ecoboardin at 2018 Surf Expo

I started attending Surf Expo and ICAST about 10 years ago.  Over that time period I have seen the slow but deliberate change in fishing kayaks and surf boards by  watermen and surfers.  Kayaks have truly been transformed to where the fishing kayak is today with amazing seats and all sorts of peddle / paddle drives.  Surfboards have not changed as dramatically as kayaks.  Surfboard materials like the foam cores, stringers, fins, and fiberglass have changed with time but the surfboard is still a shaped composite board with a curved up nose with one to three fins on the back.  Even Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUPs), which are very big surfboards that are wider and longer than your average surfboard, are constructed using the same components as surfboards. Instead of using the wave action action to propel the surfboard, a SUP rider uses a specially designed paddle. 

Radical innovation did not affect the SUP market until last year when BOTE rolled out their Rover. The Rover is a redesigned hopped SUP with a real cutout for a small out board motor.  In Europe a company called Aquanami has both a jet ski motor operated kayak and SUP.  They have not set up a distributorship here in the USA.  So where am I going with this.  

At this year's January Surf Expo a new exhibitor showed off their battery powered surf board. The company is ecoboardin. They are located in Fort Pierce, Florida.  At their booth I spoke with Carla Elicondo about their battery powered propulsion system in their innovative surf board.  They had a video running in the booth I could not take my eyes off of.  My bad I did not take a video of their long video.  Check out the short video clip from their website I posted today.  Ecoboardin has two models, the Carver and the Manta.  The list price is $5,390.00.  An extra battery costs $1,980.00.  These prices are good for each model.  The battery life for the Carver is 20 minutes at full speed.  But you can get more battery life at slower speeds. The Manta is designed for slower speeds.  The battery life for the Manta is about 2.5 hours.   I really like the concept. 

The price will not scare first adapters away because you can easily spend up to 5 grand on an extremely tricked out kayak. So why not spend that much on an electric powered surf board.  Only time will tell how the surfing market place reacts to this new surfing technology.  If the reaction is like what happened to kayak propulsion systems, hang on to your hat it will be a fun ride.  


Until next time, be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors.  

The Carver by ecoboardin

Sunshine States Goods Rocks 2018 Surf Expo

From being a producer on the Oprah Show to a Florida surf lifestyle entrepreneur, any task Chelsea McMillan sets her mind to becomes a success. Sunshine State Goods is an up and coming Florida surf lifestyle apparel brand.

I met Chelsea in an odd way at the 2018 January Surf Expo.  While I was sitting at one of the round tables in one of the eating areas, Chelsea was walking around the showroom floor dropping sales and marketing cards on the table.  We acknowledge each other and she went on her way to the next table. At Surf Expo, the center of all the round eating tables were used as a depository of surfing stickers, rack cards and other forms of brand advertising. Well sometime later when I was sitting at another table at a different location on the expo floor, low and behold here comes Chelsea still making her rounds. Below is the marketing piece she was placing on each table. 

We smiled and recognized the fact that we have crossed paths again.  From that point on, I decided to stop by her booth to see what Sunshine State Goods was all about. 

When I arrived at any expo booth I am always wary not to interrupt any sales discussion with potential customers. If a booth is very busy I always swing back later when the booth is less busy.  Upon arriving at the Sunshine State Goods booth there were no potential customers to contend with. 

Chelsea greeted me with a smile that said we meet again.  Meeting people at surf expo is such a blast.  At that time I dove right in and ask about the history of the brand.  She explained the company history. She said she started the business because she saw an opportunity to develop a line of Florida themed apparel.  Click HERE for a great article about Chelsea McMillan on the Erwin Shaw Street website.  Their interview of Chelsea tells the whole story.  

I have been doing graphic design since the early 1980 when Corel Draw first came on the market. During these 35 plus years I have designed hundreds of tee shirts so when I am given the opportunity write about surf lifestyle apparel, especially tee shirts, I have a sound basis for my comments.  

