Charlotte Hickman, Hollow Wooden Surfboard and Stand (STUDENT 2025)

Student:

secondary

Name of school or tertiary institution, name of woodworking teacher (if you have one), and name of photographer:

Cherrybrook Technology High School. Teacher - Oliver Meredith

Country

Australia

This surfboard is a handcrafted Paulownia Hollow Wooden shortboard, measuring 5’8” and 484mm in width (at widest part). It has been designed to balance both performance and display, showing my passion for surfing and woodworking. Built on a custom rocker table, the board features a carefully shaped frame for buoyancy and smooth movement in the water. The structure is lightweight yet strong, using internal framing including a spine and ribs and Styrofoam to stay functional and buoyant. Aesthetic detail was just as important as performance – the board includes laser cut hibiscus flower patterns made from custom dyed veneers on laser cut American oak, creating the whole top deck of the board. The stand used traditional joinery techniques to create a stable, elegant base that showcases the board like a piece of art. This project combines craftsmanship, creativity, and function, making it not only a surfboard to ride but also a unique statement piece for display.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.