Surfboards and useful objects, made by hand.
Whitburn Studio is James Bailey's workshop just north of Winchester. Custom boards, surfboard repairs, Hold fins, shaping days and objects made from the offcuts of board building all come from the same space.
From the workshop
James shapes boards to order, repairs damaged surfboards and composite equipment, and makes fins through Hold. Fibreglass offcuts and excess resin are kept for furniture and smaller objects when the material can be used well.
Custom boards
Start with a Whitburn shape, a board you already love or a rough idea. James works through the size, setup and finish with you before the build begins.
Hold fins
Single fins and twin fins made in the UK using wool and reclaimed fibreglass from surfboard production.
Repairs
Dings, delamination, damaged rails, fin boxes, leash plugs and full breaks repaired in the Hampshire workshop.
Shaping experiences
Spend a day shaping a surfboard with James. You work on the blank in the workshop, then James glasses and finishes the board for collection.
Furniture and accessories
Tables and smaller objects made from fibreglass offcuts and excess resin collected in the workshop.
Commercial work
One-off boards, objects and display pieces made for campaigns, spaces and private commissions.
Offcuts stay in use
Surfboard building leaves trimmed fibreglass, cured resin and pieces of foam or timber that are too small for the next board. James keeps the usable material in the workshop.
Fibreglass and resin become fins, tables and small objects. Foam is returned for recycling where the available scheme accepts it. The result is visible in the work. Each object carries the colour, fibres and small variations of the material that went into it.
Made around the surfer
Every enquiry starts with the waves, ability and board history that matter.
Workshop reviewed
Custom and repair requests are treated as briefs for James to review.
A surfboard made for Nike and Matheus Cunha
Nike asked James to build a surfboard for a shoot with Brazil international Matheus Cunha. The finished board translated the colour and carved details of a Tiempo football boot into the rails and finish of a working surfboard.
Commercial work is made to brief, with the same practical attention to object, material and finish as the surfboards.
See the Nike project
Nudibranch
Fish · 5'0 to 6'8
Short, wide and fast. A fish for paddle power, speed generation and making more of weaker waves.
Twin or quad. Twin keeps it loose and flowing with a longer, drawn-out feel through turns. Quad adds drive and hold, particularly useful when the wave has a bit more push behind it.
Eggspiracy
Performance Egg · 6'0 to 8'8
A performance egg that sits between shortboard response and mid-length forgiveness.
Single, twin or 2+1. Single gives a drawn-out, flowing feel. Twin adds looseness. 2+1 splits the difference: the side bites add hold and drive while keeping some of the single fin's glide.
Toecurler
Longboard · 9'0 to 10'0
A proper longboard built for trim, glide, cross-stepping and time on the nose.
Single fin. An all-rounder, flex or pivot fin can be used depending on preference.
From the people riding them
A few notes from custom board, repair and shaping-session customers.