How Rad Surf Wax Is Making Surfing More Sustainable

As surfers, we're lucky enough to spend most of our free time in nature. But I'm sure many of you have noticed the changes over the years too, like pollution, overfishing, climate change... the list goes on.

It can sometimes feel overwhelming. We all want to make more conscious choices, but eco-friendly products can often come with a higher price tag. The good news is that every small change adds up and choosing more sustainable options where we can really does make a difference!

That's one of the reasons I love using Rad Surf Wax. It's a simple swap whilst being kinder to the environment.

I recently caught up with founder Kate to chat about how the brand began, why sustainability matters and the small changes we can all make to help protect the places we love to surf.

Kate at her local beach Perranporth

For anyone who doesn't know you yet, who is Kate and what does your life look like outside of Rad Wax?

I'm Kate, founder of Rad Wax, but before anything else I'm a surfer, mum and someone who feels happiest outdoors.

I live in Cornwall with my son Luke and, if we're not working or at school, you'll usually find us doing something active. Surfing, nippers, tennis, bike rides or kicking a ball around in the garden.

Before Rad Wax I worked as a PE teacher, tennis coach, surf instructor and beach lifeguard, so sport and the ocean have shaped most of my life.

A few years ago I lost my husband, Ed, to cancer. It completely changed my perspective on life. It made me realise how precious time is and how important it is to spend it doing things you genuinely care about.

That's probably the biggest thing that drives me now. Life is short. Pursue your ideas. Have fun. Spend time with the people you love. And if you can leave the world, or even just your local community, a little better than you found it, then you've done something worthwhile.

That's become my goal in life and in business.

Where did the idea for Rad Wax originally come from? Was there a particular moment when you thought, "There has to be a better way to make surf wax"?

The idea actually started years before Rad Wax existed.

Ed and I used to chat about it after surfing. We'd always ask the same question: "Why are there no really good eco surf waxes?"

At the time, the natural options we found were usually yellow, went slick quite quickly and never seemed to perform like the wax everyone else was using.

We kept saying, surely there has to be a better way.

Years later, after I'd started learning much more about natural ingredients, I realised that maybe a better way was finally possible. I teamed up with a spa product company who were experts in creating plant-based products and that partnership became Rad Wax.

For me it was never about creating another surfboard wax. It was about answering a question we'd been asking for years and proving that surfers shouldn't have to choose between performance and products made with thoughtfully sourced, plant-based ingredients.

And yes its as grippy as it looks!

What was the hardest part of turning your idea into an actual product?

Performance. Surfers don't always buy surf wax because it's natural, they buy it because it works.

We spent years experimenting with different combinations of plant waxes, oils and tree resins until we created something that genuinely performed. We tested it in every condition we could, making small changes each time until we were happy.

We never wanted people to buy Rad Wax because they felt they should. We wanted them to buy it because it's a great surf wax that also happens to be made differently.

What do you wish more surfers knew about conventional surf wax and the ingredients that go into it?

Most surfers, myself included for years, never really stop to think about what's in the wax we rub onto our boards before paddling out. 

I'd love to see more transparency from the industry so surfers can make informed choices. Most conventional surf waxes are made using a combination of paraffin wax, limestone and synthetic fragrances, but very few brands openly have the ingredients on their packaging.

Each of those ingredients has an environmental footprint, whether that's through the extraction and manufacturing of raw materials, tiny amounts of wax wearing off into the sea during use, or old wax ending up in landfill when it's scraped from a board.

I'm not interested in telling people they're wrong for using conventional wax. It's what generations of us have surfed with, and it's part of countless great memories in the water.

I just think it's exciting that surfers now have more choice. If we can create products that perform just as well using thoughtfully sourced, plant-based ingredients, then that's a positive step forward. Ultimately, it's about giving people the information to choose the products that best align with their values, without compromising on performance.

We only use Rad Wax at Gather & Glide!

