Waters Edge: New Smyrna, FL
When Americans come across the sporadic product stamp reading ‘Made in USA’ it gives them a sense of pride. The Waters Edge crew out of New Smyrna, FL takes pride in the fact that their paddleboards and wakesurfers are made right here in the good ole USA. From the moment that the foam blocks show up at the warehouse until the finished board is slayshing the wake or paddling down the river, the Waters Edge crew walks the product through every step. This gives them an advantage to work closely with each other and collaborate on ground-breaking products. They have seen exponential growth over the past few years. They are able to produce an astonishing 50-75 paddleboards in one week. This might raise the question of “Are they mass producing boards without quality control?” Don’t let the numbers fool you. Their team of talented craftsmen are dedicated to providing you a board that you will be proud to ride. These are handcrafted boards that will leave you feeling confident that you have a high quality, durable product.
It will also make you feel comfortable knowing that a legend in the surfing community is overseeing all of the boards going out of the Waters Edge’s doors. Erie Peeples has been shaping surfboards since 1991. His designs are known all around the world. Erie found it quite harmonious when transferring his surfboard shaping skills over to paddleboards and wakesurf boards. Erie Wake is Waters Edge wakesurf line. They started with the fundamentals of surfboard and wakeboard design, and they use the latest in 3D/CAD software that allows for an accurate shape that can be customized and reproduced.
After spending some quality time in and out of the water with the Waters Edge team it was humbling to see this organization operates more like a family rather than a corporation. Whether it is lending a hand at the office or shoving each other into the frigid water, these guys have figured out the formula to success. They work hard which allows them to play hard. I look forward to the next session with these inspiring shapers, designers, shredders, etc. Be on the lookout for these American made boards in a store near you.
Article & Photos: Tyson Geninatti