Home Scored Waves and Landfill-Free Wetsuits: In Conversation with Barnaby Cox

Cornish pro surfer Barnaby Cox discusses scoring waves at home in Bude, the problem with neoprene, and supporting local repair culture over fast fashion.

16 August 2026 3 min read By admin

“Neoprene is used to line landfill sites because it takes such a long time to break down. Alternative rubber for wetsuits needs to keep improving in quality and durability so it becomes the standard.” – Barnaby Cox

Hailing from Bude in North Cornwall, Barnaby Cox is one of the UK’s standout surfing talents. But beyond scoring waves at his local beach, Barnaby is keenly aware of the footprint surfers leave behind – from petroleum-based neoprene to fast-fashion gear. We caught up with Barnaby to talk about scoring home breaks, wetsuit longevity, and the local repair brands keeping gear out of landfills.

Snapshot Profile

Name: Barnaby Cox
Home Town: Bude, North Cornwall, UK
Local Break: Crooklets Beach, Bude
Craft: Shortboard Surfing

The Interview

What is your favourite spot in the world to surf, and why?

Barnaby: My favourite place would have to be right at home. From time to time, the sandbanks align perfectly with a good swell, and we get incredible, rippable waves with just a few friends out.

It’s always such a sweet, rewarding feeling scoring great waves on your home turf.

What do you think the surf industry can be doing better to support ocean health?

Barnaby: From what I understand, neoprene is actually used to line landfill sites because it takes so long to break down. I hope natural rubber alternatives for wetsuits keep improving in quality and durability so they become far more widespread. That alone would have a massive impact on every surfer’s environmental footprint – and the same goes for surfboard construction.

Also, many mainstream surf brands seem more concerned with pumping out fast-fashion merchandise rather than high-quality equipment built to last a lifetime. Creating durable, long-lasting gear should always be the primary goal.

Barnaby’s Favorite Brands & Inspiration

Brands Keeping Gear Alive

Rooted Ocean: Founded by two local surfers in Cornwall, they specialize in repairing wetsuits, broken zippers, and outerwear. They’ve saved several of my coats, changing robes, and wetsuits from ending up in a landfill, while making durable equipment of their own.
Golden Buoy: A brand supporting me that focuses on positive impact – using 100% organic materials, UK-based production, zero plastic packaging, and donating to environmental charities with every sale.

Final Thought

Barnaby: *”Support the brands fixing things rather than throwing them away. Shifting toward organic materials, plastic-free packaging, and gear built to last a lifetime is how we keep the surf industry accountable.” *