A new standard for water safety: the Mamuli-Surf Helmet
Born from Daan van Rooijen’s personal experience, the solution, designed by surfers for surfers, aims to promote a new culture of safety in surfing, not only with the product itself but also through social impact initiatives.
“Safety First” is a universal expression that we have all heard at least once in our lives, however, when it comes to certain sports, safety culture is still not considered a fundamental aspect. While helmet use has become the norm on ski slopes, in surfing it has taken the arrival of the new Mamuli-Surf Helmet to offer a solution that combines protection, comfort, and performance, designed around the needs of surfers.
Daan van Rooijen, founder of the brand, explains: “I realized that in snowboarding, skating, biking and every other extreme sport, wearing helmets is the norm – but in surfing it isn’t. I set out to create a helmet surfers actually want to wear: one that feels comfortable, performs, and looks good in the water.”
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Mamuli-Surf Helmet:
The accident that inspired the project
The Mamuli-Surf Helmet was born from the desire to make this sport safer, also following a serious accident involving Daan’s sister, Guusje, who on July 10, 2024, was hit by another surfer at the spot where the family regularly practices in Bali. The accident caused severe skull and brain injuries, putting the young woman’s life at risk and changing Daan’s perspective.
A tragic event that was completely beyond Guusje’s control, but that could have had less severe consequences if she had been wearing a helmet. Mamuli-Surf’s data is clear: with 35 million surfers worldwide, less than 10% wear a helmet, yet 1 in 3 surfers experiences an accident every year, with 34% of injuries involving the head and neck.
The solution for safer surfing
One of the issues highlighted by Daan is the presence on the market of unsuitable products: bulky designs that block the ears, compromise balance, and reduce the athlete’s performance. This is also why the Mamuli-Surf Helmet was created, designed with and for surfers.
With an extremely lightweight construction, the helmet’s design is developed to keep the ears free and ensure the natural flow of water, allowing surfers to maintain the same perception and connection with their surroundings. A highly optimised honeycomb ventilation structure enables duckdives and wipeouts without experiencing water resistance.
Designed for athletes and recreational users aged 8 and above, the Mamuli-Surf Helmet is available in three different models (Small, Medium, and Large). It features a 360° adjustment system to ensure stability and safety, as well as a magnetic closure that can be operated with one hand. The product is certified according to the European EN 1385 standard for water sports – not only surfing.
A successful beginning
Launched in April 2026, the crowdfunding campaign to finance the production of the moulds ended after one month, reaching and exceeding its goal of $34,000. Since then, Mamuli-Surf has finalised the agreement with its manufacturing partner, and the moulds are now in production ahead of the global launch planned for 2027.
As explained by the brand, after the mould production and before the start of manufacturing, different recycled materials will be tested, including recycled EPS, EVA, and ABS, as well as recycled plastic, with the goal of creating the world’s first sustainable surf helmet.
Beyond sport, design for social impact
Another project developed by the brand is the Mamuli-Surf Safety Program, which will donate helmets to the most remote surfing communities in Indonesia, where access to healthcare is limited, and support young surfers so they can practice the sport safely. The initiative is developed in collaboration with professional surfer Oney Anwar.
Mamuli-Surf does not aim only to sell a product but to redefine safety standards in surfing. Born from a personal experience, the brand aims to create a collective benefit by making the sport safer, without compromises.
