Thoughs on surfing

Take a quiz to discover the best surf grip for you
Take a quiz to discover the best surf grip for you
|Support Waal
Discover the new Van der Waal Surf Grip Quiz and find the ideal surf grip pack for your board and surf style. In under a minute, get a personalized grip... Read more...
Does surf wax melts into the ocean
Does surf wax melt into the ocean?
|Support Waal
But the fact is that surf wax melts into the ocean. Even though it's not in huge quantities, every surfboard with wax will leave residues of it in the ocean.... Read more...
The Surf Wax Problem (updated)
The Surf Wax Problem (updated)
|Martim Dornellas
Let's face it, surf wax is bad for the environment. And if you don't believe just let me put this way: 13 to 24 million surfboards are sold annually globally... Read more...
This Black Friday, we want to do things differently... again :D
This Black Friday, we want to do things differently... again :D
|Support Waal
We all love discounts — myself included. The world’s discount day often comes with a downside: unnecessary purchases, rushed deliveries, and overloaded shipping systems. So this Black Friday we wanted to... Read more...
How to 3D print a surfboard with a basic 3D printer? (Updated)
How to 3D print a surfboard with a basic 3D printer? (Updated)
|Support Waal
A couple of weeks ago Geert Groenewegen message us if we wanted to equip his new 3d printed surfboard with Van der Waal surf grips. As I love to connect with people... Read more...
5 reasons why alternatives to surf wax are so important nowadays
5 reasons why alternatives to surf wax are so important nowadays
|Support Waal
As the world becomes more conscious of environmental impact, health concerns, and innovation in sports gear, the demand for alternatives to traditional surf wax is growing rapidly. Read more...
Our special August discount is here again
Our special August discount is here again
|Support Waal
Again, I'm taking a little break for some well-deserved vacations with my daugther and Poncha, our dog, and to celebrate, I'm offering a 15% discount. Read more...
Surf spots in Portugal
My personal favorite surf spots in Portugal
|Support Waal
Last week, I went to a surfing session in Guincho for the first time. My friend Miguel is used to surf there, but shamefully, I had never surfed there, even... Read more...
Why We're Closing Our Physical Store
Why We're Closing Our Physical Store
|Support Waal
our online store remains fully functional, and the partnerships we've built are going strong. The only difference is a shift in location. We're heading back to where it all began—home. Read more...
We are not a company. You are not a customer.
We are not a company. You are not a customer.
|Support Waal
From the depths of our hearts, we want to extend our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support. When you choose to shop with us, you're not just making a purchase... Read more...
The importance of Para Surfing in my life
The importance of Para Surfing in my life
|Support Waal
Last weekend I had the opportunity and privilege of being a pusher for two surfers that I know well, in the Para Surfing championship in Portimão, Algarve. I will try... Read more...
Why we offer a free refund after 60 days of trial?
Why we offer a free refund after 60 days of trial?
|Support Waal
If after 60 days you find that our product isn't the right fit for you, there's no need to worry. Simply resend it to us, and we will refund your... Read more...
How Your Purchase Helps Remove Ocean-Bound Plastic and Fight Poverty
How Your Purchase Helps Remove Ocean-Bound Plastic and Fight Poverty
|Support Waal
We are excited to announce our partnership with GoodAPI and Plastic Bank. This collaboration allows us to contribute a percentage of each sale towards the removal of plastic waste within... Read more...
Valentines Day - Six proofs that your board loves you
Valentines Day - Six proofs that your board loves you
|Support Waal
Again, this year we will allow you to show your love to the one who was always there for you, your surfboard. No matter if it was flat or double... Read more...
Our new short surf film is out
Our new short surf film is out
|Support Waal
Our new video is out now and we have no words to say thank you to all who helped us make it.  Hope you like it as much as I... Read more...
Surfing with surf grips
How did our surf grips performed in 2024?
|Support Waal
This year, we celebrated record-breaking sales since the pandemic, adjusted our prices for the first time in eight years due to rising fuel and transportation costs, and welcomed new talent... Read more...
Our most epic Green Friday Promotion Ever
Our most epic Green Friday Promotion Ever
|Support Waal
At Van der Waal we usually do a different Black Friday, giving part of the profits to some ONGs or causes (last year to the surf therapy association where I'm... Read more...
