British Surfing - Full Circle
General News
Full Circle – Surfboard Evolution
Inventions
Links etc.
If you would like to receive an email letting you know when this News page is updated then send us an email with "News me" in the subject.
General News |
Full Circle – Surfboard Evolution |
A unique exhibition in Cornwall is looking at how surfboards developed from natural wood into one of the most toxic pieces of sports equipment on earth, and perhaps more importantly, what can be done to change this in the future.
Every year over three quarters of a million surfboards are made worldwide, most of them containing petrochemicals. Now, lead by the Eden Project at Boldeva, there’s a new wave of thinking in surfboard design. “Full Circle – surfboard evolution” opens on July 1 st at Eden with a display of rare and historic surfboards that date from the late 1800s to the present day.
“The exhibition shows the amazing changes in surfboard design over the decades, from the time when they were handmade pieces of wood to the current standard of lightweight fibreglass and foam that everyone accepts, but few of us think of the environmental impact,” said director of The Surfing Museum, Peter Robinson.
“Full Circle will show visitors what we can do to change this, but also give everyone a taste of Britain’s rich surf history that dates back to the time of Captain James Cook who first saw surfing in Hawaii in the late 1700s”. The boards on display will include a rare Hawaiian koa wood plank, home made hollow wooden longboards from the West Country, classic British surfboards from the 1960s through to the ‘80s – and Eden’s groundbreaking new balsa ‘eco board’. The eco surfboard was built by Cornish craftsmen using balsa grown at Eden, and has been laminated using natural hemp cloth and vegetable oils – it’s believed to be the world’s first fully biodegradable composite board – you could literally throw it on the compost heap when you’ve finished riding it! “We see our eco surfboard, and the Full Circle exhibition, as an iconic challenge to industry,” said Eden’s Chris Hines. “It’s a challenge to the surf industry to keeping working in this direction, and because of surfing’s mass appeal, to manufacturers in general to make their products in a sustainable way.” “Full Circle – surfboard evolution” opens at the Eden Project on July 1 st and runs through until August 31 st. For more information log on to www.thesurfingmuseum.co.uk or www.edenproject.com. The Surfing Museum is also open on Brighton seafront with its exhibition of British surf history until September 4th. “Full Circle – surfboard evolution” is the first exhibition in Britain to look at the change in design surfboards over the last 100 years and their environmental impact. Opening on July 1st, it will also be the first display of British surfing history ever held in Cornwall. |
 |
The Surfing Museum is a not for profit organisation and has opened Britain’s first full time surfing museum on the south coast at Brighton. The museum director and Full Circle exhibition organiser is Peter Robinson, a 44 year old award winning ITV News reporter and dedicated surfer. The man behind the eco surfboard is Eden’s Chris Hines, the man who founded Surfers Against Sewage
For further interviews, filming or photo opportunities please contact Peter Robinson on 07887 758324 or email info@thesurfingmuseum.co.uk. or try Chris Hines on 01726 811911 or email Chines@edenproject.com
Inventions |
PaddleAir |
 |
PaddleAir Power PaddleWear is a revolutionary new technology in hybrid sportswear that incorporates a simple but powerfully effective air chamber located in the sternum area of the chest. An adjustable inflation bag is integrated inside the PowerWear garment that adjusts to fit any body shape. |
| The chamber is quickly inflated with only a breath or two of air that fills the space between your board and chest. This allows you to lean into the bag and relax your back muscles and conserve energy. When deflated, the PaddleAir becomes a regular rash guard. All the energy you used to spend arching your back can now be utilized in other ways like staying out longer and catching more waves. |   |
 |
David Hilts founded PaddleAir Products in 2004. The company grew out of an idea David had for several years and decided to use it as a marketing project while finishing his degree at the University of Phoenix in San Diego. After he designed and tried his first prototype, David discovered how efficient the PaddleAir system worked and realized that his idea could be a real benefit to older surfers like himself and possibly entry level surfers and people with back problems. |
He continued developing the PaddleAir PowerWear line, and through the evolution of dozens prototypes came up with the current product available today. David grew up in Huntington Beach, California, and started surfing in 1966. He attended Huntington Beach High School and was on the school’s first surf team in 1972 and competed in the Western Surfing Association (WSA) and in team events as a member of the Huntington Beach Surfing Association. He competed in amateur surfing events for many years and occasionally still competes.David has been a part of the sporting goods industry for many years including working for a major wetsuit manufacturer and surfboard company, being a manufactures representative and owner of a retail sporting goods store. PaddleAir is the columniation of years of working in many different action sports and other sporting goods industries. David has drawn from the knowledge gained from those experiences to create a completely new product in the sport that has been a central part of his life for over 35 years. www.paddleair.com |
 |
Rechargeable Ear Canal Dryer |
|
Swimmer's Ear, Otitis Externa, Outer Ear Infection: The inventor: Hamilton P. Collins II, MD, is a practicing Otologist (Ear Surgeon). He has diagnosed thousands of patients with ear problems stemming from moisture or water in their ears. Once the patient has an infection, medication is required to correct the problem. Dr. Collins realized that if his patients could keep their ear canals dry, there would be no environment for the growth of germs. |
 |
THE BRIGHT IDEA Dr. Collins reasoned that an ear-drying device could eliminate the moist environment required for the growth of germs. The principles for designing such a device are rooted in basic Biology, which tells us that living cells of bacteria and fungi are always present in the outer ear canal. Since water is essential for the growth of living cells, preventing moisture or water from remaining in the ear canal would inhibit the cell’s ability to grow. Dr. Collins was convinced that if he could develop some sort of ear dryer, patients would be able to keep their ears free of moisture and thus minimize the potential for outer ear infections. |
 |
IF YOU BUILD IT... Dr. Collins worked closely with a design firm to create, develop, and manufacture prototypes of a mechanical ear dryer. The result of this collaboration was a device that blows warm air into the external ear canal, gently evaporating all water and moisture leaving the ear canals dry and safe. The doctor then tested the device on patients over a six-month period. |
 |
THE RESULTS ARE IN Some patients had chronic ear problems, some suffered from swimmer’s ear and some wore hearing aids. In all cases the results were extremely favorable. Sahara Design and Marketing Group LLC |
Links etc. |
More Links |
