The Sharkbaitsurfwax Story
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The idea for Sharkbaitsurfwax got is start when Dan, while out surfing would imagine giant sharks swimming beneath him. It dawned on him that when you paddle out to go surfing, whether you liked it or not, you were sharkbait The notion of sharkbait and surfing stayed in the back of Dan’s mind. He wondered how could he connect the two in a way that symbolized the courage of the average surfer who say’s “Yeah, I know there’re sharks out there, I’m going out anyway.”
Then one day in 2003 Bruce said “How about Sharkbait Surfwax”. Only later did they realize the perfection of the concept. It didn’t take long to visualize the perfect logo for sharkbaitsurfwax; the trademark silhouette of a surfer holding his board, out of which is a huge shark-bite, A surfer whose body language says “ Get me another board, I’m going back out!”
Then one day in 2003 Bruce said “How about Sharkbait Surfwax”. Only later did they realize the perfection of the concept. It didn’t take long to visualize the perfect logo for sharkbaitsurfwax; the trademark silhouette of a surfer holding his board, out of which is a huge shark-bite, A surfer whose body language says “ Get me another board, I’m going back out!”
Sharkbaitsurfwax At 20 Years
Dear readers; It’s kind of hard to believe it has been 20 years since Bruce and I started Sharkbaitsurfwax. A lot has changed since then. So many of the surf-related businesses, brands and surf-shops that were around back in 2003 are long gone, many disappeared without a trace. In so many cases their optimistic and motivated creators coming to the hard conclusion that the surf business is a tough nut to crack. And they’re right; this is one of those areas of endeavor where it’s easy to make a small fortune, as long as you start out with a big one.
But we’re still here. Sharkbaitsurfwax is still kicking. No, we haven’t made the big time yet. Bruce and I are a long way from being zillionaires, but there’s no doubt in our minds that we have something of real value in Sharkbaitsurfwax; Something unique, something original and something that can withstand the test of time.
We see that in the looks of excited discovery on the faces of people who stumble upon our vendor booth at various events. No, it’s not every body who feels this way, but our brand and logo always elicit a powerful reaction from people seeing it for the first time.
So many times I’ve watched as people walking past our display show looks of what I call consternation when they see the name Sharkbaitsurfwax and then see the logo. It’s like they’re thinking “What the heck; Sharkbaitsurfwax is that for real? How could that be? What does that mean?”
And then there are the folks who upon discovering Sharkbaitsurfwax for the first time make a beeline straight to our booth and say things like “wow, that’s cool, I like that and I want that”. It is these people and the looks on their faces that have kept us going these past 20 years. And to those people and all the others who have supported us I want to say thank you very much.
Dan Argabright
February 21 2023
But we’re still here. Sharkbaitsurfwax is still kicking. No, we haven’t made the big time yet. Bruce and I are a long way from being zillionaires, but there’s no doubt in our minds that we have something of real value in Sharkbaitsurfwax; Something unique, something original and something that can withstand the test of time.
We see that in the looks of excited discovery on the faces of people who stumble upon our vendor booth at various events. No, it’s not every body who feels this way, but our brand and logo always elicit a powerful reaction from people seeing it for the first time.
So many times I’ve watched as people walking past our display show looks of what I call consternation when they see the name Sharkbaitsurfwax and then see the logo. It’s like they’re thinking “What the heck; Sharkbaitsurfwax is that for real? How could that be? What does that mean?”
And then there are the folks who upon discovering Sharkbaitsurfwax for the first time make a beeline straight to our booth and say things like “wow, that’s cool, I like that and I want that”. It is these people and the looks on their faces that have kept us going these past 20 years. And to those people and all the others who have supported us I want to say thank you very much.
Dan Argabright
February 21 2023
Bad Una is Good
When I used to travel up and down the California coast stopping at every surf shop I saw and selling Sharkbaitsurfwax. I’ll never forget the time I went into a shop in Laguna Beach.
There was no one in the shop except for the lady behind a glass counter.
I went up to her and said hello. And then I asked her if she might be interested in some Sharkbaitsurfwax as I handed her a bar to check out.
She looked at it and quicker than you could say "Jack Robinson", she said “Oh no, that’s bad Una.” and handed me back the bar.
Well, that’s something you run across when you’re selling Sharkbaitsurfwax; people having a strong reaction. I don’t let it bother me, because I realize the Sharkbaitsurfwax isn’t your typical cuddly name and logo like Quicksilver or even Volcom. It spooks some people.
Anyway, when the lady called it bad “Una” (and maybe I’m spelling “Una” wrong), it intrigued me. I started wondering; what the hell was “una”?
Right off the bat I thought it was some Hawaiian word that meant something like “mojo”, like luck or a spell or charm, or something a long those lines.
One day when I was bored, I decided to look up “Una” on the internet. And you know, there’s no such thing. At least with regard to something like “mojo” anyway.
So, I guess, “Una” can mean what ever you want it to mean. And for me I’m going to say that “bad Una” is good. Sort of like when you say something is Bad and what you really mean is that it is good, in the slang version.
And there you go.
Dan
There was no one in the shop except for the lady behind a glass counter.
