Sports

Rampant wooden surfboard costs a cool US$1.3m

Rampant wooden surfboard costs a cool US$1.3m
The Rampant borrows design elements from two of Roy Stuart's other wooden surfboards
The Rampant borrows design elements from two of Roy Stuart's other wooden surfboards
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The Rampant 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's described as incredible drive and rapid acceleration
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The Rampant 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's described as incredible drive and rapid acceleration
Measuring 2.38 in (6 cm) thick, the board also sports a 23-karat gold lion outlined in semi translucent red epoxy resin on its topside
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Measuring 2.38 in (6 cm) thick, the board also sports a 23-karat gold lion outlined in semi translucent red epoxy resin on its topside
Measuring 2.38 in (6 cm) thick, the board also sports a 23-karat gold lion outlined in semi translucent red epoxy resin on its topside
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Measuring 2.38 in (6 cm) thick, the board also sports a 23-karat gold lion outlined in semi translucent red epoxy resin on its topside
Detail of the 23-karat gold lion outlined in semi translucent red epoxy resin
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Detail of the 23-karat gold lion outlined in semi translucent red epoxy resin
The Rampant borrows design elements from two of Roy Stuart's other wooden surfboards
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The Rampant borrows design elements from two of Roy Stuart's other wooden surfboards
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
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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
Roy Stuart maintains at the heart of its design is the rider experience, only refining its appearance once the engineering had been perfected
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Roy Stuart maintains at the heart of its design is the rider experience, only refining its appearance once the engineering had been perfected
Sculpted from Paulwonia timber, the Rampant measures 10 ft 6 in (3.2 m) long
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Sculpted from Paulwonia timber, the Rampant measures 10 ft 6 in (3.2 m) long
Sculpted from Paulwonia timber, the Rampant measures 10 ft 6 in (3.2 m) long
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Sculpted from Paulwonia timber, the Rampant measures 10 ft 6 in (3.2 m) long
Roy Stuart maintains at the heart of its design is the rider experience, only refining its appearance once the engineering had been perfected
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Roy Stuart maintains at the heart of its design is the rider experience, only refining its appearance once the engineering had been perfected
The Rampant features a single concave reaching from its soft-entry nose to its tail
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The Rampant features a single concave reaching from its soft-entry nose to its tail
View gallery - 11 images

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.

Measuring 2.38 in (6 cm) thick, the board also sports a 23-karat gold lion outlined in semi translucent red epoxy resin on its topside
Measuring 2.38 in (6 cm) thick, the board also sports a 23-karat gold lion outlined in semi translucent red epoxy resin on its topside

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

View gallery - 11 images
18 comments
18 comments
BigGoofyGuy
IMO, it would fall into the category of 'more money than brains'. To the very very rich, it might be a bargain but not for most. Even though it seems over priced to me, it is still very cool.
wolfshades
There's not a wave in the world that would justify that price.
Jay Finke
OK: how do I order one ?
Michael Z. Williamson
That lion looks like something a third grader did.
Brian Mcc
That fin wouldn't last five minutes of real use.
Jaesun_1
I think I'll wait for the $500 knock-off.
tigerprincess
I'll wait for the $50.oo knockoff. This is again another pie in the sky outrageous product that Gizmag is so enamored to bring to the public. It may be fun to look at but stupid to want or even contemplate.
3HullsRbest
OK admit it's for that stupid sheik that will buy anything.
newsontim
Love the board pity about the strange looking lion on it completely ruined it for me.
Chuck Clark
Surely was meant to be an April fool's joke....nothing justifies that kind of a price tag except some maniac child-man who made it out of wood no less....solid gold would not be that expensive...just stupid. Period. IMHO!
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