Discover the innovative surfboard collaboration between Hughes Surfboards and Verdue, where sustainable materials meet high-performance design. Luke shares his surprise at crafting a board that combines natural materials like hemp, cork, and paulownia wood, delivering durability, flexibility, and an eco-friendly footprint without sacrificing the ride.

When I first met Jack, he was just beginning his surfboard journey—a journey into reinventing sustainable surfboard manufacturing. I couldn’t have imagined I’d eventually shape a blank that’s balanced, easy to work with, and free from toxins—all while delivering the performance and durability we demand from any board. No question, this collaboration has brought something truly revolutionary to life.

Jack’s dedication to sustainability has led him to experiment with natural materials in pursuit of a surfboard that’s not only strong and lightweight but also performs as well–or better–than synthetic boards. Each material is selected with a holistic approach in mind: its full lifecycle, from production to processing to disposal and environmental impact at the end of its life. His passion for leaving a positive footprint is clear, and the criteria for materials making it into his boards are rigorous. While environmental impact is a top priority, creating a product that excels in performance and longevity is also crucial. 

The Construction: What’s inside the board?

The board’s core is crafted from upcycled, locally sourced EPS (expanded polystyrene), laminated with hemp cloth and bio-resin, and fortified with a bendy ply parabolic rail, paulownia wood bottom, and cork deck—all vacuum-bag laminated together. Each step brings out the best qualities of these materials, resulting in a board that’s balanced, light, and offers exceptional flex and durability. Finishing touches include shaping, fin box installation, and a natural wax and oil finish that makes it watertight.

Wood or Cork: What’s the difference?

All of Jack’s boards feature wood on the bottom, providing strength, flexibility, and a resilient surface that resists pressure dings, which can affect the board’s hydrodynamics over time. For the top deck, customers can choose between wood or cork. Wood offers impressive ding resistance and durability, though using wood on both sides results in a stiffer board. If performance is your priority, cork might be the better option. Though it will pressure ding over time, cork allows the board to flex, offering enhanced acceleration out of turns and a smooth, dampened ride.

Innovative Design: Merging Performance with Sustainability

The board’s shape draws on a blend of features from our various models—outline elements from the Unknown and Fushter, rocker and concave from the Detonator, and the flatter deck and rail apex from our new Link-Twin. I even drew on twin fin positioning theory from other models, resulting in a unique design that came together almost like a ‘Frankenstein’ creation.

What This Means for You, the Brand, and the Future

Quality has always been at the heart of Hughes Surfboards, and this collaboration with Verdue has further inspired our commitment to both high performance and sustainable design. We are thrilled to offer our customers a surfboard blank that not only performs exceptionally well, but is crafted from environmentally friendly materials that are also safe for the manufacturer. We look forward to seeing what we can achieve together, bringing new products to our customers and making a positive impact on the surfboard industry.