Surfing with Lou Aitken

Based in the beautiful Matakana just north of Auckland, Lou Aitken is the craftswoman behind Aitken Surfboards. Building boards for nearly 10 years, we spoke to Lou about how she got into board making, her tips for getting into surfing & her top spots for a Dawny mission…

Tell us a bit about Aitken Surfboards and how that started. 

I've always had a deep love for the ocean, growing up around Sandy Bay Northland area - every chance we had as kids to escape the big city life we were up there. I've also always been really hands on with creating things so building surfboards felt like a really natural hobby to explore. 

Aitken Surfboards started off as a very fun, carefree project back in 2016 and has now blossomed into a really fun part time/full time career doing what I love and crafting people's beautiful equipment to use in the ocean. 

What's your best piece of advice for anyone wanting to get into surfing as an adult?

The best advice that comes to mind is 'don't worry about what other people might think'. Everyone is so caught up in their own little world and it may seem like a scary venture to start a sport like surfing at a later stage of your life but it's better late than never. 

A smile in the ocean around other surfers also goes a long way. Being dedicated and consistent with your learning will also be really beneficial for your confidence and ocean knowledge.

What are your must have items for every adventure? 

That’s easy - something to keep you warm in winter/spring and something to keep you cool and calm in the summer months. For me, that's a super warm coffee in the morning in my Dawny cup or a cold beer after a surf on a hot summer arvo.

What's your top 3 spots around NZ for adventure seekers? 

Northland, Taranaki and South Otago.

Best spot for a Dawny mission in NZ? 

Cant beat Ruakaka beach after spending the night up in the sand dunes camping and watching the sun rise over Little Barrier and the Hen and Chicks