Author: Mike Sciarra

There comes a time in every man or woman’s life when they realize the one activity that makes them truly happy; and for the lucky some, that activity is surfing. The ocean helps to produce an unexplainable feeling in the hearts of watermen/women everywhere, which can only be explained as pure STOKE. The stoke in surfing and water sports is a real, intangible emotion that one gets when there are waves, or perfect condition(s) to engage in a preferred watersport. For Mike Sciarra, owner and operator of Kona Surf Company, the stoke for surfing was realized and felt at any early age. Mike knew early on that surfing was his calling, and helping to provide that same stoke through the shaping and selling of his own boards was how he was going to make it his career. A company that once started with a couple of blanks in a beat-up garage in Wildwood, NJ, was now grown into a local steeple in the community known as Kona Surf Company. With new board designs coming out in 2017 specially engineered to ride in any conditions, Kona Surf Company will continue to provide the stoke, at a magnitude never achieved before by the local surf shop. Running in the New Year right, we at Kona Surf Company are proud to unveil our new shapes and designs that cater to any ripper’s needs:

Mike Sciarra Using Shape3D to Design His New Collection of Surfboards

2017 Line-Up of Surfboards and SUPS

We are proud to announce that our new boards will be here at the Kona Board House on February 1st – 160 W Rio Grande Ave., Wildwood, NJ 08260 and on our website KonaSurfCo.com. For information on our surfboards, SUPS and/or merchandise, please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @KonaSurfCompany, and don’t forget to “Follow the Waves” – Mike Sciarra.

Introducing my second Sneak Peek of “Mike’s Surf Talk” where I talk about my journey from surfing in Hawaii, all the way to shaping and glassing boards in my parents garage!

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Sneak Peek of my new series, “Mike’s Surf Talk”. Stay tuned into our social media accounts where we will be announcing my first Facebook LIVE “Mike’s Surf Talk”.

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Aloha,

Some of us who surf know many of the greats: Kelly Slater, Andy Irons and Laird Hamilton. Some of us don’t know about the original greats, that turned surfing into a worldwide sport. This is a tribute to Duke Kahanamoku, the father of surfing the original Waterman. Duke Kahanamoku inspiritual words say it all on the back of his business cards: “In Hawaii we greet friends, loved ones or strangers with ‘Aloha,’ which means with love. Aloha is the key word to the universal spirit of real hospitality, which makes Hawaii renowned as the world’s center for understanding and fellowship. Try meeting or leaving people with Aloha. You’ll be surprised by their reaction. I believe it, and it is my creed. Aloha to you.”

Duke was born on August 20th 1890 in Honolulu, Hawaii and by the age of eight he taught himself how to surf in Waikiki Beach. Duke became a strong swimmer at an early age and in 1911 swam for the first time competitively in Hawaii’s first AAU swim meet. From there he became an Olympic Swimmer breaking the 100-meter freestyle in 1912 in Stockholm, using the famous “Kahanamoku Kick”, the Encyclopedia of Surfing says. He went on to break records and won a gold medal in the 1920 Summer Olympics and a silver at the 1924 Olympics at the age of 34!

As if Dukes life thus far wasn’t impressive enough, in 1925 the Honolulu Star-Bulletin named his next milestone a “Superhuman Rescue Act”. According to an article review he saved eight fisherman off the coast of Newport Beach California where a 40-foot shipping boat was destroyed by hazardous waters (The Inertia). His ability to be fearless led him to greatness in many areas, but most importantly was his greatness in surfing.

Duke Kahanamoku propelled surfing into popularity by utilizing his fame as a swimmer to get the attention of the masses drawing them to surf events in California and on the Atlantic Coast. According to the Encyclopedia of Surfing, some of his first exhibitions in 1912 were right here in Atlantic City, New Jersey! He went on to spread the joy of surfing to Australia and New Zealand in 1914 to 1915, teaching people all over the world how to surf and about surfing culture. This undoubtedly universalized surfing, but specifically popularized surfing along the coast of Southern California starting in 1915 through the 1930s. The impact these events had on the surfing community proves this man is truly legendary in the surf realm and should be revered as such.

