April 23 Brand Journalism In the Press

Skunkworks Surf Co ride Crowdcube wave to revolutionise surf industry

By ELEANOR McGILLIE

SURFING siblings who are revolutionising the $7.4billion surfboard industry are inviting people to invest in their business through a Crowdcube Campaign which smashed the first target of £350,000 in less seven hours of it going live.

Ricky and Chris Martin, who made the headlines globally in 2016 for their revolutionary design surfboards during the Voom Pitch To Rich competition, hit their first target of £350,000 on day one and are now on a mission to reach their final target of £600,000.

In one week, 199 investors have jumped on board raising a total of £405,260 through Exeter based Crowdcube.

The ambitious brothers came up with the idea to revolutionise the way surfboards are made while mending damaged foam boards for Ireland’s Alive Surf School.

Ricky said: “This was the single biggest expense of the business so we knew there had to be a better way. If Alive Surf School had to deal with this problem then surf schools around the world were also dealing with it.

“After two years of research and development we developed a patent pending, heat bonding technology which completely eliminates the use of adhesives. The bonds on our boards are one of the strongest elements – not the weakest.”

Ricky Martin, left, and his brother Chris Martin, owners of Skunkworks Surf Co which has started a Crowdcube Campaign

The surfboard manufacturers now supplies its revolutionary surfboards to West Country surf schools across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset.

Their ground breaking solution and prototype, which decreases the wear and tear of ‘foamies’ has also caught the attention of billionaire tycoon Richard Branson, global investors and Jaguar Landrover who partner with Skunkworks for their Waste To Wave Campaign. This campaign saw the brothers collaborate on a board design made entirely from recycled plastics and then tested in Northern Ireland’s waves by UK pro Lucy Campbell from North Devon.

jlrtechfestrecycledsurfboardrgb1080917.jpg waste to wave project with SkunkWorks Surf Co

Speaking about the ongoing campaign, Ricky said: “The response on day one of this campaign was immense. Over 100 investors helped us reach our initial £350,000 target. But the investment has kept coming. The interest in what we are doing globally is phenomenal. It’s clear people want to be on this journey with us. The surfing industry is worth $7.4billion globally and we want you to invest in our eco-friendly boards and enjoy this journey with us.”

Last week the surfboard makers also announced they are on a mission to become waste free by 2020.

Ricky added: “Becoming waste free is important to us. We believe we can do this and grow our business, create even more employment, offer decent salaries with good job prospects and offer the Skunkworks team  the ability to grow as the company grows.

“Our plans are so exciting for the future with new products in the pipeline, we are getting a new e-commerce site which will be launched this summer and our new leash has been put through rigorous testing and we believe it is the strongest leash in the world.”  Watch the LEASH test here.

Last year, Skunkworks Surf Co shipped over 600 boards to surf schools in Norway, France, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, the UK and Ireland. Their aim is to multiply that figure by six this year.

Since coming second out of 900 UK businesses in the Voom Pitch To Rich campaign, the brothers secured over £500,000 investment, moved to a 16,000sqft factory, hired a team of experts and are now manufacturing Skunkies with built custom machinery.

To get involved in the Skunkworks journey by investing in eco friendly surfboards, which are revolutionising the surf industry, click HERE

Skunkworks products can be purchased on https://skunkworkssurf.co.uk/our-store/

 

ENDS:

Notes To Editor:

  • The Skunkworks Surf Co was established in October 2013 by two brothers – Ricky and Chris Martin to design and manufacture the ‘next generation’ surfboards.  Skunkworks Surfboard Co is based in Coleraine. The company strives to make the most robust, high performance surfboards and stand up paddle boards in the world.
  • For further information contact Eleanor McGillie of MGMPR Ltd on 028 3756 9569028 3756 9569 | 07709805379

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