The European Surf Manufacturers Association (Eurosima), gave its annual Innovation Prize to Newtis, a French start-up that has developed a new polycarbonate-based layering process for surfboards. It is said to be more automated and less toxic than traditional processes based on fiberglass. It also allows for easier customization. To market the boards, the company is working with Pukas, the big Spanish surf specialist, which has already ordered 800 boards this year. Newtis hopes to double the throughput in 2015. At its traditional Waterman's Ball gala, held at Seignosse on the French Basque coast on Oct. 3, Eurosima also gave an honorary prize to Greg Long, a 31-year-old pro surfer sponsored by Billabong who delivered a memorable speech on positive thinking at Eurosima's annual convention. Long is about to launch a new airbag-like technology, embedded in a wetsuit, that would lift surfers hit by a big wave out of deep waters.

Topics