The challenge is the purpose.
Reasons why people gravitate toward a DIY surf or paddleboard kit project are not easily defined, but here are ours. . .
Heritage
We celebrate and honor our coastal heritage. Both Randy and Phil grew up around a family "beach house", where generations of our families used smallcraft of various types for both work and play, including outboard runabouts, sailing dinghies, keelboats and one-designs, paddleboards and surfboards.
Randy's roots are on the windy dunes north of Lincoln City, Oregon near what is now Roads End State Park. Phil grew up spending summers six miles at sea on a cove between Manahawkin Bay and Little Egg Harbor in Brant Beach, New Jersey on Long Beach Island.
Character
We are equal parts adventurer, technician, artist and athlete.
Randy, a trained meteorologist and veteran, has fished commercially, constructed his own sloop which he extensively sailed bluewater, cruised the South Pacific, is an accomplished competitive paddler, lifelong surfer, and high-end custom woodworker.
Phil's background is technical/engineering leadership, formerly a US Merchant Marine, thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, competes at the masters level in biathlon (nordic skiing + precision marksmanship), raced and coached inshore and offshore sailing, sailed and rowed crew on the college level.
Wellness
We seek meditative "flow state" as a strategy for dealing with stress and nurturing the ". . . inextricable link between our spiritual and creative selves" (Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way).
Inevitable as part of life, staking the time to deliberately check-out and re-center is vital to our health and long-term well-being. As a positive externality, it is also how we achieve our fullest potential.
Cost
Wood surfboards and paddleboards are way cheaper and easier to maintain than a wood boat, but still never fail to the capture attention of onlookers. If you are looking for a point of entry that your spouse can live with, this is it! The fact that our products are priced accessibly is important for the preservation of traditional smallcraft construction methods and design trade.
Community
We are passionate about building community. Children, family, friends, neighbors - even strangers - get excited about these projects. Whether you unlock motivation within yourself, or inspire others, stepping toward the things that scare you is where the personal growth occurs. It is the act of living, not just existing.
This is our story. What is yours?
"Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another." Angela Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
