For the past 25 years, Ryan-Marco Herholdt dedicated his life to designing and creating surfboards while connecting people to the wonders of the ocean through his craft.
But earlier this year, January 30, tragedy struck when Herholdt’s Park Rynie workshop went up in flames after a bolt of lightning started a devastating electrical fire that destroyed his tools, equipment, and a variety of heritage surfboards.
While items of sentimental value can never be replaced, the support of the local community can go a long way in empowering him with the tools of his trade so that he can get his life’s work started up again.
“I wasn’t at the workshop at the time when the lightning struck, but by the time I arrived it was too late,” he recalled. “I had close to 30 surfboards in the shop at the time, 10 of which were high-value heritage boards including the first-ever surfboard that I shaped. It’s been a major loss. I didn’t have insurance as I’m a small-scale operation and I try to keep my boards affordable for people on the KZN South Coast,” he said.
He added that he has been operating from Park Rynie for seven years, saying that alongside surfboards, he lost intricate shaping tools that will need to be re-engineered.
Herholdt is pleading with the public to help reignite his passion and get his business up and running again.
For the craftsman’s banking details or more information, contact him on 083 241 0825 or email info@ryanmarcosurfboards.com.
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