STORY
Surf skateboard shop has years of experience within the watersports and action sports industry. But it isn’t just work – we actually ride as well. After all, if we didn’t enjoy surf skateboard riding ourselves there’d be no point. But who are we and where do we come from? Read on to find out or click the individual links below.
The following topics can be found in this article –
Mark and Tez doing their thing Surfing, yes they do that as well as Skateboarding.
Surf skateboard shop’s Mark Graham.
Mark has ridden skateboards and surfboards all his life. Way back in the day as a young whipper snapper, he could be found rolling on fours. However, as he got older the motorised two-wheel variety of transport became his go to. Motorbikes were Mark’s passion for years – they still are today, from a distance. A near tragic motorbike accident in France put paid to this though.
After spending a lengthy stint in a London hospital recovering a move to Cornwall prompted a return to surfing. Mark found fulfillment in the waves and has spent many a long sliding along liquid walls along North Cornwall’s hallowed coastlines. North Coast Wetsuits opened its doors not long after the Graham’s family Cornish relocation. NCW, established in 2004, retails a selection of own branded premium wetsuits and third party watersports goods. Highly regarded NCW is a bona fide surf business with an ethos that harks back to those original surfing emporiums from back in the day.
A resurgence of interest surrounding skateboarding has brought Mark almost 360. These days, however, it’s a surf skateboard style that provides the stoke. Having immersed himself quickly in the sport Mark discovered Waterborne Skateboards via a friend. Spending a few months riding Waterborne products, and seeing others enjoy the same experience, a lightbulb moment was had. Mr Graham is now the main driver behind Waterborne Skateboards in UK and Surf Skateboard Shop. If he’s not in NCW’s Rubber Shack talking all things rubber, sliding liquid walls of water or spending time with family you can find him at the local skate park rolling on fours.
Mark’s fave surf skate setup –
‘Having been riding a regular board setup which felt like home, and then riding a few friend’s boards with Waterborne kit added, I had to have a Waterborne setup. I went full blown and ordered a Waterborne Leo shipped from sunny California. I love a deck with a double kicktail. I grew up riding an Italian aluminum board with a double kicktail. I feel it gives you more control and purchase on the board. Hence the Leo, it’s a very similar deck to what I know only a little longer and wider. I rode it out of the box for some time, but then, as I always do I changed it about, adding Sabre 185 trucks (not reverse kingpin as the W/B comes with) and because we were often riding rough ground, a set of the awesome Shark Wheels (no more fear of the pebble!).’
‘Recently I have been riding smooth concrete in skateparks more and I’ve swapped out the Sharks for a set of Globe Roundabout Onshore Wheel (83a). Love ’em. Anywhere smooth and they are my go to. So many setups, so many boards, so little time. I’d also like to take a second here to thank my Buddy Lip-E. He got me out skating with other folk again and helped me get involved riding with some older skaters, we are thin on the ground! He also intro’d me to Waterborne Skateboards and let me ride his boards first. He’s a dab hand at many things. He paints great deck designs and also does some funky work with grip tape. NICE!‘
Tez Plavenieks – Mark’s wingman (apparently).
Tez Plavenieks’ passion for sideways sliding started when he was just two years old. At five he got into surfing proper and has never looked back. Skateboarding was a way to scratch the itch when back at home in the Midlands. But by his early teens, the decision was made to head coastal.
Living and working overseas as a watersport instructor took up most of Tez’s 20s. Upon moving back to Blighty other watery disciplines were added to make use of living two minutes from the beach. Paddle boarding, windsurfing and more recently hydrofoiling all play a part in TP’s daily routine. Surf skateboarding was a natural progression. Especially as his local skate park and surrounding spots are well suited to surf skating.
Tez loves to tinker and mess about with kit. Which comes from all the equipment testing he does. MOding skateboards and changing feels is almost an obsession. This fits perfectly with Waterborne Skateboards UK gear and surf skating products in general. Forever on the hunt for the ultimate ride, Tez loves the feeling of board sliding as much as he did as a kid.
Tez’s fave surf skate setup –
‘I have two setups that I love actually. A surf skate I acquired a while back has been retrofitted with Waterborne surf adapters. It’s a short ish board that has lots of maneuverability. Riding it in the skate park has been an epiphany moment. The enhanced maneuverability of the Waterborne surf adapter has made it super fun to carve and turn. Meanwhile, the extra juice from the motor helps get me more vertical on bowl transitions and such. It’s extremely fun!’
‘My other setup is a modified ChargerX surf skate. I use both the Waterborne surf adapter and Surf Rail which gives me lots of extra lean. The slightly unorthodox element is having Orangatang 105mm Dad Bod wheels in the mix. The whole thing looks like a monster truck. But it works so well for me and I love it!’
There are a few others behind the scenes who also help, lend a shoulder to cry on and are sounding boards for the ideas we have. You know who you are! Big up!
NCW Collective.
Surfskateboard Shop isn’t a stand alone business. We own and operate a number of content-led e-commerce watersports and action sports websites and a distribution arm. The NCW Collective has been a number of years in the making. But with the launch of Surfskateboard.shop we can now properly portfolio our projects up and present them as a complete package. Hit up the links below to find out what else we get up to.