Not only was Duke a Surf phenom, in his later years he served as an Ambassador for Hawaii and pushed for Statehood. Once Hawaii became a state he was given the paid title of “Ambassador of Aloha”. The father of surfing was also an actor, appearing in at least 14 films. You can tell that this is a man that lived his life with passion, momentum, courage and love; love for everything he did and everyone he knew. He overcame many adversities and became the epitome of greatness in everything he achieved. The love of his hobbies and his heritage is a major reason that surfing is now considered a sport and not just a hobby. The legend of Duke Kahanamoku lives on in several surfing, swimming and the Olympic Hall of Fame. We thank you Duke, hopefully one day I will have the honor of standing next to your Bronze Statue in Waikiki.

Photographer: Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung

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If you’ve spent any time over the last few decades at your local surf shop, or with a local shaper discussing the various methods in use to craft surfboards there’s a very high chance you’ve heard the term CNC. Short for “computer numerical control”, CNC machines have redefined the way in which many companies approach surfboard production. There is a common misconception that CNC boards are the same as molded, or “pop-out” surfboards. These two methods are often confused because each of them involve the use of automated machinery, however the manner in which the machinery creates those boards is entirely different.

In essence, a CNC machine is an extension of a shapers toolset. Utilizing the capabilities of the machine allows the shaper to expedite turnaround time, production flow, as well as keep cost and labor at a minimum. The implementation of technology in the surfing industry has increased at a phenomenal rate over the last few decades. From working with new materials, to developing entirely new shapes, the surfboard industry has taken giants steps in progression and experimentation. That is not to say that these advancements have not been met with resistance and skepticism. Many traditionalists still believe the shaping of a surfboard to be a true art form that should be left only to human hands, others however have taken notice to the advantages of CNC machines and began to push the boundaries of shaping, previously thought to be finite.

Another common misconception is that these CNC machines are creating boards from start to finish, that’s simply not true. To properly craft a board through a CNC it is essential to have a detailed understanding of surfboard concepts. Outline, rocker, thickness, tail, rails, volume; just to name a few are all key components to ensuring that the board the machine will be creating is an accurate physical translation of the board designed on paper. The greatest benefit of the CNC is the labor intensive rough shaping, which greatly expedites the shapers job. Where formerly the shaper would begin with a large foam blank, slowly carving it down to the desired outline, then refining that outline in greater detail, now with the CNC, the majority of the cutting is done by the machine leaving only the refining process to be taken care of by the shapers hands.

CNC machines have become a polarizing tool in the surfing industry. Where formerly the process of creating a surfboard consisted of long and tedious experimentations; a series of trial and error in determining what did and did not work until the desired performance was reached. Even once a shaper had the dimensions and outline to recreate a given board, it was still a tedious process to recreate a particular model, even more so when adjustments needed to be made to compensate for differences in rider sizes or wave conditions. Today however, with the use of CNC machines shapers are afforded the freedom to refine a shape to their desired specifications, and plug those dimensions into the CNC, to produce a greater quantity of a given board without compromising quality or performance.

In the world of sports few activities require the depth and intricacy that surfing demands, and that’s only speaking in regards to choosing the proper equipment. Choosing the correct surfboard; weather you consider yourself to be a beginner, intermediate, or advanced rider is not only one of the most important decisions you’re going to make but one of the the most complicated. There are a myriad of factors that go into deciding what board is the right one for you. From board size, to rider size, wave conditions and experience level, all of these factors will play a role.

Today’s focus is going to be on highlighting the main differences between molded surfboards, also known as pop-outs and other common types of surfboards that are in production today. The definition of a surfboard is incredibly broad, it refers to any buoyant board that is used for the sport of surfing. That however does not mean that any board you put into the water is going to behave in the same manner, the reality is in fact quite the contrary.

A pop-out surfboard is in essence, the cheapest way for a company to produce a large quantity of identical shapes. The technique of molding a surfboard completely eliminates any semblance of originality or craftsmanship, removing the process’ of unique designing, shaping, and glassing. The sacrifice of craftsmanship for greater board quantities also eliminates many of the performance aspects of the surfboard that benefit the development of the rider.

