Mercedes-Benz Portugal just delivered a new surfboard to Garrett McNamara entirely made of Portuguese cork, a project done in partnership with Corticeira Amorim. The new board was handed over by Joerg Heinermann (Mercedes-Benz Portugal CEO) and Alberto Batista (Commercial Manager of Amorim Cork Composites). This board will be used by Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara to surf the biggest waves in the world in Nazaré, Portugal. In addition to this innovative surfboard, efforts will be undertaken to develop yet another surfboard, to be made of the foam used to manufacture aircraft wings, a material Garrett himself has brought all the way from Varial Surfboards in California. Portuguese company Polen Surfboards, which has also joined this 100% Portuguese project, is responsible for manufacturing the two aforementioned surfboards, which will be used to surf the North Canyon waves in Nazar
The MBoard project, started by Mercedes-Benz in 2013, ultimately resulted in the production of four boards of a model named “The Silver Arrow of the Seas”. Designed by BBDO Portugal, these boards were developed in partnership with Garrett McNamara for the North Canyon Project and the Mercedes-Benz Design Studio. This was a joint effort, in which dozens of design, research, aerodynamics and materials development specialists helped manufacture the ideal board to surf big waves in Nazaré.
In 2014, Mercedes-Benz is taking this challenge further by designing a surfboard entirely made of a local material, traditionally used to manufacture bottle stoppers, whose efficacy, resistance and durability have been proven in a wide range of projects developed all over the world, namely in the aerospace, automobile and textile industries. We are obviously talking of Portuguese cork.
In order to produce a surfboard entirely made of cork, we decided to resort to the expertise of the world’s largest cork producer, Corticeira Amorim, a company recognised by its long experience in product research and development, an effort partly undertaken by Amorim Cork Composites.
This sustainable material appeared an obvious choice to Garrett, who affirmed that cork is “a highly resistant material, although sufficiently flexible to withhold the impact of big waves”. According to Garrett McNamara, “since Portugal is the world’s largest cork producer, it makes perfect sense to use this material to make high-performance surfboards for surfing in Nazaré. When we surf big waves, we need a flexible board, although resistant enough not to break. It is an honour for me to be involved in the innovative MBoard Project developed by Mercedes-Benz, which now has the support of Corticeira Amorim, as well as the advanced technology of Polen Surfboards.”
Garrett McNamara currently holds the record for the biggest wave ever surfed, having secured himself a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Garrett used boards designed by Mercedes-Benz in 2013 to surf big waves in Nazaré at 62.4 km/h, a staggering speed whose measurement was only made possible by the use of a telemetry system developed by Mercedes-Benz within the scope of the MBoard Project.
According to Carlos de Jesus, Communications Manager at Corticeira Amorim, “Corticeira Amorim is proud to be involved in this project, which proves that Portuguese companies are able to develop and produce innovative products that meet the quality and design standards of the most demanding companies in the world”. Carlos de Jesus also stressed that “the technical performance of natural cork and, in this particular case, of the Corecork range, is doubtlessly an important asset for extreme sports enthusiasts, namely extreme surfers. Cork also boasts environmentally friendly and sustainable characteristics, which are even more relevant when considering that these products are being targeted at the surfing community, one of the first groups to acknowledge the importance of these issues.”
According to Álvaro Costa, from Polen Surfboards, “it is very important and gratifying for Polen to be able to participate in this Mercedes-Benz initiative, as it represents an opportunity for us to engage in research and development in a field in which we have operated for more than 25 years. Only within the scope of a project of this size can certain materials, techniques and technologies be studied and put to the test.”
“We have been collaborating closely with Garrett McNamara, a surfer who has spent most of his life surfing big waves and who has provided us with essential knowledge. This partnership not only contributes to add credibility to this initiative, but also validates all the efforts undertaken within the scope of this project, supported by companies such as Amorim Cork Composites.”
“Together, we are researching new manufacturing techniques, with a view to creating a unique surfboard, different from any other surfboard ever made. We intend to produce two incredibly effective surfboards, specifically designed to withstand the most extreme conditions. This Portuguese initiative will not only represent a milestone for Polen Surfboards, but also a turning moment in the world’s surfing history.”
