Jaguar Land Rover Transformed A Car Into A Surfboard

Jaguar's upcoming electrified model range isn't the only thing the British marque is doing in hopes of a greener planet. Today the company announced a one-off custom surfboard made completely out of recycled plastic – including many of the components used during vehicle design.

The board was built in collaboration with SkunkWorks Surf Co., and is dubbed "Waste to Wave," for obvious reasons. Put to the test by English Women's Open Surfing Champion, Lucy Campbell, off the coast of Northern Ireland, the board was hand-built to exact dimensions required by Campbell (5'7 x 18 3/8 x 2 3/16).

Much of the plastic for the board came from the polymer molds used in the vehicle design process. The first surfboard in the series was created from a Discovery Sport clay model that was broken down and repurposed in June 2017. Along with the recycled plastic body, the board also features carbon fiber rails from the nose, and a carbon strip from the tail for additional strength.

"When I first heard about this project I was so excited to be a part of it," said Campbell. "The ocean is a big part of my life so helping to raise awareness of the need to preserve it is so important to me. I didn't know much about the car design process and it's been fascinating to learn about how Jaguar Land Rover is giving a 'second life' to its materials in this way. Getting out into the water and trying the board out for the first time was awesome."

The surfboard will make its debut this weekend in London at Jaguar Land Rover Tech Fest. No word on whether the company plans to sell it, or how much it might cost. Tech Fest takes place from September 8th through 10th at Central Saint Martins University of the Arts London.