Innovation requires risk. The reward for said risk, should it payoff, is bountiful. Such is the case for visionary surfboard designer Hayden Cox, who in his boundary-pushing career has literally reshaped the very meaning of what a surfboard can be; elevating it beyond a mere sporting good to be an instrument of self-expression and triumph.
As any 15-year-old with a slim stipend can attest, damaging your board beyond repair is a sure-fire way to have a miserable summer. Upon the irreparable damage incurred to a 15-year-old Hayden Cox’s board, however, the world was given its first Haydenshapes. In the decade hence, Hayden Cox has carved out his spot as one of the world’s finest board designers, collaborating with the likes of Alexander Wang and ArtistDaniel Arsham. Blurring the lines between art and practicality, many of Cox’s designs look like they belong in a gallery somewhere in Paddington.
Hayden Cox has also added ‘father’ to his long list of accolades. We had a chance to chat with Hayden on all thing’s fatherhood, career and the balancing act of maintaining success in both.