When a shaper produces a board, they’re afforded the opportunity to make tweaks to any shape or design based on different feedback they receive. Perhaps a particular board needs less rocker, or more width through the nose, or an entirely different tail. Any one of these can be altered on the next board done by the shaper, creating a more performance oriented product. When a factory using molds produce board’s, their specs and dimensions are finite, and the boards are produced in a large quantity. What this means is that if a particular shape is found to have an area that needs improvement to develop greater performance characteristics, it cannot be changed, the mold is already set and a large number of boards are already in production and hitting the water. Pop-out surfboards are the “fast-food” of the surfboard industry; quick and easy to produce but often unsatisfying and regrettable.

For you readers who have never been to the barrier island of The Wildwoods, let me say: The beaches are the largest beaches on the East Coast and the sand is a smooth, fine type of sand. There are five miles of beach open to the public free of charge. At the south end of the island the beaches are closed to public use because of wildlife protection. This entails close to two miles of protected areas which include dunes and saltwater wetlands. The North end of the island is bordered by Hereford Inlet which allows the tidewaters to flow in and out of the island’s back bays. For decades surfers have disfavored the inlet area because of the strong currents, uneven bottom surfaces, and unreliable wave formations. From Seventh Avenue, in North Wildwood to Diamond Beach in Lower Township, there are many good breaks for surfing. Rambler Road in Wildwood Crest is a good surfing beach and the city allows surfing there all day long.

The south end of Wildwood Crest is another fun breaking area. Where the old fishing pier is located on Aster Road has always been a favorite surfing beach. Since the 1960’s and 1970’s these beaches have widened tremendously but the wave breaks are still good. Decent “rights” or “lefts” are still there. In North Wildwood I suggest the beaches at Seventh, Eighth, Twenty-Fifth, and Twenty-Sixth Avenues. Check out the waves at Fifteenth and Sixteenth Avenues as well.

When you wipe out along the Wildwood beaches you hit sand when you hit the bottom. There no rocks or coral to worry about. If you are a surfer from Maine you are well aware of the dangers of rock formations. Hello to those surfers in York, Maine! I have been there and your breaks are favorable. You have a great spot. For those who have surfed above a live or dead coral bottom, you will appreciate our sandy bottom. You might get pounded if the waves are big but you won’t get cut up.

Bill Flynn
2016
Wildwood, N.J.
Author of Surfers’ Love Story

Photographer: Eric Sorensen

I will say one thing: Launching a website has been one of the hardest things that I have ever done.

Yes, www.Konasports.com has been around for almost ten years, but this is different. This is something special.

Despite our efforts, Mother Nature has not been easy on us here in New Jersey. We’ve seen more than our fair share of storms, floods, power outages and blizzards in the last 2 years. But that has not stopped us from shedding our cocoon much like caterpillar, to turn into the Kona Surf Company that you see before you today. We’ve been working hard not only on our social media presence (which is so crucial) but also on our product set, upping the quality to a level that is able to stand next to any of the main surf brands in the arena. The goal over the last 2 years has been this: To tell the Kona story, and breathe new life into the legacy that we as a company have built. Simply put, we plan on letting our brand new product offering speak for itself. Soft tri-blend shirts. Strong carbon fiber SUP paddles. On trend snap-back hats and beanies. And most of all, surfboards and stand up paddle boards that we are very proud to call our own.

Coming May 2016, we will be unveiling a full range of performance oriented short boards with shapes that make sense both for our New Jersey waves, and also bigger waves abroad. These will come in both PU and epoxy make ups, with a variety of fin box choices for you to make the call. Our fun boards and long boards will be accessible to everyone from the eager novice to the more experienced nose-rider and feature graphics and paint jobs that will make anyone look twice. And finally, our SUP range is something that we are very proud of, as we all know this category is taking the world (both coastal and in-land areas) by storm. If you haven’t been out for a paddle yet, or are somewhat intimidated by the equipment or the open water, I can assure you that it is not only a breeze to pick up, but also a great workout to boot.

I will leave you with one closing statement before letting you explore the brand new website, which has been a labor of love to say the least: Come check out the brand new Kona Surf Company, both in-store and online. You are going to love what you see. We as a team are very confident that you will be blown away by the advances that we’ve made in all aspects of the business. Everything from product quality to community outreach, store-layout to customer service has been escalated, as we shed the “mom & pop” surf-shop mentality, and become the brand new Kona Surf Company.

See you out in the water

Mike