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It takes more than playing with designs in a computer modelling package to make a reliable board that stands the test of time . We rely heavily on our trusted expert partners to input into the prototype design stage , road-test the prototypes , and refine them before we hit full production , which is precisely how our 2024 range was designed . We define the need by asking our partners what they think their customers are looking for . Then comes computer modelling to come up with the best combination of shape , rocker , thickness , width , weight and stiffness . We test the prototype with our partners before finally producing the finished product .
Which areas of the design process are important , and how do your SUP boards reflect that ? We ’ ve always been about function rather than form . And we ’ ve often been criticised for that - from being told our colours are too boring , or that our boards are a little ‘ industrial ’ in design . But that ’ s quite deliberate . We focus on performance , sustainability and longevity . There is always a reason why our boards look the way they do . Whether cost management , sustainability ( some colours last longer than others ), or anti-fashion ( fashionable colours encourage consumerism and a throwaway culture ), you can rest assured that the rocker , shape , planform , and materials used are always the absolute best for that board ’ s needs .
How do you design your boards ? It all starts with a sketch , a doodle that could be mistaken for a coffee-stained napkin masterpiece but is the genesis of our next innovation . These sketches are the sacred scrolls from which the next new board ’ s destiny is unfurled . We take these humble beginnings to our suppliers , who have already passed the McConks ’ gauntlet of quality assurance , environmental stewardship , and worker welfare before they can join the party .
Then comes the computer wizardry , where 3D designs are spun from the threads of imagination and tested virtually , ensuring that each board will glide over water like a swan on a mission . We ponder over every component , from the fin ’ s flex to the strength of the handles to the nose cone shape . We leave no stone unturned , no potential improvement unexamined .
The design process is a marathon , not a sprint , taking anywhere from four to eight months , akin to a slow-cooked stew that ’ s worth every savoury bite . And when the