What are a few realistic changes surfers can make that would genuinely make a difference to the health of our oceans?

• Start with the easy wins

• Support your local surf shop

• Repair equipment before replacing it if you can

• Join a beach clean every now and then

• Choose products with better ingredients where there's a genuine alternative

• Most importantly, spend time in the ocean

• People naturally protect the places they love

What have you found to be the biggest challenge of running your own business?

The uncertainty. Some days you feel like you're taking over the world and the next you're wondering whether anyone will buy another bar of wax!

Running a business means making decisions every day without knowing exactly how they'll turn out.

You have to become comfortable with uncertainty and keep moving forward.

It's challenging, but it's also incredibly rewarding.

Running a small business can be all-consuming. How do you balance being passionate about what you're building with actually switching off and enjoying life?

I'm still working on it!

Getting active is still the best reset button I've found. Once I'm paddling out, going for a run or hitting a tennis ball everything else disappears for a while.

Luke helps too. Children have a brilliant way of reminding you what's important. He doesn't care how many stockists we've signed this week, he just wants to go bodyboarding, climb over rocks or eat an ice cream on the beach.

I think that's a good reminder to enjoy the present.

 Kate & Luke enjoying a beach clean

What are you most proud of when you look at how far Rad Wax has come?

Without a doubt, it's the community.

When I started, Rad Wax was just an idea. Today we're working with independent surf shops, surf schools, Team England athletes, environmental organisations and surfers around the world.

What I'm most proud of, though, is the people behind those partnerships.

Seeing Allannah develop people’s surfing and build their confidence in the water is incredibly inspiring. The same goes for all our ambassadors, who use their knowledge, experience and love of the ocean to encourage others into the sport.

Surfing has always been about more than catching waves. It's about community, confidence and the people who make others feel welcome. If Rad Wax can support that in some small way, that's something I'm really proud of.

How have you seen women's surfing, and women's roles within the surf industry, change over the years?

It's changed enormously.

When I first started surfing there were fewer women in the water and even fewer women running businesses in the surf industry.

Now there are incredible female surfers, surf instructors, photographers, filmmakers, entrepreneurs and environmental leaders helping shape the future of surfing.

There's still progress to make, but it's exciting to see young girls growing up believing those opportunities are completely normal.

Just a couple of gals who care about the environment / pc Danielle Hutchinson

Who are some women in surfing or business who inspire you?

Growing up, Serena and Venus Williams and Lisa Andersen were probably my biggest role models.

They were all incredibly talented, but what I admired most was their self-belief. They backed themselves, worked incredibly hard and found a way to succeed against the odds.

As I've got older, that's probably the biggest lesson I've taken into business. I've realised that no one will ever believe in your dream as much as you do. It's important to listen to advice and learn from people with more experience, but you also have to trust your own instincts.

What advice would you give to a woman who has an idea for a surf business but is nervous about taking the leap?

Just start.

You don't need to have everything figured out.

Talk to people. Make a prototype. Test your idea. Be prepared for it to change.

Most businesses don't succeed because the original idea was perfect. They succeed because the founder keeps learning, adapting and improving.

Don't wait until everything feels ready, you'll be waiting forever.

What Does The Future Look Like For Rad Wax?

It's a really exciting time.

We're beginning to introduce Rad Wax to surfers around the world through new distribution partners, and it's amazing seeing something that started as a conversation in Cornwall reaching completely new surfing communities.

I'm excited to keep proving that performance and thoughtfully sourced, plant-based ingredients can go hand in hand.

Personally, I hope to keep building a business that reflects the values I want Luke to grow up with. Work hard. Enjoy the ride. Be kind to people. Spend time outdoors. And if you have an idea that could make a positive difference, don't be afraid to give it a go.

I think we can sometimes overcomplicate surfing. The best board isn't always the newest or most expensive one, it's the one that gets you out there, catching waves and coming back to the beach with a smile on your face. That's what surfing has always been about for me.

Thanks for reading :) 

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