Surfers to climb aboard big board

Mike Sciacca

How many surfers does it take to successfully board a 40-foot

surfboard?

No, the answer isn’t some punch line to an off-color joke about

surfing.

Actually, it’s 47, but on Friday, if that number changes for the

greater, then the city of Huntington Beach will find itself listed in

the “Guinness Book of World Records.”

That’s because on that day, during the Bank of the West Beach

Games and the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill, riders

will attempt to set a world record at the Huntington Beach Pier by

besting that number.

The attempt will take place between noon and 2 p.m. at the south

side of the pier.

The 40-foot-long, 10-foot-wide and 12-inch-thick giant, which

takes more than 20 adults to handle, was delivered to the beach on a

flat-bed truck and put into place by a crane.

It was formally unveiled in Surf City on Tuesday, which also

served as the board’s debut in the United States.

The Big Board was built by Nev Hyman of Australia at a cost of

$35,000. Fittingly, the world record of 47 riders atop the colossal

board was set in Hyman’s homeland, along the Gold Coast during the

Quiksilver Pro in March.

The board is composed of almost a half a ton of foam, 240 yards of

10-ounce fiberglass and 80 gallons of resin.

It is an exact replica to scale of the board Aussie Danny Wills

will ride during the U.S. Open of Surfing.

“We’re thrilled to bring the board here to Surf City,” Hyman said.

“This event here is just unbelievable. There’s nothing like it in the

world.”

Riders who will attempt to set the world record Friday will be a

mix of professional surfers and members of the Huntington Beach

junior lifeguard program.

“We want to get 50 on board,” said James Leitz, vice president of

International Marketing Group, which promotes the Bank of the West

Beach Games.

The Big Board’s appearance is the formal launch of the Wave of

Compassion Big Board World Tour, a yearlong fundraising effort that

will attempt to raise funds for long-term, life-changing projects and

humanitarian organizations including SurfAid Inernational Inc. and

Feed the Children Inc.

“It’s all about the spirit of surfing,” said Hyman, who noted that

the Big Board has become an icon for the fundraising cause. “Our goal

is to raise $1 million to $2 million dollars to go toward world

disaster relief. One-hundred percent of the funds will go toward both

local and global relief causes.”

Following the Bank of the West Beach Games, Hyman said the Big

Board will journey on a 20- to 30-city tour, with stops in Chicago

and New York City, and will be towed around the Statute of Liberty.