14 DAY TRIAL // There are plenty of people in this world who are big fans of water sports. Still, chances are there are only a handful of folks who would find it in their heart to part with a bucket full of money in exchange for a surfboard.
Those lucky few who find themselves in this second category of people would do well to contact New Zealand-based designer Roy Stuart, the creator of the surfboard featured in the photo above.
According to Daily Mail, this man has been designing and making surfboards since about 20 years ago. By the looks of it, he is so good at what he does that some of his creations are – for lack of a better word – obscenely expensive.
Not to beat about the bush, the surfboard pictured above has a price tag of $1.3 million (€0.96 million). Simply put, it is worth more than the houses some people live in, and definitely more than your average Joe and Jane's yearly income.
Before some start thinking that Roy Stuart only settled on this price for the surfboard hoping to get the attention of those more snobbish of the bunch, it need be said that, according to the designer, the board is totally worth its cost.
Thus, Roy Stuart claims that The Rampant, as this surfboard is named, is carved from a very rare wood originating all the way from Asia. This wood comes from a tree that locals like to call Paulownia, and is rather difficult to come by.
The surfboard also comprises wood from another rare tree that is native to New Zealand. This second variety of rare wood, identified as kahikatea, was used to craft a tunnel fit that sits at the bottom of the board. Besides, The Rampant sports a 23-carat gold lion motif.
“The Rampant is so visually striking many people think it might be designed for artistic appeal alone. High price is a consequence of the ultimate design and performance of a lifetime. Life is short, get the best if you can - price is just a number but the experience is forever,” Roy Stuart says.
To create this mind-bogglingly expensive surfboard, the designer first focused on features concerning its behavior when it the water and functionality. It was only later that he turned his attention to elements having to do with aesthetics.
“We begin by modeling a prospective surfboard based on what we want it to do - how big must the hull be to accomplish its task? How will lower wave frequencies be handled, and how fast will we go? This process is devoid of any aesthetic considerations, it’s pure engineering.”
“Later, we work to maintain the engineering integrity of the design while making it look like something you want in the middle of your living room, or on the roof of your car,” the 53-year-old details the process of creating the perfect surfboard.