Grain

Grain Surfboards is an American company based in York, Maine that manufactures hollow wooden surfboards. The surfboards are made primarily from northern white cedar, with some western red cedar added for color accent. Grain manufactures custom boards, as well as selling kits and offering classes where surfers can build their own boards. History Founded in 2005 in York, Maine, Grain has boat building and cabinetry influences. The first of Grain's boards were constructed in co-founder Mike LaVecchia's basement. A New England magazine, N'East, featured a story about the startup, which was followed up by a report by the Associated Press in December 2005. Around the same time, Clark Foam, a major manufacturer of blank foam surfboards, shut down after disagreements with California's Environmental Protection Agency. This led surfers to rethink the environmental impact of their boards, and business at Grain picked up. Brad Anderson joined the company as co-owner, and Grain moved into a workshop at Side Hill Farm in York. Grain has made a wooden version of Channel Islands Surfboards 'Biscuit' since 2009. The original Biscuit won the 2008 Surf Industry Manufacturers Association Award. The Wood Biscuit is heavier than a fiberglass board, but the extra weight gives better momentum over choppy water. Grain launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2013 to raise funds for a bus and trailer to use as a mobile workshop for board building classes. The campaign was successful, raising over $40,000 dollars in one month. In keeping with the company's green ethos, the bus is powered by alternative fuel.