The "Wave Experience"

[Germaine Marine]

Ive been debating starting a small operation for years. Since my time as a barefoot/slalom/wakeboard instructor at Cutting Edge on Irvine Lake in Southern California, I have patiently watched the sport evolve and grow. Although wake boarding and slalom have faded due to physical demands on the body , it has undoubtedly opened up the realm of wake surfing which as we know is a fun "easy on the body" family sport.

Its taken me a few years with technology constantly changing to find the right maker and the type of boats I would want to start an experience like this with. I made the decision with the release of Taps 3 to purchase a new Tige and begin the adventure. After hours of fine tuning, I know we have a boat that will give a pleasurable experience to both the beginner and the advanced rider looking to push their skills to the limit.

Most wake sport "SCHOOLS" center around just that...Being a SCHOOL. This usually includes taking a new first timer out for an hour or two on the lake and teaching the basics. While I feel this is definitely an important area in the market I also think that their needs to be an area for the boat owner who wants to go out without the hassle of bringing their own boat. That includes going out to demo a board or going out just to learn something new. As an owner, a hassle free experience of not having to bring out your own boat is captivating. Want to learn something new? Great. Make going rope-less on nearly any boat easy? Fantastic. How about riding your style, your way, on a monster wave without being bothered? Love that. Thats the beauty. No pushing of technique, just fun. At the end of the day, isn't that all that matters? One of my favorite things is to see someone surf and come out of the water with a huge smile after having an epic time. It happened a ton at the reunion and its what has pushed me to want to take this on.

Since surfing has been the most popular sport, I have dedicated my entire summer to getting this 2016 Tige Z3 to a competition surf towboat level.. over 110 hours in 4 months to be exact

Like most, I have a normal full time job and I love what I do. This will be a full time passion which makes the experience I can provide ten times that of the norm.

The 'Wave Experience' will operate on the weekends, year-round and will be hourly based. Home base is still TBA, but it will be at several Lakes in Southern CA. The home lake will vary based on season and conditions.

Please pass the word onto friends, website and information to follow in the coming months as I shoot to be operating by April 2017.

Warm regards, and happy surfing

Jason

[UNSTUCK]

I guess I don't fully understand what you're offering? It's not so much of a school to learn how to surf, but an opportunity to try what I already know on a better boat with a nicer wave? And this is marketed towards people who already own boats, but don't want the hassle of bringing thiers to the water?

Each summer in Utah there is a pretty big event that allows the paying customer to demo many different boards and boats. They have pro riders giving lessons as well. My 11 year old daughter wanted the instruction very badly. However, they would not do it on MY boat. Only on the demo boats and with the demo boards. I shied away from this because I didn't think that it would do any good to learn on a board or boat that wasn't our own. I can only assume that it is much easier to learn on a nice big powerful wave than on the smaller one our boat puts out.


So as I read your post I think that my family would be part of your target market. My family loves the water, but really hates all the effort to get the boat to the water. We (I) want to ride the best waves out there. We cannot afford a proper surf boat right now. So your idea sounds really good.....except that I own a boat and we have TONS of fun with what it can do and we believe the fun is worth the hassle. So why would I pay to go out on your boat?


We rented boats for a few years from private parties each time we went out. The last time we went out was the first time I tried surfing. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. We became boat owners a few weeks later. In my area there are TONS of people who rent boats. People just like us that were on the fence about owning, or people that just want a water day once a summer. There was only one time when the owner of the rented boat put the boat in and out of the water for us. I would have paid extra to have them drive us around on the lake, giving us pointer and stuff like that. That would have made our day much nicer, and more productive. I wonder if this wouldn't be a better target market for you - non boat owners? I'm sure you have already thought to include them, but why put a focus point on boat owners?

This post my sound a bit critical, but that is not the intent.

[Germaine Marine]

This will also be a school, but not marketed solely as such.

[Germaine Marine]

I guess I don't fully understand what you're offering? It's not so much of a school to learn how to surf, but an opportunity to try what I already know on a better boat with a nicer wave? And this is marketed towards people who already own boats, but don't want the hassle of bringing thiers to the water?

Each summer in Utah there is a pretty big event that allows the paying customer to demo many different boards and boats. They have pro riders giving lessons as well. My 11 year old daughter wanted the instruction very badly. However, they would not do it on MY boat. Only on the demo boats and with the demo boards. I shied away from this because I didn't think that it would do any good to learn on a board or boat that wasn't our own. I can only assume that it is much easier to learn on a nice big powerful wave than on the smaller one our boat puts out.


So as I read your post I think that my family would be part of your target market. My family loves the water, but really hates all the effort to get the boat to the water. We (I) want to ride the best waves out there. We cannot afford a proper surf boat right now. So your idea sounds really good.....except that I own a boat and we have TONS of fun with what it can do and we believe the fun is worth the hassle. So why would I pay to go out on your boat?


We rented boats for a few years from private parties each time we went out. The last time we went out was the first time I tried surfing. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. We became boat owners a few weeks later. In my area there are TONS of people who rent boats. People just like us that were on the fence about owning, or people that just want a water day once a summer. There was only one time when the owner of the rented boat put the boat in and out of the water for us. I would have paid extra to have them drive us around on the lake, giving us pointer and stuff like that. That would have made our day much nicer, and more productive. I wonder if this wouldn't be a better target market for you - non boat owners? I'm sure you have already thought to include them, but why put a focus point on boat owners?

This post my sound a bit critical, but that is not the intent.

I appreciate the feedback, my time with this the first go around tells a different story. Thank you though, love to hear different opinions of what each person likes and dislikes.

[TeamAllen]

Sounds interesting. I have a lot of ocean surfing friends that are not boat owners and should be willing to try it out.
I just wouldn't go to Elsinore.

[Germaine Marine]

Sounds interesting. I have a lot of ocean surfing friends that are not boat owners and should be willing to try it out.
I just wouldn't go to Elsinore.

Thanks Team Allen, I couldn't agree more, that side of the coin is also what prompted me to give this a go. Many many ocean surfing friends who are enthralled with the sport but don't want to spend the money to get into it have already asked to be the first ones to go.....

Ps, it was a pleasure to finally put a face to the name at the reunion, one of the most kind, soft spoken people I have had the pleasure of meeting.

[Stingreye]

Do you know Marco Thompson in San Diego?
http://www.surfthirty.com/

He has taught nearly 1,000 people to surf and I would bet most don't own a boat. I went out with Marco right before I bought my boat. Great guy and perhaps the biggest wakesurf nut I have met. He helps out Resort Watersports on Mission Bay also. If you are looking for getting the word out, I would start by reaching out to Marco.

[Stingreye]

I just wouldn't go to Elsinore.

Just don't fall...... Its crazy how when ballasted for surfing, you can't see your swim platform if its 4 inches under the water. Supposedly, they monitor the water closely and its safe but something about the lack of clarity freaks me out.

[Germaine Marine]

Thanks sting, definitely know of him, his old shop is right by my house. I echo your sentiments exactly, lots of people want to go out that either own a boat or are thinking of owning.

Personally as a boat owner, I can tell you without a shadow of doubt that if I didn't have friends that were out and I had the option to just show up surf an hour without the hassle hat some times comes with getting your boat ready, filling it with fuel
And having to wash it and clean it when done, I would be all over it, but again just my opinion.