Surf and Snow board giants meet on shared ground - Sustainability

23rd June 2011

Firewire and Arbor have announced a collaborative surfboard offering that will arrive in stores this spring. The designs combine Firewire’s use of epoxy resins and EPS foam materials, which are less harmful to the environment, and Arbor’s signature, sustainably sourced, structural wood power ply technology.

The new "Koa" Dominator will feature the same sustainably sourced, Hawaiian Koa power ply used by Arbor for years in the legendary Element snowboard and across half of the popular skateboard line. Koa wood represents a strong tie in for this new offering as it was originally used by the native Hawaiians to build the first surfboards over 600 years ago. The new "Wasteland" Dominator uses laser cut / inlay wood technology pioneered by Arbor in the snowboard industry. The Wasteland's inlaid wood power ply is made up of 78 individual pieces of laser cut veneer, selected from 6 different sustainably sourced species.

In its short history, Firewire has had a significant influence on the surf industry, bringing a range of new materials and cutting-edge technology to the forefront of surfboard design. This makes them the perfect partner for Arbor who has been using environmentally friendly, natural materials to improve the performance, durability, and style of snowboards, skateboards, and apparel since 1995. The two companies share similar philosophies that seek to develop their products through innovations that have less impact on the environment.

“We’re stoked to collaborate with a company whose DNA so closely matches our own,” says Firewire’s CEO, Mark Price, “and to capture the essence of Arbor’s unique wood signature, while at the same time adding a stunning aesthetic to Firewire’s high performance surfboards.”

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