Cast your vote and help Skunkworks pitch!

Skunkworks Surfboard Company is pitching for the chance to win £150,000 of business and marketing support under Branson’s Virgin brand.

As we revealed a few months ago brothers Chris and Ricky Martin are designing and producing what they describe as the “next generation” of surfboards at their Skunk Works surfboard company in Coleraine.

Now they are asking for the public to support them and vote for them in so as they get a chance to ‘Pitch to Rich’.

“We can become the largest surfboard manufacturer globally, a market worth over $3 billion,” Ricky told Times Sport.

“We have solved an industry problem and by winning £100k in grants we have set up a manufacturing facility in NI and grown from team of two to four.

“I own a surf school, my biggest expense is replacing boards.

“Current boards have 5 structural flaws all attributed to adhesives, a global problem costing time, money and the environment.

“Our patent-pending heat-bonding technique eliminates adhesives. As we bond one section of our board to another it becomes the strongest section, not the weakest.

“We only use 100% recyclable materials. We make other peoples lives better by offering a product that saves money, time and the environment.

“We have had requests for over 200 boards, even though they have not even been released yet, such is the need.

“We understand the dedication, hard-work and tenacity needed to make it. This is our first collaboration and we have started something special.

“Winning Pitch to Rich will allow us to produce a ‘market ready board’, become a major employer, centre for innovation and a platform to reinvigorate the economy.

“To get the attention of Richard Branson and the support of the marketing team of Virgin would be an amazing asset to us and our plans for the future.”

To vote for Chris and Ricky, and help make their business dreams come true then log on to the link and vote: http://www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk/pitch-to-rich/new-things/the-skunkworks-surfboard-company/