5 minute read
Handplane Heaven
Words by Adam Rees and Mark Wiggins, co-founders of Compass Handplanes
Compass Handplanes are South West based premium shapers of quality wooden handplanes for bodysurfing, dedicated to bringing handplaning to the masses.›
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Born from a mistimed kickflip, we at Compass Handplanes began our journey with nothing more than half a broken skate deck. Having stumbled across a few YouTube videos on the sport, we figured a ‘handplane’ would make a welcome addition to our quivers. Initially, handplaning started as an alternative to surfing, but soon enough this phenomenon quickly became our new reason to hit the water. ‘I just got barrelled more times in that session than I ever have while surfing!’ Mark, one half of Compass, excitedly barked, removing his fins as he hauled himself onto the beach. ‘What is handplaning?’ you might legitimately be asking yourself. A surfing subculture who’s roots lie deep in Hawaiian and Polynesian surfing history, this popular version of bodysurfing has been recently popularised as part of Keith Malloy’s awe-inspiring documentary ‘Come Hell or High Water’. A handplane is in its essence a mini-surfboard that allows you to catch a wave with your hand. This stripped back method of surfing is intimate at its core, embracing simplicity to connect you with the ocean in a way you might not have ever experienced. More than anything else though it’s an immensely fun, easy and healthy way to enjoy the water and enjoy the outdoors. Free from being tethered to a surfboard or bodyboard, and without the stress of having to pick the perfect wave, you can just play. The accessibility of the sport means picking up handplaning couldn’t be quicker or simpler.
- Ash, Cornwall Despite playing host to perfect bodysurfing conditions, the sport has been slow in making its way to UK shores. As seasoned southwest surfers we understand that not all spots have that perfect right hander that works all year round and that wave conditions are as variable as they are consistent. The most satisfying thing about handplaning is that even on those blown-out and choppy, or flat and lifeless days, you can still find yourself riding a wave when others around you aren't. And that’s why at Compass we are on a mission to bring handplaning >
to the masses. It took us just one swift session to realise handplaning was special. However our basic plywood skate decks were clearly holding us back. We headed into our small workshop, tucked away in the southwest of the UK, and set about creating a handplane that is cleaner, lighter and that looks elegant. The months that followed consisted of design and redesign, testing and retesting and now our boards are being enjoyed on surfing shores around the UK, on the America’s East and West coasts, Canada, the Falkland Islands and spanning all the way across to the fierce waters of Western Australia and New Zealand.
We offer four different shapes of handplane, all of which embrace subtleties in the way they look, ride and feel on your hand. The Stub is our shortest board, designed for a range of conditions and especially suited to steep, powerful waves. The Fish and Crescent boards are our mid-sized range, great all rounders, with smooth cutaway tails contributing to their namesake. These shapes provide a larger surface area without adding excess length, allowing for increased grip and control. The Pin is our longest board and is great for all conditions, big and small. This shape’s long tail with smooth lines and deep concave, allows you to make the next section as well as hold your line when searching to hit the barrel. >
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- Craig, O’Neill UK Every handplane that comes out of our workshop has to hold up to our meticulous standards, so each board not only rides sweetly but also looks and feels stunning, both in and out the water. We only use the finest species of beautiful solid hardwood for our boards, sourced from a local timber supplier, including Elm, Sapele and Walnut. We believe these high quality raw materials provide a superior ride to plywood and laminate alternatives and stand up to the demanding conditions when being thrown around in big surf. We also appreciate the need for a smooth, concave planning sur-face on the underside of our handplanes to maximise performance, so have designed installed be-spoke handles that to avoid compromising this surface. Our fully adjustable hand straps are hand stitched in-house to provide a comfortable and adjustable fit in every riders hand. We spend hours producing a silky smooth finish, and to finish we apply numerous coats of natural Tung tree nut oil. This provides a fully durable waterproof finish, whilst retaining the elegant and natural feel of the wood. Every aspect of a Compass Handplane is designed and constructed with care and attention and, like a surfboard, our handplanes are made to last a lifetime and withstand the most testing of conditions, time and time again. It takes us days to craft each of our handplanes and we hope they get to spend many more in the water.
At Compass we are all about getting people out in the water and developing a connection with the ocean, each person enjoying surfing in their own an individual way. We are really proud of the handplanes we produce and we are eager to share them with as many people as possible. So check us out, join the Compass family, and discover the great sport of handplaning for yourself.
Check out our website and get in contact if you have an idea for a bespoke design. We ship world-wide.
compasshandplanes.co.uk
