Vassallo Kelp Forest Bolt 9'6"
- Regular price
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$ 18,500.00 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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$ 18,500.00
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Learn more about Ventana custom wooden surfboards.
This custom, kelp forest surfboard was created for the Vassallo Family as a surfable work of art.
The bottom deck includes redwood burl driftwood collected in Big Sur as the rocks for the kelp holdfast. The kelp blades are made of black walnut from Trae Vassallo's family property in Minnesota. The kelp stalks are oak and walnut from an Eames chair. There is an urchin of Indian rosewood and a bat star of cocobolo, both from Santa Cruz Guitar Company. There is an additional bat star of bloodwood from Copper Pig Woodworking. The otter, named "Kelp Cake," is made of salvaged oak and includes wood-burned details. The eyes of the otter are Mylo™ Unleather, a sustainable alternative to leather made from infinitely renewable mycelium.
The blue-green resin pour was created using soy-based EcoPoxy and various pigments from Black Diamond Pigments.
The glassed-on, translucent kelp single fin is made of redwood driftwood from Big Sur.
The top deck is made of mahogany from a conference room table donated by Poke House restaurant with stringers of Indian rosewood, spruce, and Honduras mahogany from Santa Cruz Guitar Company.
The tail block is Douglas fir from the original hull of the Western Flyer, considered by many to be the most famous fishing boat in the world. John Steinbeck, Ed "Doc" Ricketts and crew sailed this 77-foot sardine boat into the Sea of Cortez in Baja 
California, Mexico in 1940. The following year, Steinbeck published his book, The Log from the Sea of Cortez about the adventure. Learn more about this amazing boat and Ventana's use of its wood. The tail also includes an abalone inlay and an original square nail hole filled with Entropy Resins.
The vent and leash plug is made of a white oak wine barrel stave from Hans Fahden Vineyards, where Steve and Trae Vassallo were married. Under the leash plug is an inlay of ebony from Santa Cruz Guitar Company offcuts.
The rails are made of cork, which is sustainable, more resistant to dings, and easier to repair. There are two sheets of Aerialite 4-ounce fiberglass on top and one on bottom. The epoxy is Entropy Resins bio-resin which is up to 40% tree sap and is very strong and light. It is finished with soy-based EcoPoxy.
As with all Ventana Surfboards, the interior is glassed and sealed, as well.
This board is hollow, lightweight and will ride as great as it looks. Given the uniqueness of each side, it's two art pieces in one and can be flipped to display either side.
Made in Santa Cruz, California by master artisan Martijn Stiphout.
Includes a wooden display sign and a handmade bag by Sagebrush Board Bags created using coffee bean sacks and unique, remnant fabrics.
Dimensions: 9'6" x 22.5" x 2.75"
Approx. 24 pounds
See progress pics and videos, including Vassallo family construction days, of the creation of this incredible longboard.
Each Ventana board comes with a special edition of our standard Save-a-Surf Wax Box. This version includes two, custom-made vent plug screws.
All Ventana Surfboards are ECOBOARD Project Gold Level Verified by SustainableSurf.org!
Shipping, Customs, and Returns
Free U.S. Insured Shipping & International Shipping Details
Every order includes free insurance and free USPS First Class or UPS Ground Shipping. Of course, you can select premium options, too.
We can ship anywhere in the world that is legally permitted under U.S. law. Any customs payments, local taxes, and processing fees are the responsibility of the customer.
We generally ship products between 48 and 5 days after we receive your order. In some cases, such as with surfboards, custom orders, or custom engraved products, we will contact you within 24 hours to discuss production and shipping timing.
Return Policy
Our Refund Policy is simple. We do the right thing. We trust our customers, and if you have any issues with any of our products, we'll work with you to do what's fair.
Note that for items that are printed on demand, we may not be able to take returns unless the product is defective. Still, we'll work with you to resolve your issue fairly.
Contact craftspeople@ventanasurfboards.com to discuss your return or other issues. We approve returns within 48 hours.
Any refunds will be returned via the method and way they were paid. For instance, a credit card payment will be refunded to the same credit card; a wire transfer or electronic check will be refunded to the same account from which it came, etc. A cash payment may be refunded via Venmo, bank transfer, or PayPal.
Why Print-on-Demand? An evolution of eco responsibility.
Ventana is deepening its commitment to sustainability by shifting to print-on-demand for many products. This change reduces overproduction and waste, while enabling more style and customization options. Though some suppliers may use less eco-friendly packaging, we are pushing our fulfillment partner to make changes in this area. Ventana remains transparent and dedicated to responsible sourcing, aiming to balance environmental impact with accessibility. Print-on-demand marks a new chapter in Ventana’s mission to innovate sustainably and deliver high-quality, planet-conscious products. Of course, we continue to use only reclaimed wood and bio-based resins in our handcrafted products - surfboards, bodysurfing handplanes, bookmarks, pens, and more!