Wave Goddess Surfboards

Wave Goddess Surfboards are the creation of Mike Clement who is based in Gloucester, UK. He offers:

• Custom Design
• Shaping & Glassing
• Artwork
• Repairs

PROFILE

Mike Clement grew up in South Africa during the sixties and seventies longboard to shortboard revolution. He learnt to surf in the city of Durban alongside the likes of former world champion Shaun Tomson and Endless Summer legend Max Wetteland. He spent nearly 10 years living in Jeffreys Bay, within walking distance of his local break, Supertubes, considered to be the best right hand breaking wave in the world. He was also privileged to meet and befriend some of the world's best surfers and shapers. The most significant of these was Miki Dora who boarded with the Clement family for nearly two years. They then moved to Ireland where they spent several years living in the surf town of Easky. In 2005 circumstances brought him to Gloucester where he discovered the unique wave and surf community of the Severn Bore. He regularly surfs the bore as well as breaks such as Saunton in Devon and Rest Bay in Wales.

BOARD DESIGN

Like many of his surfing contemporaries, Mike had became increasingly frustrated with the modern shortboard and its irrelevance to the average surfer especially in predominantly small weak surf. He returned to the longboarding of his childhood and was privileged a few years ago to be taught the basics of cross stepping and noseriding by one of the world's most respected longboard shapers Tyler Hatzikian. This style of surfing became most satisfying but he also missed  the speed and maneuverability of his shortboarding days. He began to search for a board that would satisfy his other needs. The turning point came when he discovered the design principles of Bob Simmons, considered to be the father of the modern surfboard. Mike made himself a 6'4" "Mini Simmons" and the moment he first rode it he knew he had found what he had been looking for. Simmons boards are relatively wide, have parallel rails, wide tails and very low tail rocker. These design features combined with twin keel fins provide a board that has incredible down the line speed, highly efficient glide, stability in the white water and highly maneuverable turning. 

BOARDS

Apart from his own personal preference, Mike has been making predominately custom longboards but is able to build any board to suit an individual’s surfer’s need and ability. A recent highlight was making a board for Steve King, current Guinness world record holder for the longest wave ridden. Steve used the board last year to ride on Brazil’s feared and formidable river bore, the Pororoco. Most recently Mike made a board that was ridden on the Benak,  the tidal bore in Malaysia, to promote local tourism.

MATERIALS

Mike used to use polyester resin but now predominantly uses epoxy resin with polyurethane blanks which produces a very strong and light board. He also has experience in working with  XPS, composites and hollow wood construction. He has worked for a marine survey company doing boat repair and fitting using epoxy and plywood.

ARTWORK

Thanks to the creative talent of his wife Jacki and friends, Mike is able to incorporate appealing graphics into his boards

BOARD REPAIR

Thanks to the brutality of the Severn Bore on surfboards, Mike has gained a lot of experience and is able to do repairs ranging from structural dings and damaged fin boxes to snapped boards.

BOARD RENTAL

Mike has hired out boards for use on the Severn Bore

BOARD MAKING TUITION

Mike has helped friends make their own first board.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mike Clement

27 Carters Orchard Quedgeley Gloucester GL2 4WB

Tel. 07748477904

Email info@wavegoddesssurfboards.co.uk

Web Address www.wavegoddesssurfboards.co.uk (under construction)