Pupils from Pool Business and Enterprise College will take to the waves at Gwithian Beach next month on belly boards inspired by life in Cornwall, and made out of recycled wood.
The year nine pupils have been busy collecting panels of un-used wood from The Heartlands Project in Pool, which will be transformed into the perfect eco-friendly belly boards.
The pupils spent an afternoon at the site collecting the raw materials and getting inspiration for words to describe the multi million pound Heartlands project, which will be inscribed onto the boards. Stories gleaned from family members and local residents about life in Pool will also be illustrated on the belly boards.
In July, the pupils involved with the belly board making project will showcase their hand crafted
boards at Gwithian Beach, before taking part in a professional surf lesson. Pupils will then hit the waves and try out their boards in a cultural surf event, where the inspiring belly boards designed and created by the young people will be put to the test.
The project, named Lost Objects, Found Words, is being led by artist Ben Cook. Ben said: “This has been an exciting project for the pupils to get involved with. Not only are they learning more about The Heartlands Project but they are also learning that sustainable living can be fun.
“We’re taking raw materials that are no longer of use on site and transforming the wood into fantastic original belly boards for the pupils to learn to surf on. Belly boarding was thought to have started in the very early 1900’s when a form of the Hawaiian ‘Paipo’ board was copied by British Soldiers returning from the Great War inspired by stories of surfing from South Africa, Australia and Hawaii.
“After the pupils have given their boards a test run they will be exhibited at The Heartlands Project for all to see.”
