About Us
Kia Ora 🌺 — I’m Laura, founder of SurfShell.
We’re a small family business based in Raglan, New Zealand, built on a deep love of surfing, the ocean, and our community.
Why We Created SurfShell
SurfShell started after a series of close calls in the water. Boards to heads, fins too close for comfort, crowded lineups getting busier every season. The real turning point came when a close friend needed eight stitches after a surfboard strike.
It was a wake-up call.
I couldn’t ignore the growing risks, more surfers, more boards, unpredictable conditions. But when I searched for head protection that felt comfortable, lightweight, and actually wearable… nothing existed.
So we created it.
What Is SurfShell?
SurfShell is a lightweight protective surf hat designed to help reduce the impact of knocks, bumps, and gashes in the ocean.
It’s not a heavy helmet.
It’s not restrictive.
And it doesn’t change the way you surf.
It’s a streamlined surf cap with shock-absorbing materials, designed to give you added confidence in crowded or shallow conditions while still looking and feeling like you.
Our Vision
Our mission is simple:
To help make surfing safer and surfers feel more confident worldwide.
We believe protective surf headgear should be normal, accessible, and easy to wear. Not something you only consider after an injury.
Watching SurfShell head out into lineups around the world has been incredibly special. What started as a family solution is becoming part of a bigger shift toward safer surfing and we’re proud to be part of that movement.
From our family in Raglan to surfers around the world, thank you for being here!
Laura Lucas - Founder