GMac lends his support to local surfing brothers

Portrush golfer Graeme McDowell has taken to his Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts to voice his support for The Skunkworks Surfboard Company which has beaten off stiff competition from 897 businesses across the UK to qualify for the semi-finals in the competition.

Portrush brothers Ricky Martin, 35 and Chris, 31, are hoping to secure a share of the £1million accelerator fund to grow The Skunkworks Surfboard Company which will revolutionize the way surfboards are made, create jobs and change the way surf schools operate across the world.

The brothers are currently in third position but with a little social media support from US Open winner, Graeme McDowell, the surfing duo are hoping he will influence people to vote for them.

On his social media accounts, Graeme McDowell wrote: “Please help vote for some school buddies of mine with #VOOM Pitch to Rich 2015 for their eco surfboard start up business” - a message which he shared the voting link with his 672,598 Twitter followers, his 133,000 Facebook followers and 49,700 Instagram followers.

Ricky said: “Graeme McDowell is such a legend because we are getting so close now to pitching directly to Richard Branson. This is such a cool thing for him to do. We are the only Northern Ireland business in this competition. The experience so far has been amazing. We think we are in with a good chance but we very much need the support of the public.”

The two brothers developed the concept because Ricky owns Alive Surf School in Portrush and mending foamies after every season is a costly headache both financially and time wise for surf school. To vote for Ricky and Chris click www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/pitch-to-rich/new-things/the-skunkworks-surfboard-company/. Voting ends at 10am on June 16.