Devon Howard- The Longboarding Intellectual.
Explicit content warning
04/18/20 • 84 min
1 Listener
Devon Howard is a San Diego, California native. Born in a community where surfing is a normal and common aspect of daily life. Surfing was encouraged in his family as Devon's Mom was a surfer as well. It makes sense that Devon became an avid surfer.
Growing up he discovered longboarding at an early age when most kid surfers were not keen about a "prehistoric" approach to surfing. As a teen he had the privilege in landing a job as "The Shop Rat" with Donald Takayama Surfboards as he became an elite longboarder of the community . As a young adult he became the editor for Longboard Magazine in the late 90's/2000's. He starred in many iconic longboard films like The Seedling, Sprout, Single Fin Yellow and One California Day. He became a strong competitor in the ASP Longboard Tour (now WSL). He is a successful entrepreneur, he founded and runs a marketing and branding agency called Blu Sky with clients like Channel Islands Surfboards, Coastal Wellness and the World Surf League. Now destiny has added to his plate.... the job as Longboard Tour Director for the WSL.
Topics discussed but not limited to:
Surfing Beginnings
Team Donald Takayama
Resurgence of Traditional Longboarding 90's and Beyond
Being a Pro Longboarder in the ASP
Longboard Design 101
The WSL Longboard Tour
His Role as Director
Transition Year
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
The Economics
Where it is Headed (new venues)
The Competitors and Fans.
and MORE!!!!!!
Thank you Devon for this great conversation, my listeners and special thank you to people that work in health care!
Support for Longboardarian can be done by you! Please share news about our podcast. Longboardarian is on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Please consider donating via our ko-fi.com/longboardarian page.
We also have t-shirts and hats available online on our Etsy store or our website.
Nos vemos en el agua!!!
Devon Howard is a San Diego, California native. Born in a community where surfing is a normal and common aspect of daily life. Surfing was encouraged in his family as Devon's Mom was a surfer as well. It makes sense that Devon became an avid surfer.
Growing up he discovered longboarding at an early age when most kid surfers were not keen about a "prehistoric" approach to surfing. As a teen he had the privilege in landing a job as "The Shop Rat" with Donald Takayama Surfboards as he became an elite longboarder of the community . As a young adult he became the editor for Longboard Magazine in the late 90's/2000's. He starred in many iconic longboard films like The Seedling, Sprout, Single Fin Yellow and One California Day. He became a strong competitor in the ASP Longboard Tour (now WSL). He is a successful entrepreneur, he founded and runs a marketing and branding agency called Blu Sky with clients like Channel Islands Surfboards, Coastal Wellness and the World Surf League. Now destiny has added to his plate.... the job as Longboard Tour Director for the WSL.
Topics discussed but not limited to:
Surfing Beginnings
Team Donald Takayama
Resurgence of Traditional Longboarding 90's and Beyond
Being a Pro Longboarder in the ASP
Longboard Design 101
The WSL Longboard Tour
His Role as Director
Transition Year
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
The Economics
Where it is Headed (new venues)
The Competitors and Fans.
and MORE!!!!!!
Thank you Devon for this great conversation, my listeners and special thank you to people that work in health care!
Support for Longboardarian can be done by you! Please share news about our podcast. Longboardarian is on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Please consider donating via our ko-fi.com/longboardarian page.
We also have t-shirts and hats available online on our Etsy store or our website.
Nos vemos en el agua!!!
Previous Episode
Kely Rodrigues- Manuela Shapes/ A Hawaiian Perspective.
Recently, I had the true pleasure of visiting for the first time the Hawaiian island of Maui, beautiful would be an understatement to describe Maui. I was there for my wife's work related conference. It was the perfect timing for me to connect with Kely Rodrigues from Manuela Shapes.
I juggled my time between my lady and friends, surfing (scored good Honolua Bay), an interview with big wave hellman and longboard great Zack Howard and meeting up with Kely Boy. Unfortunately, time was limited so I was not able to visit his shaping room and record our interview on-site. I had a brief meeting with him at an undisclosed surf spot somewhere in the northern part of the island. Kely said I was so lucky that this particular spot was super fun with its offshore winds as its usually totally blown out. Kely came across as a strongly rooted Hawaiian. His heavy accent, the visuals of his Polynesian tattoos and a welcoming aloha attitude made me feel in good company. There wasn't time to talk to much as my host of the day, another longboard great, Johnny Pitzer and I wanted to hit the water.
Few weeks later on April 1st, 2020 we recorded this interview via the miracle of technology. It's my first "remote recording" interview. A pleasure for it being with Mr. Kely Rodrigues. Thank you for sharing your story and knowledge on the passion that tie so many of us together.
TOPICS:
Who is Kely?
Shaping career
Shaping Influences (Ron Tzuhako & Wayne Rich)
Longboard Design
Maui's LB Community
Bob OLE Olson
Kimo LB Classic
Surf Etiquette
Shoutout- To my lady and all the committed health care workers out there who are kicking ass during the Goddamn covid19 pandemic.
Sponsors: Leashless Brewing, Fin-Jak and Ventura Surf Shop
SUPPORT LOCAL!
* Technology is awesome, however I did have issues with the internet during recording. My apologies for the fixes and special edit done so we could enjoy this interview.
Next Episode
Stevie Sawyer- South Africa's World Longboard Champ.
On this episode we sit down with Señor Stevie Sawyer. Born and raised in majestic Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa, It is there where this World Champ learned to surf and become the man he is today.
As usual, I had many questions for this surfer/musician phenom who happens to be the WSL 2018 World Longboard Champion.
I was very interested in tapping into his mind with a variety of topics. Stevie has been on the Longboard Tour since 2015. In 2019 there was a major shift in regards to the judging criteria being used in the Tour. That pretty much led to a facelift or a restructuring, led by Tour Director Devon Howard, of these series of contests. As a competitor Stevie has been in the middle of that restructuring. I wanted to know how he felt about those changes. Stevie comes from a "Modern Hi-Pro LB" background of longboard surfing and The Tour has now implemented a traditional or classic judging criteria into all their events.
Stevie is an accomplished musician, fisherman, shaper, community activist, family man and very proud of being a South African.
Enjoy!
Topics Discussed:
The WSL Longboard Tour
Surfboard Design
Relik Trestles Win- Traditional Division
His Music
South Africa Surf Community
The Ten
Shoutouts
Listeners Questions
Support for The Longboardarian Podcast can be done through my Etsy store (longboardarian), www.longboardarian.com or my Kofi page
www.ko-fi.com/longboardarian
Interested in being a sponsor?
Contact me on [email protected]
All proceeds go towards the creation of more longboardinglecious content! and maybe a beer at the end of the day!
Blessings!
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