A New Zealand-based surfboard shaper has taken the wraps off what may be the world's most expensive log. Along with a whole lot of sandpaper, Roy Stuart's stunning Rampant wooden surfboard was shaped by 20 years of experience and presents a striking display of craftsmanship. His asking price? A bargain at US$1.3m.
Sculpted from Paulwonia timber, the Rampant measures 10 ft 6 in (3.2 m) long and features a single concave reaching from its soft-entry nose to its tail, something Stuart says results in a lower center of gravity for the rider. Measuring 2.38 in (6 cm) thick, the board also bears a 23-karat gold lion outlined in semi-translucent red epoxy resin on its top surface.
The Rampant borrows design elements from two of Stuart's other surfboards, the so-called Baron with "extraordinary gliding power" and the agile Hotkurl. It uses a unique 6-inch tunnel fin crafted from kahikatea wood, a tree native to New Zealand, combined with a perforated polycarbonate fin to provide what Stuart describes as incredible drive and rapid acceleration.
It would take a bold person to shell out $1.3 million for a surfboard, but an ever bolder one to try and use it to catch a wave. Despite this, and Rampant's appeal as a wall hanging ornament, Stuart maintains at the heart of its design is the rider experience, only refining its appearance once the engineering had been perfected.
"We begin by modeling a prospective surfboard based on what we want it to do," he writes on his blog. "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."
If riding tubes on million dollar boards is your style, or you can see one hanging on your lounge room wall, you can check out Stuart's series of works via the source link below.
Source: Roy Stuart Wooden Surfboards