Ventana Custom Surfboards & Paddle Boards + FAQ

Each Ventana surfboard and paddle board is a one-of-a-kind, lightweight, surfable work of art. They are hollow, made from reclaimed historic and exotic wood, and crafted in Santa Cruz, California by our master artisan, Martijn Stiphout. We offer free, insured shipping on all U.S. orders. We can ship internationally, as well. Below is a list of frequently asked questions. You can also contact us directly at craftspeople@ventanasurfboards.com or +1-831-915-4326. Do people really surf them? Absolutely! All Ventana surfboards live inside homes as art pieces, and many get taken off their stands or walls by their owners to go surfing. Ventana boards are built as heirlooms that will last for generations, so even those that are art pieces today might someday find their way onto waves.   How much do they cost? Ventana all-wood boards range from USD$8500 to USD$25,000. The Ventana SwellCycle collaboration boards start at only USD$2850. The design, length, shape, inlays and history of the reclaimed woods all impact the final price. We provide you with an exact quote up front, and that's the price you pay. If your requirements change during the crafting process, the price may change a bit, of course. A 50% deposit is all that's required to get started. The rest is payable on completion.   Who is the maker? Martijn Stiphout is our master artisan. Anything wood that comes from Ventana, from our Save-A-Surf Boxes to our bodysurfing handplanes to our hollow wooden surfboards is made by Martijn. How well do they surf? Amazingly well! Every Ventana surfboard is built to surf. Given their hollow nature, they float well, surf fast, and are easy to pop up on. Surfing a Ventana is smooth and fun. Most of our customers are laid-back soul surfers who love the ride. When we’re in the water, we often let other surfers in the line-up test them. Even the most skeptical surfers are instant fans.   Are they heavy? Given that they are hollow, Ventana surfboards are relatively light. Internal, ribbed frames given the boards strength and structure, and the top and bottom decks are only 1/8 inch (3mm) thick. While they are a little heavier than a traditional foam board, surfers and art collectors are always surprised by how light they are. For instance, an 8-foot Ventana is usually only about 18 pounds. The design and wood species you choose can impact the final weight. We can work with you to ensure a heavier or a lighter board depending on your needs. The Ventana SwellCycle collaboration boards are lighter weight than our all-wood boards.   Are they foam core? Our hollow wooden surfboards are entirely made of wood, cork, fiberglass, and bio resin epoxy. The Ventana SwellCycle collaboration boards have 3D printed PLA, plant-based, hollow-framed cores with Ventana wood inlays What's the plug near the tail? It's a vent plug. Given that Ventana surfboards are hollow, they are beholden to Charles’s Law (also known as the law of volumes). V=kT where: V is the volume of the gas, T is the temperature of the gas (measured in kelvins), and k is a non-zero constant. This law describes how a gas expands as the temperature increases; conversely, a decrease in temperature will lead to a decrease in volume. If the boards were completely sealed, they could expand when it’s hot, putting undue stress on the decks. The vent plug allows the boards to be sealed in the water and pressure equalized on the land. Of course, we glass the inside of the boards, as well, so that if you were to forget the vent plug and get some water inside, you can drain it without harming the integrity of the board!  The Ventana SwellCycle collaboration boards have a built-in vent plug that incorporates breathable Gore-Tex that is permanent and requires no screw. What happens if I forget to put the vent plug in? We glass our boards inside and out to protect them from structural damage if water were to get inside. If you happened to forget to tighten the vent plug before jumping in the waves, simply get out of the water, drain your board, and let it dry with the vent plug removed. The Ventana SwellCycle collaboration boards have a built-in vent plug that incorporates breathable Gore-Tex that is permanent and requires no screw.   Can you make a short board, longboard, fish, egg, paddle board, etc.? Yes! We specialize in custom shapes and designs. We have a variety of templates that will fit the needs of most surfers and art collectors, but we can create custom surfboard and paddle board shapes, as well.    Where are they made, and can I visit? Aptos and Santa Cruz, California. If you'd like to visit, contact us!   Where do you get such amazing woods and materials? We ask for it or people contact us. We have a rule that we don't pay for wood. We do that to force ourselves to use reclaimed materials, but also to ensure that our investment is in outstanding craftsmanship rather than in purchasing materials. Our woods are some of the most historic and exotic in the world, many of which are only available as reclaimed or salvaged. Old growth redwood, for instance, can no longer be purchased new, so we use old floorboards, porches or even wood from the boat that John Steinbeck chartered into the Sea of Cortez in 1940! We created the Ventana Upcycle Partner Program so that companies and individuals who give us materials get free marketing and promotion in return for their donation. We receive a good deal of press and publicity, and our partners benefit from that.   