Australian surf brand makes surfboard fins from old wind turbine blades

Australian surf brand Bolero Surf has partnered with Spanish energy giant Acciona to make surfboard fins from recycled wind turbine blades in the hope of creating a new local manufacturing industry.

The Bolero Surf fins are the first commercially available product to come out of Acciona’s ‘Turbine Made’ initiative which it launched in February 2025. The company has previously promoted shoes made from wind turbine blades that were sported by former Queensland energy minister Mick de Brenni in 2024.

Bolero Surf is the brainchild of 26-year-old entrepreneur Banjo Hunt, a Newcastle based surfboard shaper who is now turning his attention to designing quality fibreglass surfboard fins.

Hunt says that many surfers are pairing new surfboards with cheap and inferior fins that are often made from unsustainable materials.

But the new surf fins, made from recycled wind turbine blades from the Waubra Wind Farm in Victoria, are designed to meet the performance demands of modern surfing while also highlighting the scalability of recycled wind turbine materials.

“The fibreglass inside a wind turbine blade has so much inherent value, which for us means it can be turned into high-quality surfboard fins,” says Hunt.

“By reusing this material, we avoid one of the most expensive and labour-intensive parts of traditional fin manufacturing. That advantage is helping us bring production back to Australia. Crucially, the material is super strong and stiff, which perfectly lends itself to high-performance surfboard fins.”

Bolero Surf’s fins were launched over the weekend at the 2026 NRMA Insurance Australian Boardriders Battle  at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.

Professional surfer Darcy Crump took part in the competition on a board using the fins, describing them as feeling “solid, and quick around turns,” adding that knowing they’re made from recycled turbines makes it even better.”

Acciona’s Turbine Made initiative has already dipped its tows in the waters with surf culture, debuting in early 2025 a surfboard made from another decommissioned blade from its Waubra Wind Farm.

The surfboard was made in partnership with Australian pro surfer Josh Kerr and his surfboard brand Draft Surf.

But the launch of surfboard fins with Bolero Surf is expected to be a turning point for the Turbine Made initiative, according to Gavin Reymond, managing director at Acciona Energia in Australia.

“Last year, we proved the Turbine Made concept by making the world’s first surfboards from a retired wind turbine blade,” he said.

“This year, we’re showing how we can scale the initiative by creating a retail product, helping surfers not just surf better, but also more sustainably.

“This is a live case study for Australian designers, innovators, manufacturers and entrepreneurs of what is possible when we rethink end of life materials as the start of the next product.”

If you wish to support independent media, and accurate information, please consider making a one off donation or becoming a regular supporter of Renew Economy. Please click here. Your support is invaluable.