SurfSTAR Highlights

Nate Carl and Freedom Riding!

Nate and his team are our favorite photographers when we visit Oahu. They are the “official” photographers for Surf Academy Collective when we take our SurfSTARs on the Hawaiian Surfaris! Head to our SurfSTAR page and Events page to check out Nateʼs work! Not only do we love Nate and his camera, but he has designed some pretty radical surf accessories, too! Check out Freedomriding.com for stomp pads with beveled edges, leashes that can withstand a season of North Shore monsters, and extra comfy board bags for all your surfari needs! Coming soon, you can order FreedomRiding accessories directly from the Surf Academy website. Stay tuned!

We also love Nate and his team for how they honor The Surferʼs Code: I Pass On My Stoke to Non-Surfers. Freedom Riding supports AccesSurf, a non-profit that hosts one-day surf events twice a month at White Plains Beach and in Waikiki. Nateʼs photography helps AccesSurf get the word out, and he was instrumental in getting involved with them over Spring Break. Our SurfSTARS devoted an entire day of their Hawaiian Surfari, volunteering their time to assist physically disabled surfers. Afterward, they were so enthused, "This has been the BEST DAY EVER!" No small proclamation out of the mouths of teenagers!

Thanks, Nate, for sharing your STOKE!

INT Softboards

Allan Mitchell and his team at INT Softboards donate their time and their boards to teach injured vets at Del Mar beach! Their boards are made in USA, they are 100% recyclable and made with non-toxic materials, and they are close to our business: A short trip to Carlsbad and BOOM! Fresh equipment. INT's commitment to pioneering new softboard technology is easily felt when you ride their boards -- the 9'8" is one of my favorites for nose-riding! INT makes a board designed for surfing, not just running aground after catching white water. Thanks to INT for helping make Surf Academy a sustainable local business in Southern California!

This is what Alan's truck looks like every Thursday when he takes boards for Vets to Del Mar. His current record is 20.

This is Jorge. He is surfing the 8'0" Baluga John here at INT designed for the double amputees. Check out the smile. Jorge is a surfer!