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.

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.