About Hamboards by Abraham Paskowitz
SURFING RECREATES YOU
EXPLORE YOUR GREATEST SELF
As a boy, I was led to the surfboard by my father - Doc Paskowitz. He would say, "Abe, this is where you’ll discover your TRUE SELF." He was right. I found life’s deepest truths unfolding on the surfboard.
“THERE WAS A RELATIONSHIP THERE. A THIRST.”
Flat days and landlocked van trips were unbearable. I just NEEDED some waves, a zen high and a "spiritual" buzz. Skateboards provided a much-needed relief on the dull days.
SIDEWALK SURFING WAS BORN CRUDE
Skateboarding was born out of the urge to surf the sidewalks. But for a long time, it fell short.
The trucks always seemed too tight, and the boards were way too narrow and short. Longboard skateboards evolved, but still had the same limitations, too narrow and too tight.
SOMEONE’S ALWAYS MAKING WAVES IN THIS WORLD
Decades later. I presented for the first time, an independent genre - ‘Surf-Skating. The idea was an instant phenomenon. But the application came with limitations. Something was missing …. Engaging the rail.
HAMBOARDS. SURF-SKATE REVELATION.
Pete Hamborg, a fireman and surfer. And his family.
Years of trial and error. Frustrations. A driveway mishap. A land-board crushed by an SUV. In 1997 Pete figured it out. It was an instant hit.
AND THE FIRST SURF-SKATEBOARD PROTOTYPE IS BORN... ONE THAT ACTUALLY SIMULATES WAVE SURFING.
For the first time ever, the world had a long skateboard that actually cruised rail-to-rail like a surfboard. We had been dreaming of that our whole lives but had no idea that Pete had it, right up the Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington.
FROM GARAGE SHOP TO SHARK TANK
Demand for Hamboards got serious, first with the locals in Huntington Beach and then the word spread like fire within the surf community.
There was a business. But Pete was an innovator, not a businessman. His sons had to live their own dreams. Art School, Lifeguarding, and personal passions that a young adult gets to explore. Things with the business were going haywire, with a lot of excitement but not much business planning.
Enter Donnie, Pete’s cousin, a NASA engineer, entrepreneur and a self-made millionaire. Donnie had no idea what he was getting into. He just wanted to help his cousin save the family jewels and help Pete turn Hamboards into a thriving local skateboard business. One late night Donnie sent an email to a casting agent for Mark Burnett and ABC. Within a couple months, things changed forever.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT WAS BEYOND ANYONE’S WILDEST DREAMS.
Hamboards was on ABC's Hit TV Show Shark Tank
Nobody was ready for what happened next. Needless to say, the brand awareness overwhelmed the garages ability to deliver. It was just too much pressure, and everyone burned-out. Somehow Donnie kept it alive, but it was still kind of like he was raising his hippy surfer cousins "love child". He sought help from lots of places and eventually found his way to me.
THE HAMBOARDS RE-LAUNCH
When Donnie reached out to me for marketing ideas, I knew the brand, but had never actually stepped on a Hamboard. The very first time I rode a Hammy, I instantly saw a game-changer.
It was the first time I got a floater on asphalt.
RE-INTRODUCING HAMBOARDS - THE QUINTESSENTIAL SIDEWALK SURFSKATE BOARD
Hamboards and its patented HST Carving Truck was designed to stand alone as the only true Rail-to-Rail Surfing simulator. Other Surfskates offer serpentine moves for pumping. The Hamboard HST Carving Trucks are stable when cruising (in neutral) but can instantly make deep gouging (30 degree) carves ,with rail-to-rail engagement, so that you can truly, trim and turn on a dime.
NASA ENGINEER DESIGNED TRUCKS FOR THE ULTIMATE CARVE AND THRASH.
Built with aviation grade aluminum, a brand-new high-performance spring, and a critical new kingpin that never needs tuning, this carving truck is meant to unleash monster rips and will last a lifetime (with proper maintenance).
ONLY HAMBOARDS SPECIALIZES IN LONGBOARD SURFSKATE, SHORTBOARD SURFSKATE AND SUPSKATE LAND PADDLING DISCIPLINES OF RIDING.
COMING SOON, WE HAVE SOME RAD ALL-NEW SHORTBOARD SURFSKATES IN PRODUCTION SLATED FOR SUMMER 2020.
HAMBOARDS REMAINS GRATEFUL TO PETER HAMBORG, HIS FAMILY, AND THE WAVES OF ENTHUSIASTS WHO SPENT A DECADE GIVING BIRTH TO HAMBOARDS VERSION OF LONGBOARD SURF SKATING.
Like the Paskowitz Family, the Hamborg boys eventually grew up and moved on from their larger-than-life formative story.
NOW, THOSE OF US WHO REMAIN WITH THE COMPANY ARE FOCUSED AND COMMITTED TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING THE WORLDS FINEST RAIL TO RAIL SURFSKATES, SUP SKATES, PADDLES AND ACCESSORIES.
WE LOVE SHARING THE STOKE WITH OUR CUSTOMERS.
We embrace the daily challenges of building the Hamboards business. We also truly appreciate the Hamborg's inspiration and their gracious and continued support.