Surfing the Unseen Hours
In a place where elbow room is a rarity, Kolton Sullivan found solitude—and spectacle. At 4:00 AM, with the ocean calm and the stars still out, the San Clemente surfer paddled into the famously crowded Lower Trestles, alone. His secret weapon? A fully illuminated surfboard, glowing through the dark like something out of a sci-fi movie.
The Birth of a Bright Idea
The board, shaped by local craftsman and former aerospace technician Rick Rock, isn’t your average night surfing toy. While glowing surfboards have existed before, this creation stands out with its seamless blend of performance and visual spectacle. Designed using composite skills Rick honed at SpaceX, it merges futuristic engineering with old-school shaping techniques.
Turning Heads—and Cameras
Rick and Kolton documented their pre-dawn surf session on YouTube, capturing ghostly silhouettes and a glowing trail across the wave face. The board’s sleek, spaceship-like design was as eye-catching on film as it was functional on water. “I figured I’d use some of my skillsets to build an illuminated surfboard,” Rick explained, without revealing all the tech secrets behind his creation.
A Glimpse into Surfing’s Future?
Though this isn’t the first foray into night surfing or glow-in-the-dark gear, this board might signal a new era for those seeking waves without the lineup chaos. Whether it inspires more light-up boards or remains a rare gem, it certainly proved one thing: surfing isn’t just about daylight—it’s about creativity, craftsmanship, and the thrill of being first out. Or in this case, first light.