Surfboard ['Woolight']
Maker and role
Barron Surfboards, Manufacturer
Paul Barron, Designer
New Zealand Merino Company, Other contributor
Production date
2019
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
2019.106
Production period
Description
Surfboard with ‘Woolight’ technology. This surfboard was custom made by New Zealander Paul Barron, who developed the technology to create a surfboard using sustainable New Zealand wool. The surface of the board shows evidence of this process - the wool fibres are visible throughout. For sustainability reasons, the raw wool was washed just twice, meaning that some impurities such as grass and dirt remain in the finished surface of the board. The board is constructed with a foam core, a wool interior and a resin outer shell. This resin can be stripped from the wool at the end of a board’s life, so that the wool can biodegrade. The wool is used in place of the usual fibreglass. Due to its construction, the board is also very light and durable.
On the top side of the surfboard (deck), the surface of the board is mottled in appearance with yellow, cream, beige, black and grey spots throughout – this is the undyed wool. There is a rectangular grey area in the centre, presumably where the grip would be placed. Around the edge of the entire board is a white rim, called a rail. On the left side of the board a quarter of the way down from the nose is a “BARRON” logo with black rimmed white text. On the right side of the board near the centre are two logos. The top logo reads “ZQ / PREMIUM WOOL” in teal. Directly below is a second logo inside a gold circle with black text which reads “PAMU / NATURALLY / NEW ZEALAND”. At the tail of the board is a small metal piece, which is a leash plug for attaching the leash to the board.
The underside of the board has the same mottled appearance. It has the “BARRON” logo halfway down on the left. There are three fin boxes at the base of the board, one in the centre and two either side at a diagonal angle. These are fluorescent yellow/green. Above this in the centre of the board, there is some horizontal text. This is Paul’s signature and board measurements written in black permanent marker. It reads “– BARRON – “5.10” “20. ¼” “x 3”.
On the top side of the surfboard (deck), the surface of the board is mottled in appearance with yellow, cream, beige, black and grey spots throughout – this is the undyed wool. There is a rectangular grey area in the centre, presumably where the grip would be placed. Around the edge of the entire board is a white rim, called a rail. On the left side of the board a quarter of the way down from the nose is a “BARRON” logo with black rimmed white text. On the right side of the board near the centre are two logos. The top logo reads “ZQ / PREMIUM WOOL” in teal. Directly below is a second logo inside a gold circle with black text which reads “PAMU / NATURALLY / NEW ZEALAND”. At the tail of the board is a small metal piece, which is a leash plug for attaching the leash to the board.
The underside of the board has the same mottled appearance. It has the “BARRON” logo halfway down on the left. There are three fin boxes at the base of the board, one in the centre and two either side at a diagonal angle. These are fluorescent yellow/green. Above this in the centre of the board, there is some horizontal text. This is Paul’s signature and board measurements written in black permanent marker. It reads “– BARRON – “5.10” “20. ¼” “x 3”.
Marks
BARRON Logo
ZQ / PREMIUM WOOL Logo
PAMU / NATURALLY / NEW ZEALAND Logo
BARRON Logo
– BARRON – “5.10” “20. ¼” “x 3" Hand-written
ZQ / PREMIUM WOOL Logo
PAMU / NATURALLY / NEW ZEALAND Logo
BARRON Logo
– BARRON – “5.10” “20. ¼” “x 3" Hand-written
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Barron Surfboards et al. 2019. Surfboard ['Woolight'], 2019.106. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
Related exhibitions
![Surfboard [Woolight]; Barron Surfboards; Paul Barron; New Zealand Merino Company; 2019](https://collection.motat.nz/records/images/medium/49875/9fa18aef63ec334396029029a99c3d5add52f101.jpg)
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