Our Story
Monte wooden surf and paddle boards are handmade and traditionally built using repurposed timber and veneer from a number of reliable sources in the South West of England where Roman Rodriguez "El Bigote" - founder and chief builder lives and works.
Before focusing full time on Monte, Roman spent his career in the UK working for luxury yacht builder Sunseeker and later as head of veneer for Halstock Cabinet Makers, creators of luxury bespoke interiors.
Roman Rodriguez began his surf journey over 25 years ago on the beaches of La Paloma, Uruguay where he grew up.
Roman has also lived and worked in Galicia, on Spain's north Atlantic coast, and most recently in Bali, surfing her warm, crystal clear waters, day in day out.
Since moving to the UK from Bali in 2013 Roman has developed Monte surf into a burgeoning business, at first building boards for himself, and now taking on commissions locally and internationally. Monte now also build hand planes and skim boards.
Roman Rodriguez studied Architecture in Montevideo but the desk wasn't for him and he instead became a blacksmith. He has also studied Boat Building at the famous Boatbuilding Academy in Lyme Regis, England.