What’s A SkidBoard?

Before I answer that question, I’ll ask you some. How many pallets have you seen abandoned around your town? Have you ever had a large delivery and then broken up the pallet it was delivered on? Did you know that pallets are known as Skids?

Well, to be honest, I didn’t know the last one, but I have seen dozens and dozens of abandoned pallets in various places – gardens, pavements, car parks, all over the place. Some of these pallets have been specially made to transport specific items and then dumped or destroyed. They’ve become single-use.

I’m rescuing abandoned pallets and turning them into lightweight, fast bellyboards. And, because pallets are called Skids they are SkidBoards.

My making process starts with breaking up the rescued pallets, trying to save as much usable wood as possible. Then I look at different combinations to see what should make a good-looking board. After ripping and planing the planks to size, l bond them together. I’m always amazed at how beautiful some of the woodgrain is on these. Once the blank is created, I then work on the shaping.

My initial aim is to make a standard size bellyboard, that’s 4ft by 1ft with a ‘square’ tail. But pallets aren’t always 4ft long, and nail holes, splits and cracks can alter the length. This means SkidBoards are various lengths and have different tail designs. One thing they all have in common, is a false rocker and a hard bottom rail. This makes them great in green wall waves. Before the final stage, all nail and knot holes are filled, then it’s sanding, oiling, more sanding and varnishing.

Skidboards are fast, like OMG that was fffffffffffffquick! They have a very slight negative buoyancy, just floating under the water, which means when you catch a wave, you are skimming the surface. They have some flexibility which helps cut into an unbroken wave. But they’re not just amazing bellyboards, they have character. They’ve come from wood that has been knocked about and abused. They wear their battle scars with pride. And because they’ve been made from wood that’s served its original purpose, and then been rescued, they’re very sustainable.

Here’s a selection of the SkidBoards I’ve made…