Saving Surfboards from Landfill — One Paint Pen at a Time

Creative Kooks x SurfPaints

At Creative Kooks, we believe surfboards deserve a second life — even when they’re no longer rideable.

What began as a simple idea to keep broken and discarded boards out of landfill has grown into a full-blown creative movement. Through our community workshops, kids, teens, and adults come together to breathe new life into old boards, transforming them into bold, vibrant works of art. The best part? Every board saved tells a story.

A key part of that story has been our collaboration with SurfPaints, whose paint pens are our go-to tool for unleashing creativity — whether on fibreglass surfboards or skateboard decks.

SurfPaints has helped us bring our vision to life with bold colours, effortless application, and long-lasting results. Their non-toxic, water-based acrylic pens are made to perform — and our participants love how easy (and fun) they are to use, and we love that they withstand the questionable art techniques the very young children use.

Whether it's outlining stencils or going freestyle with doodles and designs, SurfPaints give everyone the confidence to make their mark — no matter their age or skill level.

Some of our proudest moments on this journey include:

• Partnering with local schools for Education Week

• Painting boards at Splendour in the Grass and Bluesfest in the children’s zones

• Getting Surfboards backstage at various music festivals for artist to sign for charity

• Activating the beachside with Her Wave surf competitions

• Teaching children at Early learning centres the importance of reusing items.

  
  

Want to get creative?

🎨 Book a Creative Kooks workshop for your school, event, or community group — we bring the boards, the SurfPaints, and the good vibes

.🏠 DIY at home? Email us at Creativekooks@gmail.com and we’ll guide you through prepping your old board and setting yourself up with the right SurfPaints gear.

Let’s work together to turn landfill into art — and have a blast doing it.