How long do they take to build? Each all-wood board takes 6-8 weeks to complete. Depending on how many custom orders are in the queue, your board may take longer. We'll work with you to determine your requirements, give you an estimated completion date and provide the exact price of your board. We require a 50% deposit to get you in the queue. The Ventana SwellCycle collaboration boards take 4-6 weeks to complete (sometimes sooner!) How can I track the progress of my surfboard? We'll send you progress pictures and videos throughout the crafting process. We also maintain and share a directory with you that contains all the content from start to finish. Here's an example: What are the display and wall mounting options? We can create custom, low-profile wall or floor mounts that are unique to each board and blend in with their surroundings so as not to distract from the surfboard. Here are various horizontal, vertical, and floor stand options.   What comes with my board? We give you a reclaimed wood or metal display sign and a handmade bag by Sagebrush Board Bags created using coffee bean sacks and unique, remnant fabrics. Every Ventana board comes with a special edition of our standard Save-a-Surf Wax Box. This version includes two, custom-made brass vent plug screws. What other options are there for my surfboard? We can create unique design elements and inlays, special shapes, special fins, and almost anything else you can envision. We can also re-create any surfboard that you see on our website. We can incorporate items that have personal meaning to you - wood, leather, metal, jewelry, shells, gems, and other found items.  We can also create almost anything out of wood to match your surfboard - even using leftover pieces from the production of your surfboard's production to create the items. We can build canoes, kayaks, paddles, pens, pencils, bookmarks, bodysurfing handplanes, skateboards, snowboards, art pieces, bottle openers, fin keys, musical instruments, and more.    What is that material on the rails? Is it cork? Yep, it's cork! We glue together thin sheets of cork into blocks. This allows us to shape the rails into exactly what’s needed to maximize the performance of each board. Cork is also a flexible material, so it’s more ding resistant. And cork is sustainable given that harvesting doesn’t require cutting down the oak tree. We get our natural color, cork rolls from Bangkor Cork. The Ventana SwellCycle collaboration boards are wrapped in flax cloth around a PLA, plant-based, 3D printed core. What resins and pigments do you use? We use CLR and ONE from Entropy Resins. This is a bio-based epoxy made from a tree sap base. It's also non-toxic (No VOCs) and is clear and strong. For some of our resin pour and hot coats, we use soy based EcoPoxy. For epoxy pigmentation, we use Black Diamond Pigments - some of their pigments even glow in the dark!   What makes Ventana surfboards eco-friendly? Ventana was the first company in the world to have all boards ECOBOARD Project Gold Level Certified by SustainableSurf.org. An ECOBOARD is a high-performance sustainable board. ECOBOARDS have the same technical performance attributes as any modern water-sport board, while having reduced environmental and toxic impacts – through the use of more sustainable materials and manufacturing processes. We exceed all the requirements for Gold Level certification. The boards have undergone a Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) by an independent third party LCA Practitioner. The LCA measures the impact of the project on four areas: carbon footprint, renewable/recycled/up-cycled inputs, and reduced toxicity. The resin used for the project should be made from plant-based, low to zero VOC, and bio-carbon-rich materials. It should also have a USDA Bio-Preferred certification for the fully cured resin (the sum of all component parts). The core used for the project should be made from recycled or plant-based materials, or wood that is at least 50% by weight. It should also show that the material inputs are sourced from a sustainably managed supply chain. Can they be repaired? Yes! Ventana boards are stronger and more ding resistant than a traditional foam board, so they tend to need fewer repairs. But in most cases, they can be repaired if they get dings.    Do you ship internationally? How much does that cost? We can ship anywhere in the world! Shipping is free and insured in the United States, and we can provide a shipping cost for other countries before you order. We can't predict whether there will be customs fees in your country. You'll need to be responsible for those. Contact us for more information.    Do you stain, paint, or color the wood? Almost never. The wood colors are all natural, but we can paint if you'd like. The beautiful gloss comes from the Entropy bio-based epoxy or Ecopoxy soy-based epoxy that we use to glass the boards. If you would like stain or pigment to be used on your board, we can certainly accommodate.    How are they sealed? We use Entropy Super Sap bio-based epoxy and/or Ecopoxy soy-based epoxy, an incredibly strong and light epoxy made with a healthy dose of tree sap. It’s the most eco-friendly resin available, it polishes beautifully, and we love it. The resin is coated over 4-ounce or 6-ounce fiberglass sheets. We generally use two sheets on the top and one on the bottom. We seal the inside with a sheet of 4-ounce fiberglass on top and bottom, too!   Do you work with interior designers, and what are the benefits? Yes. We collaborate often with interior designers, and we can support various resale approaches based on the business model of the designer (commissions, discounting, pass-through billing, etc.). Read about the benefits of working with Ventana surfboards as an interior designer. Learn more about why wooden surfboards are terrific elements in an interior design project. Contact us to discuss your project, and let's create something beautiful that will meet your and your customer's vision for their space.   Do you have other questions? Contact us!