A new chapter: Transforming a tiny, dirty and moldy storefront
A new chapter: Transforming a tiny, dirty and moldy storefront
|Support Waal
The idea of moving from my house to a new space began when I started to notice some shame in my daughter about inviting friends over to the house... Read more...
Van der Waal Surf Grip at Europe’s largest wave pool
Van der Waal Surf Grip at Europe’s largest wave pool
|Support Waal
We are absolutely stoked to announce that our surf grips will now be available at the LostShore Wave Pool, powered by the incredible Wavegarden technology! This marks a huge milestone... Read more...
Poncha in geres
Special Discount Alert!
|Support Waal
As every year, I'm taking a little break for some well-deserved vacations with my daugther, and to celebrate, I'm offering a 15% discount. Read more...
longboard surf traction pads
The Advantages of Front Foot Traction Pads Over Surf Wax
|Support Waal
  When it comes to surfing, maintaining or feet gripped on our surfboards is crucial. A surfboard without grip is as useful as a car without oil: it may look... Read more...
Is surf wax really part of the fun of surfing?
Is surf wax really part of the fun of surfing?
|Support Waal
We understand that surf wax can be considered part of the fun of surfing. The preparation ritual, almost  a meditative part that prepare us for our surf sessions, and the scent, the... Read more...
Van der Waal at Bilbao Surf Film Festival
The important of recognition, reviews and awards for us
|Support Waal
As a small, close-knit company, recognition and awards almost serve as validation that our efforts to change the surf industry are on the right track. In the past, being selected... Read more...
Valentines Day for surfers - Gift your loved one
Valentines Day for surfers - Gift your loved one
|Martim Dornellas
This Valentines day we invite you to gift your loved one: your surfboard. Whether it's getting it a new clean grip, repairing dings and dents with care, or simply admiring its sleek... Read more...
Testing Van der Waal grip levels
Testing Van der Waal grip levels
|Martim Dornellas
Why? To be honest, pure curiosity. We know that surf is a very volatile sport. Surfing depends on so many factors - like ocean conditions, surfer form and experience, weather,... Read more...
How to remove surf wax from a surfboard
How to remove surf wax from a surfboard
|Martim Dornellas
A lot of customers ask me what is the best way to remove surf wax from their boards before applying our surf traction pads. So, here is a simple step... Read more...
Wave whispers - Mendo de Dornellas a surf photographer and film director
Wave whispers - Mendo de Dornellas a surf photographer and film director
|Martim Dornellas
We are really glad to present you our second episode from our brand new podcast, Wave Whispers Mendo de Dornellas is a world-renowned photographer and film director at @theendfilms.tv, known for... Read more...
Wave whispers - Rodrigo Campos, the first tester of Van der Waal surf grips
Wave whispers - Rodrigo Campos, the first tester of Van der Waal surf grips
|Martim Dornellas
We are really glad to present you our first episode from our brand new podcast: Wave Whispers Rodrigo Campos is a great surfer from Peniche. Is also a drone pilot,... Read more...
Surfboard traction pad vs wax
Surfboard traction pad vs wax
|Martim Dornellas
It’s a simple question: wax or deck pad? To put it simply, surfboard wax gives you traction from falling off. Also, at first sight, it looks kind of cheap and... Read more...
Sustainable surf gear: riding the wave of environmental responsibility
Sustainable surf gear: riding the wave of environmental responsibility
|Martim Dornellas
Surfing and environmentalism are intertwined by a shared love for the ocean. As the detrimental impacts of climate change become increasingly evident, the surf industry has embarked or will have... Read more...
What is surfing about? Van der Waal 2023 ethos
What is surfing about? Van der Waal 2023 ethos
|Martim Dornellas
To celebrate past International Surfing Day, we created a short movie inspired by Charles Bukowski's poem 'roll the dice'. Life, as surf, is full of risks, which carry both benefits... Read more...
How to apply surf traction pad from Van der Waal
How to apply surf traction pad from Van der Waal
|Martim Dornellas
Van der Waal surf grips are extremely easy to apply. Unlike common front deck pads that just cover a part of your surfboard, our hexagonal surf traction pads allow you... Read more...
Surviving summer with hexagonal surf grips
Surviving summer with hexagonal surf grips
|Martim Dornellas
Well, summer is here and with summer comes hot weather and we all know what happens to wax when you leave your surfboard at car and go for a beer... Read more...
