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World Record set
with Monster Surfboard at California Beaches
HUNTINGTON BEACH,
Calif. – The world’s largest surfboard arrived at
Huntington Beach, California on Tuesday, July 26,
making its North American debut. The 40 foot
monster weighs more than 1200 pounds and was built
by Australian Nev Hyman. It was successfully ridden
into the record books on Australia’s Gold Coast with 47 surfers catching a ride on the
board and a wave. Measuring 10' wide and 12' thick.
The monster surfboard is comprised of nearly a half
ton of foam, 240 yards of 10-ounce fiberglass and 80
gallons of resin. Due to its weight, 20 to 30 adults
are needed to handle what some call a sea vessel or
craft.
Costing $35,000 to build, the monster board was
shipped to the U.S. on an ocean freighter. A
flat-bed truck delivered it to Huntington Beach in
Southern California, where a crane hoisted the
massive short-board replica of a 5’11’ model onto
its temporary platform during the early stages of an
annual surfing competition, the US Open of Surfing
and Beach Games. The board was unveiled by
International Management Group (IMG) Vice President
James Leitz.
The world record was set on a Friday, July 29 during
the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing, which anchors the
Bank of the West Beach Games, and is universally
recognized as the world’s largest professional
surfing competition. The board was towed into the
lineup with a personal watercraft under the
supervision of the Huntington Beach Lifeguards and
marine safety patrol. Nearly 50 surfers then broke
the world record. The actual time was just after
12:10 p.m. following a Surfers' Hall of Fame
induction ceremony similar to Grauman's Theatre.
The Big Board’s appearance at the Bank of the West
Beach Games signifies the formal launch for the
“Wave of Compassion Big Board World Tour.” The
yearlong fundraising effort will attempt to raise
funds for long-term, life-changing projects and
humanitarian organizations including SurfAid
International, Inc. and Feed the Children, Inc.
Organized by HOPE International Outreach.
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