Steve Shalosky

Wave Zone Year 31

April 22, 2021 by Steve Shalosky 2 Comments

Wave Zone at 30 Years and Counting

4/10/20 / Staff Writer

Having just celebrated Wave Zone at 30 Years, we can’t help but look back at the journey that brought us here.

Today, Wave Zone Surf Company houses Wave Zone Skimboards, Hammer Traction Deck Grip and Wave Zone Custom Surfboards. Lots of pivoting along the way and some key principles kept the company strong through good times and bad.

The day it all started… November 1, 1990, Jeff Shinham signed the lease on his first ever Wave Zone facility. 2 weeks of fast paced build out paved the way for a grand opening on November 15th of that year. Now, with 30 years firmly under his belt, Shinham operates one of the largest skimboard companies in the world, the only Surf Traction brand 100% made in the USA, and a custom surfboard shop. It is safe to say, his hands are more than full.just

2020 New Release – The Funky Fish Skimboard

April 10, 2020 by Steve Shalosky Leave a Comment

New 2020 Shape Review - The Funky Fish

4/10/20 / L. Shinham

Introducing the Funky Fish skimboard by Wave Zone. A 2020 new release in keeping with Jeff Shinham’s retro theme during Wave Zone’s 30th year. The board features a swallow tail for a bit more targeted volume than can be found on the Shovel Fish shape of Shinham’s Classic Fish, making it an ideal performer in both small and steep waves. Rider: Sterling Myers. Photo: London Myers

2020 New Release – The Spade Skimboard

March 13, 2020 by Steve Shalosky Leave a Comment

New 2020 Shape Review - The Spade

3/11/20 / Lisa Shinham

Introducing the Spade. Released in 2020 in recognition of Wave Zone Surf Company’s 30th year, Master Board Builder Jeff Shinham has designed a series of vintage inspired shapes inspired by classic surfboard tails. Rider: Alex Bevard. Photo: Shane Antalick

Repair and Restore – Get The Most Out of Your Board

March 12, 2020 by Steve Shalosky Leave a Comment

Getting Another Season Out Of Your Skimboard

Spring Break is here, with temperatures warming in the south and northerners longing for days in the sun.

One constant… skimboarders will skim and travelers will find their way to the beaches, travelers, locals and stay-cationers alike.

The phone has already begun to ring with an influx of “How can I repair and restore my board for the next season?” questions.

There are some great options to bring new life into your board:

Clean Off Old Wax

The easiest way to clean a board of wax is to set the board out in the warm sun for about 5-10 minutes. Then scrape off the soft wax with either a wax comb or a nylon spatula.

The final residue can be removed with a wax removing solution, such as Sticky Bumps Wax Remover.

Fresh Wax can be re-applied.

Repair Small Dings

Dings happen. Taking care of them early on will extend the life of your board. With this Sun Cure Fiberfill small dings are no problem. Sun Cure is the quick and easy way to repair dings for polyester resin based skimboards, surfboards, wakeboards and more.

The key is making sure you are using a polyester repair kit on a polyester board (and epoxy repair kits on an epoxy board).

Materials to have on hand – A sunny day (substance will kick/harden using UV rays so bright sun isn’t critical but will effect how fast the repair cures up) wet/dry sandpaper, disposable gloves, and a wooden applicator. Keep in mind – this hardens in the sunlight, so apply in the shade to keep the fill pliable until you a ready for it to harden… then take it out in the sun to kick off.

Note: Clean the repair area first and, if necessary, lightly sand it so that the SunCure bonds well the to board’s surface. Once the repair hardens, sand off the excess to smooth it. The more you add the more you will need to sand, so it is best to control the amount used with this in mind.

Restore the Hull/Bottom of the Board

Skimming, by nature, is like wet sanding the bottom of your board.

A bottom restoration wax will re-slick and extend the life of your boards bottom.

Simply clean the bottom of your board, apply Wave Zone Speed Inducer, let it dry to a haze, and then polish it using a clean microfiber towel.

For more involved repairs, consult with a nearby surf shop or board builder for a quote. Some more complex restorations will need a pro.

You can use any decent products you’d like to clean and restore your ride—here are the ones our riders have had great success with!

Wave Zone Wax and Restore Products

When your board has lived its best life and you’re ready for an upgrade, check out our line here!

Wave Zone Skimboards For Sale

Have fun out there!

Costa Rica: 2019 in Review

March 12, 2020 by Steve Shalosky Leave a Comment

Costa Rica: The Growing Skim Circuit

The Costa Competition Circuit

Skimboarding in Costa Rica has a broad base of popularity, with a competitive arena that continues to grow at a committed pace. The Circuit, known as the Association of Skim Costa Rica, boasts nearly 5,000 Instagram followers and an impressive bank of industry sponsors.

The 2019 Circuit Hit Several Towns

Playa de Coco

The vibe was upbeat, waves were small and fun. The Asociación Deportiva de Skimboard pur (Skimboard Sports Association) created a video edit that truly captured the enthusiasm of the event.

Puntarenas

Attended by competitors and groms alike, waves were fun despite a lot of debris in water. Some were tempted to board slide a log in the contest zone. Puntarenas is one of Costa Rica’s major port towns along the pacific. Lots of tourist attractions and easy to walk around.

Playa Hermosa

A noted Surf town, shore break was heavy and the competitors agressive in their manuevers. Wave Zone Team Rider, Mario Perez Cortez, snapped his board air dropping a heavy section. The event was held near Bowies Point (a well known restaurant).

Playa Flamingo

Waves were smooth and consistent and the weather was great. A lot to choose from and riders captured both opportunities near shore and also out farther for a wide range of performance.