About our surf grip pads hexagons size
About our surf grip pads hexagons size
|Martim Dornellas
This article was inspired by a conversation with our customer Erik, who asked me why are our hexagons smaller than the ones developed by the other guys :) While I... Read more...
6 years of a wonderful journey in surf industry
6 years of a wonderful journey in surf industry
|Martim Dornellas
I never imagined, when I challenged my friend Afonso to create with me an alternative to wax, that our little project would grow consistently for six years. Develop a surf... Read more...
A new tester on our surf grip traction pads
A new tester on our surf grip traction pads
|Martim Dornellas
We are really happy and proud to have another tester in our team: Bruno Degert. As you may know, we don’t sponsor athletes in order to have more profit or... Read more...
I’m the luckiest guy in the world
I’m the luckiest guy in the world
|Support Waal
Since day one that we are driven by this joyful feeling of experimenting. No matter if you succeed or not, the joy of fail and error and surpass that is... Read more...
The best alternatives to surf wax
The best alternatives to surf wax
|Martim Dornellas
Surfing is a thrilling water sport enjoyed by many people globally. However, surfing can be quite challenging if you do not have a good grip on the board so one... Read more...
Why our prices remained the same since 2016… and why do we have to update them?
Why our prices remained the same since 2016… and why do we have to update them?
|Martim Dornellas
About the first question… it’s simple: when we started Van der Waal, profit was not our main goal. We dreamed about creating a great surf wax alternative that would keep... Read more...
Best Christmas gifts for surfers (2022 edition)
Best Christmas gifts for surfers (2022 edition)
|Martim Dornellas
As last year, I’ve collected some of my top gifts for surfers. I’ve chosen the ones that I would love Santa to bring me… So, if you’re looking for some... Read more...
Let’s make a different black friday… again
Let’s make a different black friday… again
|Martim Dornellas
No need to say that I don’t love the idea behind Black Friday. Most of the time I just watch companies highering product prices a few weeks before this date... Read more...
It's surf wax a really cheaper alternative to surf traction pads?
It's surf wax a really cheaper alternative to surf traction pads?
|Martim Dornellas
Surf wax has been here for ages and it’s still the industry standard to keep the surfer from slipping off the board when paddling out or riding a wave. Accordingly... Read more...
A different kind of black friday promotion
A different kind of black friday promotion
|Support Waal
Despite we are a business, with sales goals to achieve, we never have been a standard profit-oriented business. Of course that we want to make sales and money, but the... Read more...
How to spray paint a surfboard
How to spray paint a surfboard
|Martim Dornellas
  Last month I bought a new JS Industries surfboard: a 6’11’’ Raging Bull. Happens that I really don’t like white surfboards and spray-painted it. I had so much fun... Read more...
Diogo surfing with front foot traction pads from Van der Waal
Eco conscious surf trips
|Martim Dornellas
So, you decide to go on a surf trip, chasing your dream waves. You check the forecasts, choose your destination, plan the flights, and accommodations for your next surf trip,... Read more...
6 Home Exercises That Will Really Improve Your Surf
6 Home Exercises That Will Really Improve Your Surf
|Martim Dornellas
Summer it’s here and at least around Lisbon, Portugal that means: less and weaker waves, crowd beaches and less time to surf. At the day I’m writing this article have... Read more...
with our concept of a wax alternative more established
International Surfing Day
|Martim Dornellas
Saturday, 19 will be International Surfing Day. As explained in Wikipedia: “International Surfing Day, held annually on the third Saturday of June, is an unofficial, environmentally conscious sports-centered holiday that... Read more...
About our surf grip pads hexagons size
About our surf grip pads hexagons size
|Martim Dornellas
This article was inspired by a conversation with our customer Erik, who asked me why are our hexagons smaller than the ones developed by the other guys :) While I... Read more...
A simple idea to minimize surf impact in oceans
A simple idea to minimize surf impact in oceans
|Martim Dornellas
Well, we all know that surf has a huge impact on oceans, which is a kind of contradiction as we love the ocean and waves. But surf it’s far away... Read more...
2021 in review - Despite the nice forecast, a messy waves year
2021 in review - Despite the nice forecast, a messy waves year
|Martim Dornellas
And they did it again… So many expectations to 2021 and… well, we all know how it was. Just like on those days when the day before you check a... Read more...