecinity of Sopelana, Basque Country, Spain. There we showed some of the boards we’ve been making with the FlamaVolta technology.
There we coud hear the first “wooh” and “what??” of people at realizing how light we can make our boards. Wooden surfboards are not heavy anymore!
The compsand construction (vacuum bagged skins over eps), invented by Australian guru Grant Newby, allows to build boards that are 70% organic by weight and carbon neutral. No fiberglass or resins of any kind are necessary, they only need a protection coat like oil or wood floor varnish, which makes repairs super easy!
SMALL DING SKIN REPAIR
BIGGER DING WITH LOSS OF MATERIAL
FlamaClassic is the original concept that started my adventure in 2010 with some very simple yet optimistic goals: building 100% organic surfboards out of wood with the least environmental impact. 15 years later we can say we achieved many of those initial goals: we brought the technique as far as we could, perfecting it and trying to make lighter yet durable boards, and the test of time has proved that the FlamaClassic technique is totally trustworthy.
FlamaClassic construction is carbon negative, probably the most sustainable technology today
MAIN GOALS
> 100% organic and unglassed surfboards
> building blanks to be hand-shaped
> offering custom blanks at market price
> best weight/durability ratio
> simplest construction method with minimum energy consumption
In the quest to make the cheapest, super-performing surfboards and mass produce them to meet the demand of surf fans, materials and technologies have gone from being handmade masterpieces to standard, disposable products. Only recently has a change in this trend begun to be noticed, it makes us stop to reflect and ask ourselves: what is the true price of surfing?
In materials science today, there are plenty of examples of greener options that are trying to replace traditional materials. In the surfing world, it’s all about finding alternatives to materials that have been favorites since the late ’50s, when polyurethane foam and polyester resin were introduced to the surf scene.
March 1 marked the beginning of our journey with FlamaCircular. At the Laboral Kutxa Bilbao Surf Film Festival 2024, we had the privilege of presenting our name, cause, vision and mission to a distinguished audience in the discipline of surfing.
This event, recognized as one of the most relevant in the world of surfing and sustainability, brought together the most prominent players in the industry in one of the most emblematic cities for this sport. In this unique setting, we extended the invitation to all attendees to take the first step towards the transformation of the surf industry, which has remained static for decades.
Surf Sufficiency is a program designed and developed by the NGO Vanderful-Seeds of Hope, a development package that empowers communities in sub-Saharan Africa to ‘shape their own surfing future.’ An integrated, hands-on program designed to teach how to build, maintain, and repair surf gear using available materials. Their goal is to help building sustainable surf industries, fostering a deep respect for the ocean environment and encourage the growth of a self-sustaining surfculture.
We’re big fans of their work and share a same worldview with Vanderful, so finally the opportunity arose to join them in one of their projects: Ponta do Ouro, Mozambique. And what happened there far exceeded our expectations.
In Mozambique, we empowered young people by providing them with tools and knowledge to repair surfboards, reuse old boards to make new ones using sustainable and local materials. We taught them our building techniques so they don’t need to use resins and fiberglass. At the same time we instilled values of care and respect for the ocean, and of course, shared some waves with them.
Today, the community of shapers we have formed understands the importance of reducing pollution caused by traditional boards and products. They are now able to manufacture their own boards in a sustainable way and have the necessary knowledge to improve their economy in a responsible and viable way.
In addition, we also imparted knowledge about sustainable business models, allowing the local community to benefit economically through tourism without compromising the environment.
Flama Circular is not just a project, it is a mission. It is about generating a positive impact on the entire ecosystem that surrounds the world of surfing. All this, done through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Learn more at: https://vanderful.org/
All images by Rita Galanó
The Kutxa Bilbao Surf Film Festival has been a resounding success, attracting a multitude of surf and film enthusiasts from all corners of the globe. With attendance exceeding 12,000 people, the festival presented more than 80 films from 20 different countries.
In this vibrant setting, Flama Circular + Old Surfer unveiled our mission in defense of the oceans and against pollution. We participated in one of the most prominent events in the surfing world, surrounded by the most influential leaders in the industry. In this inspiring context, we extended an invitation to everyone to join the wave of transformation we are leading.
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