About Paulownia Natural Growers
At Paulownia Natural Growers, we believe the best boards start in the soil, not in a factory.
Based in Valencia, Spain, we are a family-run forestry project and shaping workshop dedicated to cultivating paulownia and transforming it into high-performance water sports equipment. Unlike traditional manufacturers who rely on synthetic foams and imported materials, we control every step of the process. We grow the wood, we dry it, and we shape it.
Our goal is to offer a genuine, sustainable alternative for riders and shapers who demand authenticity, traceability, and a different feel on the water.
This is how our journey began:
Timeline of Growth
- 2005: We planted our first paulownia sapling on our land in Valencia, Spain, as a test.
- 2006-2008: The forest expanded to over 5,000 trees, proving the viability of local, sustainable cultivation.
- 2010: Our first timber harvest. The traditional market did not understand the unique value of this wood, so we looked for a better fit.
- 2011: We connected directly with shapers and surfers, discovering the perfect application for paulownia in water sports.
- 2012: Paulownia Natural Growers was officially founded, becoming the first company in Spain to supply surf-grade paulownia.
- 2013: We began producing pre-shaped wooden blanks and panels for surfboards and alaias.
- 2015: We started supplying pre-curved boards for tiki shaping, partnering with the French kiteboarding community and the group TIKI Mafia to test wood flex in real competition conditions.
- 2022: Our product lines expand to include surfboards, kiteboards, bellyboards, foil boards, and blanks crafted from sustainably grown paulownia.
A Family Legacy
This journey has always been a shared family project. My son grew up surrounded by these trees, learning the wood’s character, density, and behavior firsthand. After more than 20 years of working with this material, he now leads the shaping bay. He is the one refining our kitesurf, foiling, and bellyboard models, ensuring that the deep, practical knowledge of the tree translates directly into the performance of the finished product.
The Craft: More Than Just Wood
It is not just about the material; it is about how we treat it. We carefully select the grain for optimal flex, process our own sawn planks, and strictly control the drying process to ensure dimensional stability. We then engineer our unique bamboo and paulownia sandwich structures. This meticulous attention to detail is what gives a TK board, or any blank we supply, its distinct, lively, and dampened feel on the water.
Community-Driven R&D
We do not design boards in isolation. Our research and development happen on the water, in direct collaboration with shapers, riders, and the global kiteboarding community. Their feedback on flex, durability, and performance in real conditions directly dictates how we refine our shapes. We refine our shapes based on real conditions and rider feedback.
A Conscious Green Philosophy
Sustainability has been our core philosophy since day one, not just a marketing label. Our workshop runs on 100% renewable electricity, CNMC-certified through our provider, Fenie Energía.
Because the paulownia naturally regenerates, we operate a closed loop: a portion of every sale is reinvested directly into the maintenance and care of our forest. We don’t just take from the land; we give back to it.
Our Commitment
We do not just sell wood. We grow it, we dry it, we shape it, and we stand behind every board that leaves our workshop.
