Whitburn Studio

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James shaping a surfboard blank in the Whitburn Studio shaping bay.

Whitburn Surfboards. Shapes built around your ability and experience.

Start with one of the five stock shapes, then work through the size, set-up and finish with James so the board fits your waves and the way you surf. Alternative custom shapes are also available if you're after something more niche.

Five starting points. Every board shaped around the surfer.

The Whitburn shapes give the conversation a practical place to begin. James can adjust size, volume, rails, fin set-up, contours and finish around your surfing, waves and the feeling you want from the next board.

A Whitburn surfboard being held in coastal surf.

The Whitburn shapes.

Nudibranch fish surfboard by Whitburn Studio.

Nudibranch

Short, wide and fast. A fish for paddle power, speed generation and making more of weaker waves.

Eggspiracy performance egg surfboard by Whitburn Studio.

Performance Egg6'0 to 8'8

Eggspiracy

A performance egg that sits between shortboard response and mid-length forgiveness.

Toecurler longboard by Whitburn Studio.

Longboard9'0 to 10'3

Toecurler

A proper longboard built for trim, glide, cross-stepping and time on the nose.

Babushka egg surfboard by Whitburn Studio.

Classic Egg6'0 to 8'8

Babushka

A straightforward classic egg for reliable range, easy wave entry and clean surfing.

Kernel twin fin surfboard by Whitburn Studio.

Groveller5'0 to 6'0

Kernel

Short, wide and flat. Built to generate and hold speed in small, weak surf.

Compare the shapes

Shape

01

Fish

Nudibranch

Nudibranch fish surfboard by Whitburn Studio.

02

Performance Egg

Eggspiracy

Eggspiracy surfboard bottom contours by Whitburn Studio.

03

Longboard

Toecurler

Toecurler longboard shape by Whitburn Studio.

04

Classic Egg

Babushka

Babushka surfboard outline detail by Whitburn Studio.

05

Groveller

Kernel

Kernel surfboard outline detail by Whitburn Studio.

Size

5'0 to 6'8

6'0 to 8'8

9'0 to 10'3

6'0 to 8'8

5'0 to 6'0

Ability

Intermediate, Experienced

Progressing, Intermediate, Advanced

Intermediate, Experienced

Beginner, Progressing, Intermediate

Intermediate, Experienced

Waves

Small, Small to medium, Weak waves

Small to overhead, Variable conditions

Small, Small to medium

Small, Small to head high

Small, Weak waves, Flat sections

Strengths

Paddle power, Speed generation, Makes more of less wave

Versatility, Forgiveness, Flowing turns

Noseriding, Trimming, Cross-stepping

All-round reliability, Easy wave entry, Clean surfing

Speed generation, Small-wave fun, Rail-to-rail flow

You might like this if

You want speed and paddle power without needing perfect surf.

You are stepping away from a shortboard or want one board with range.

You like slowing things down, walking the board and connecting with the wave.

You are progressing from a foamie or want one reliable board for most days.

You want a fast, fun board for average conditions and flat sections.

Fin set-up

Nudibranch fish surfboard by Whitburn Studio.

Size

5'0 to 6'8

Ability

Intermediate, Experienced

Waves

Small, Small to medium, Weak waves

Strengths

Paddle power, Speed generation, Makes more of less wave

You might like this if

You want speed and paddle power without needing perfect surf.

Boards made around surfers.

A few notes from people who have worked with James on custom boards.

“The Eggspiracy is honestly the best board in the quiver. The Kernel has to be the funnest board I own.”

“James' boards are something else! I have a 6'6 Eggspiracy and it's honestly the best board in the quiver. I ended up selling my LoveMachine FM as I always seem to pick the Eggspiracy over it. At this length for me, the board turns like a shortboard but smoother. Super easy to duck dive, goes excellent with the BMT twins. I recently picked up the Kernel 5'3. I've been hunting for a fun summer board for such a long time and this has finally filled that spot. This has to be the funnest board I own and have ever surfed. Excited to try more.”

Mario B

Eggspiracy and Kernel

“I turned up with my 20+ year old board and basically said what I wanted the new board to be in addition to the old one.”

“If you are looking for a custom board look no further, just get in touch with James and the rest is easy. I turned up with my 20+ year old board and basically said what I wanted the new board to be in addition to the old one, we discussed a few features and then the design which is awesome. I genuinely wouldn't look anywhere else when I come to my next board, 100% perfect, thanks James.”

John F

Custom board

“From choosing the stringer wood to the exact colour, the whole process was collaborative and bespoke.”

“James shaped me a gorgeous longboard for my birthday and I loved not only the final craft but the process to get there - from choosing the stringer wood to the exact colour, the whole process was collaborative and bespoke. The board is a beauty on the wall and in the water!”

Dulcie D

Bespoke longboard

“He guided the shape and the design with his experience, while giving me space to sketch out my vision.”

“What can I say. The whole end-to-end process was great! From the first conversation to the handover, James at Whitburn Surfboards was phenomenal. He guided the shape and the design with his experience and knowledge, while giving me space to come up with ideas and sketch out my vision. From there, the vision came to life, and the final product is a thing of beauty. I may be biased, but it's a beautiful board, 100% crafted!”

Lee N

Collaborative custom board

“This longboard has transformed my surfing, catches anything and turns like a dream.”

“Got this absolute beauty of a triple stringer from Whitburn and I am in love! This longboard has transformed my surfing, catches anything and turns like a dream. Had loads of compliments from everyone on the lovely wooden tips and also on how well made it is! Absolutely incredible craftsmanship and cannot recommend enough! Also had it delivered to Ilfracombe, North Devon which was a massive bonus!”

Rhyannon A

Longboard

Start your custom surfboard

Choose a Whitburn shape, bring an idea of your own, or let James help you work out what will suit you.

The build brief covers how you surf, what you ride now and what you want from your next board. James will use it as the starting point for your custom build, then work through the shape, construction and details with you.

Inside the shaping bay.

Trash to Treasure

James turns waste and workshop material into a finished surfboard, showing the practical side of Whitburn's reuse-led work.

Watch on YouTube

Cactus surfboard build

A material experiment from the workshop, following a surfboard build made from cactus-derived material.

Watch on YouTube

7'6 Performance Egg

A full-length view of a 7'6 performance egg build, from the early shaping decisions through the workshop process.

Watch on YouTube