Back to the roots
Craft hand-made boards in combination with pure passion power tools from Festool
The British company Lignum Surfboards has taken surfboard production back to its roots, championing the use of wood in its products as opposed to polyurethane foam. In their workshop, Alen van Rooyen and Harry Robinson craft hand-made boards of first-class quality.
Passion for woodwork
The company's two founders have many years of experience in boat construction and traditional carpentry to draw on, and their passion for woodwork is evident in the products they create for Lignum. The surfboards are made from western red cedar that is grown in the British Isles. The trees are sometimes referred to as 'giants', since they can grow to a height of 40 metres. "This wood is renowned for being lightweight and durable, which makes it extremely suitable for boat construction," says Alen, "Constructing a surfboard is like witnessing the growth of a seed: It starts off small and transforms into something quite majestic." At Lignum, every board is developed from scratch. Including the time taken for planning and for the board to dry out, the entire process takes six to eight weeks until completion. Throughout this period, it is crucial to have the right tools on hand to assist in producing the best possible result.
„We make high-quality products that are made from an elaborate material. Because of this, we also need to have the right tools for the job, since the quality of a product always reflects a craftsman's skills and expertise.“
Alen - founder of Lignum