As Chelsea showed me different shirt styles with different designs I asked her who did her artwork.  She said she used local Florida artist.  I commented that I like the simplicity of the artwork on the Sunshine State Goods apparel.  I said that because I am not a fan of tee shirt designs with a 1,000 colors with very complex  designs.  The art work Chelsea is using clearly shows off the Sunshine State in simplistic terms.  During our short talk, Chelsea mentioned that they supported Florida with a special Hurricane Irma tee shirt design and they were a big supporter of Florida Wildlife Corridor.  According to the Florida Wildlife Corridor, "it is a statewide network of lands and water that supports wildlife and people".   

You can find Sunshine State Goods at neighborhood stores located in many of Florida beach side cities.  Click HERE for a list of their retail partners.  If you do not live close to any of these retail partners, you can order online from their website.  They also have a Facebook page, a Twitter page, a Pinterest page and an Instagram page.  From one Floridian to another, pick up your Sunshine State Goods tee shirt today.

Until next time be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors.  

OutterBox at 2018 Surf Expo

If you have ever attended Surf Expo, ICAST or any of the Outdoor Retailer shows, you would know how easy it is to miss exhibitors.  This year was no exception for me.  When I approached the OutterBox Cooler booth I asked if this was the first time they exhibited.  No was the answer I got.  I just happen to miss them during one of my past visits to Surf Expo before when I was doing one of my cooler war articles.  

OutterBox has designed a really great "Made In America" cooler.  These coolers are made in Detroit using automobile manufacturing technology.   The coolers come in three sizes, 25, 45, and 65 quarts. Each cooler has many accessory attachment points where you can add other OtterBox accessories. 

Easily one can see that these coolers go head to head with Yeti or any of the top of the line coolers.  While talking to Levi, Sattler, OutterBox Account Director, he point out the latches.  Latches! I loved these latches.  These latches are of a cam lock design.  You can close them with on finger. I love these latches. Did I say I love these latches. 

During Hurricane Irma I purchased an Igloo 55 Quart Sportsman Cooler at my local Sam's Club that have large rubber handles. You really have to tug on these to get the lid shut.  Now I only paid about $175.00 for my cooler.  The OutterBox 65 quart cost $349.99 and the 45 quart $299.99.  But if you know any thing about coolers you know that when shopping for a high technology cooler, price does matter.   You get more features from OtterBox than getting a cooler than from a coller from Walmart or Sam's Club.  If I had it to do all over again, an OutterBox cooler just might be sitting in my garage. Check out my video on the Venture 45 cooler.  So if you are in the need of a top of the line cooler, the OutterBox 25, 45, or 65 quarts size just may do the trick.

Until next time be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors. 

OutterBox at the 2018 Surf Expo

WoodRoze at 2018 Surf Expo

The January Surf Expo typically has a bigger attendance than does the September show.  This year's expo was no exception.  Happy to see a full floor since the 2017 September show was cursed by Hurricane Irma.

On my last day at the show while resting my bones at one of the eating areas a gentleman sat down at my table with this laptop.  When I look at his badge, it read Donald Trump.  If you know me I could not resist.  I said Mr. President which started up a conversation.  I did not realize that his name was really David Maracher after reading his business card.  What a hoot.  While speaking to David, I learned that he was an avid sportsman who was a professional muskie angler, and turkey and deer hunter.  In his day job he is an independent investment professional money manager in Williamsville, NY.  The reason he was attending Surf Expo was to support his son's business, WoodRoze Sustainable Optics.  WoodRoze is a surf lifestyle business based out of New Smyrna Beach, Florida.  At the booth I mnet Wyatt who showed me all their sunglasses styles.  They use Carl Zeiss lenses.  WoodRoze offers a wide range of wood, fashion, and fishing sunglasses. 

They also have watches, apparel and other surf lifestyle gear.  What makes WoodRoze sunglasses popular is the quality, style and price points.  Their designer sunglasses carry a $60.00 price point with their fishing sunglasses in the $149.00 range.

So the next time you are looking for a new pair of sunglasses or a watch, the WoodRoze wood sunglasses and watches are very unique.

Until next time be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors.

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