Lossiemouth surfing enthusiast, David Forsyth, is on the crest of a wave after securing business start-up assistance of £3,120 from Moray Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise (MBSE) to set up his own business designing and making custom-built surfboards.

David, who has also received backing from the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust, has been involved in surfing for over six years, spending much of this time exploring ways of making stronger, lighter and faster boards than existing British manufacturers.

With his new company, Frosty Surfboards, he aims to make surfboards using advanced epoxy resins and NASA grade fibres.  His designs have won him first prize in a local competition and he will be the first Scottish-based manufacturer of custom-built surfboards.

"Surfing is a growing sport in Britain, with more than 200 competitions held every year from John O'Groats to Landsend," he explained.  "There are now around 300,000 surfers in the UK, about a third of whom are in Scotland.  Last year more than 20,000 surfboards were sold in Britain, but boards made to high-specification usually have to be brought in from America and this can be expensive and they are not always the best boards for British waves.  To test the market I made a number of sample boards that were leant out to surfers for trials.  They have now been thoroughly tested and the feedback has been very positive.  I now have confidence that there is a niche in the market for my product and the start-up grant and advice from MBSE will help me penetrate this."

Business development officer with MBSE, Kathleen Brims, added:  "David has taken the time to examine his ideas and his market and develop a product that meets the needs of the niche he has identified.  I am very pleased we have been able to assist with what promises to be a very active and dynamic business."

Frosty surfboards will be available locally through ESP, the surfboard shop in Elgin.