How it started
Two friends and a dream
Founded by Martim and his best friend Afonso, Van der Waal started as a personal project. It was initially intended as a solution for Martim's new surfboard, rather than a brand or product. Over time, as interest grew among friends and fellow surfers, we started to see it as a potential alternative to surf wax.
A broken board
“I broke my board in Carcavelos and ordered a new one. I was so excited with my new board, a yellow retro fish, that I started to explain Afonso an idea that I had some time ago: the wax would get the board all dirty and would hide the whole design, and how cool it would be to have an alternative to that…
Afonso said that he had a material that was able to turn into a grip and that it was transparent. At that point, we started to try the material on my board, just as a personal solution to solve my problem. With the enthusiasm of friends with my board and our solution led us to think that this could be a product. So we started to look at the product from a different side, collecting more professional feedback and making adjustments.
One year later Van der Waal was born.”
First production day
Since day one, our goal has been to develop a transparent surf wax alternative that allows our surfboard's design to shine while providing high levels of grip.
Since our first sale on September 3rd, 2016, we have valued every single customer's feedback (whom we call Waalers) to continuously improve our product.
Challenging the surf industry standards, we have developed three different versions of our surf grip so far, with a significant failure in between.
We have always strived to find the right balance between grip performance and skin comfort.
Surfboards with Van der Waal around the globe
Nothing makes us prouder than a board with Van der Waal. In this simple map you can find places where we know that have at least one surf board with our surf grip.
Our journey
From success to errors and issues, we have been learning since day one. Challenging the surf industry standards, we have developed three different versions of our surf grip so far, with a significant failure in between.
This is our journey
2015 / First tests
We started with some experiments with shapes and materials for my new surfboard
2016 / First sale
Our first version was launched performance series 1.0
2017 / In the press
In 2017, we were surprised with articles on The Inertia, Surfing Sections, and Surfbunker.
2018 / New version
New version Performance Series 2.0 launch
2020 / Awards
Ispo Brandnew 2020 recognition
2021 / New product
Martim developed a new product: SmartSticker
2022 / Growing
More than 1/4 million hexagons sold
2023 / New logo
Same product, but a completely makeover to our brand
2024 / ?
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STORY IS THE ONE YET TO BE WRITTEN :)
Never worry about melted wax again
Ready to go waxless?
Our latest version, r.Evolution Series, is a result of customer feedback and our commitment to create a more eco-friendly alternative to surf wax.
It is built with a softer, lighter, and thinner material that offers high grip levels.