At first glance you might think that a partnership between a major surfboard brand like Channel Islands, and a car company like Mini Cooper, in the name of sustainability is a bit gimmicky to say the least. It’s a commercial stunt designed to sell you on a concept right? Probably true, and yet there might be merit in it.
While both surfboards and automobiles generally have a long way to go before they can truly be considered environmentally favorable products, every high profile step taken in the right direction should be commended, no? So why not pair the concept behind Mini Cooper’s hybrid car with a new environmentally sustainable surfboard design from Channel Islands Surfboards?
Both the MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid, and the MINI Eco-Hybrid surfboard are efficiently sized machines built to handle well and push the limits of sustainability in their respective categories. If the environmental highlight of the MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid is that it gets an estimated 65 MPGs the MINI Eco-Hybrid surfboard’s main claim is that it’s a certified Gold Level ECOBOARD as defined by Sustainable Surf. This means the board is built from “more sustainable materials, sourced from responsible supply chains, and made by board builders with improved manufacturing processes.”
The two items also share design elements that could be considered a reasonable basis for the marketing overlap. According to the Channel Islands website the board itself “offers a ultra relaxed rocker, wider nose, wider squash tail, thinned rails, and aggressive single to double concave with vee out the tail. Taking a page from Al’s popular Skinny Fish design the MINI incorporates all the speed and wave catching ability of a traditional fish with the performance benefits of a squash tail.” In other words, like the MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid the board is also a crossbreed in its own right.
Not sold on the surfboard/automaker partnership in the name of sustainability yet? Watch this promotional video featuring Kalani Robb and draw your own conclusion.
Is sustainability in surfboard and car design a commercial gimmick or genuine attempt to shift things in a positive direction?
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