Dinging Your Board Mid-Surf Is No Longer An Issue.
Is that even possible?
The sun is shining, the breeze is blowing gently off-shore, and the waves are head high. You’ve just paddled out, and you’re ripping. Smacking the lip, floating through sections, and sending spray so high that water droplets look like they’re cascading down from the heavens (at least that’s what you tell yourself).
The next set comes in, and you’re up. Everyone has been surfing right, but this peak looks like it might be a fun left - you go for it! The wave propels you forward – that’s when you notice how shallow it’s gotten, and the approaching pile of rocks up ahead. As you bail out over the lip, you hear the unmistakable thunk. “Maybe it just hit the water funny,” you tell yourself as you tug at your leash, pulling the board close to inspect for damage. Your eyes scan while your hands explore the rails. You feel it before you see it, and then reality sinks in. Session over.
Maybe the above scenario is how you dinged your board, ending an epic day early. It happens. Or maybe you were in a rush in the parking lot and placed your board precariously against the car, only to watch it topple over while you were shimmying into your wetsuit. That happens, too.
Dings are a bummer, and pretty much inevitable. But they don’t need to be session-ending. That’s why in 2005 Adam Kenter developed Elephant Seal, a Surfboard Repair Film that serves as a quick solution to fix damaged boards, keeping dings watertight and getting you back in the water faster.
“I pride myself on being good with my hands, but for some reason, I could never get resin repairs right,” Kenter told us. Doing a full-blown surfboard repair is a lengthy and intense process. “You have to set up a workspace where you can prep the board for repair, then you have to clean it, let it dry, mix the resin, apply the resin, let the resin dry, sand it again, and repeat. It’s quite a process.”
As far as quick-fixes go, packing tape doesn't stretch, duct tape isn’t waterproof, and stickers can be an eyesore. Speaking of eyesores, don’t get me started on quick-drying resin, and please don’t tell me you were actually considering sticking surf wax in the ding.
Elephant Seal Repair Film applies to a surfboard just like a sticker. But the difference between Elephant Seal Repair Film and the classic MacGyver solutions surfers often resort to for a quick ding repair is that it’s a purpose-built product designed specifically for surfboards.
Kenter and his team designed Elephant Seal Repair Film with the limitations of common quick-fix methods top of mind. The repair film locks out moisture, filters UV rays, and is flexible, so it can be effectively applied to all areas of a surfboard: top, bottom, rails, tails, and noses alike. The adhesive element of the film is strong and dries instantly, but can also be removed with ease. You can use Elephant Seal Repair Film as a temporary solution to fix a ding, or you can leave it on for the lifetime of your board.
Each kit comes with 12 patches (hopefully that’s more than enough) and everything else you need to fix your board, all in an ergonomic, waterproof pack.
An Elephant Seal repair is a simple 5-step process:
Use the included sandpaper to sand the damaged area down, making sure to remove any sharp edges.
Wipe the area with one of the included alcohol pads for a deep clean, resulting in a better bond between your board and the adhesive repair film.
Choose an Elephant Seal patch size that fits the damaged area best; remove the panel from the sheet with the included blade.
Place the patch over the damaged area, pressing down in the center and moving outward.
Check that the adhesive is watertight, and you’re good to go!
Elephant Seal Repair Film is a product that just makes sense to have in your bag. The kit is small enough to fit in your back pocket, and keeps you prepared for whatever life throws at you – provided that it’s surfboard-ding related.
We won’t go as far to say we’re excited for our next ding, but when it happens, it’s nice to know we’ll be back in the lineup in no time.