I went up to her and said hello. And then I asked her if she might be interested in some Sharkbaitsurfwax as I handed her a bar to check out.
She looked at it and quicker than you could say "Jack Robinson", she said “Oh no, that’s bad Una.” and handed me back the bar.
Well, that’s something you run across when you’re selling Sharkbaitsurfwax; people having a strong reaction. I don’t let it bother me, because I realize the Sharkbaitsurfwax isn’t your typical cuddly name and logo like Quicksilver or even Volcom. It spooks some people.
Anyway, when the lady called it bad “Una” (and maybe I’m spelling “Una” wrong), it intrigued me. I started wondering; what the hell was “una”?
Right off the bat I thought it was some Hawaiian word that meant something like “mojo”, like luck or a spell or charm, or something a long those lines.
One day when I was bored, I decided to look up “Una” on the internet. And you know, there’s no such thing. At least with regard to something like “mojo” anyway.
So, I guess, “Una” can mean what ever you want it to mean. And for me I’m going to say that “bad Una” is good. Sort of like when you say something is Bad and what you really mean is that it is good, in the slang version.
And there you go.
Dan
The Sharkbaitsurfwax Motto
In case you haven’t noticed Sharkbaitsurfwax has a slogan. Or maybe it’s a motto, I’m not sure. But one thing is for sure our slogan is the absolute best motto for Sharkbaitsurfwax.
It is short, only 3 words. And sweet, by sweet. it has a dual meaning.
It is:
“Have some guts”
Isn’t that an incredibly apt slogan for Sharkbaitsurfax? That is of course a rhetorical question, because we all know the answer can only be yes.
For the very few people out there who may not see the incredible elegance of this motto, allow me to explain.
2 things come to mind when I hear or see Have Some Guts. The first is something along the lines of “Man-up” or don’t be a sissy. In other words have some courage. Yeah, maybe it’s over the top, but the whole concept of Sharkbaitsurfwax is a little over the top.
Alright, the second thing that immediately comes to mind upon hearing “Have Some Guts” is; the literal meaning. And since guts are commonly used as chum and chum is used as sharkbait that fits perfectly in with our brand: Sharkbaitsurfwax.
Perfect logic.
Dan
It is short, only 3 words. And sweet, by sweet. it has a dual meaning.
It is:
“Have some guts”
Isn’t that an incredibly apt slogan for Sharkbaitsurfax? That is of course a rhetorical question, because we all know the answer can only be yes.
For the very few people out there who may not see the incredible elegance of this motto, allow me to explain.
2 things come to mind when I hear or see Have Some Guts. The first is something along the lines of “Man-up” or don’t be a sissy. In other words have some courage. Yeah, maybe it’s over the top, but the whole concept of Sharkbaitsurfwax is a little over the top.
Alright, the second thing that immediately comes to mind upon hearing “Have Some Guts” is; the literal meaning. And since guts are commonly used as chum and chum is used as sharkbait that fits perfectly in with our brand: Sharkbaitsurfwax.
Perfect logic.
Dan
How are the waves in Reno?
Yes, some of you may have noticed that Sharkbaitsurfwax is based in the Reno/Tahoe area. Before you completely disregard us as a legitimate surf business, please allow me to explain;
Were based in the Reno/Tahoe area because back in 2003 when we started Sharkbaitsurfwax this is where we lived.
Bruce and I are both refugees from So Cal. Bruce grew up in Culver City, just down the street from Redondo, and Manhattan Beach and ended up in Truckee Ca. I was raised in Orange County and Hawaii and moved to Reno Nv.
I love the ocean and try to get there as often as possible. I started surfing at 15 and a half the moment I got a learners permit to drive. I surfed regularly until I moved to Reno for the skiing in 1988.
Indeed once I moved to Reno I missed the ocean so much I bought an Albin Vega 27 sailboat and kept it in Berkeley marina on the San Francisco Bay. I kept that boat long enough, about 4 years, to learn how to ocean sail. With the intention to sail it down to the South Pacific. I ended up having to settle for round trip sail to Hawaii. Which was one hell of an adventure. After a total of 55 days at sea 35 of them alone, I was ready to spend more time in the mountains near Reno.
Since we started Sharkbaitsurfwax I’ve considered relocating back down to the coast, preferably near my old stomping grounds of San Clemente. But, you know, you can’t always go back home. For one thing rent’s, housing prices, and taxes, well I guess that’s more than one thing, make moving back to the coast almost impossible.
But if that ever changes I’ll definitely reconsider.
Dan
June 29 2018
Were based in the Reno/Tahoe area because back in 2003 when we started Sharkbaitsurfwax this is where we lived.
Bruce and I are both refugees from So Cal. Bruce grew up in Culver City, just down the street from Redondo, and Manhattan Beach and ended up in Truckee Ca. I was raised in Orange County and Hawaii and moved to Reno Nv.
I love the ocean and try to get there as often as possible. I started surfing at 15 and a half the moment I got a learners permit to drive. I surfed regularly until I moved to Reno for the skiing in 1988.
Indeed once I moved to Reno I missed the ocean so much I bought an Albin Vega 27 sailboat and kept it in Berkeley marina on the San Francisco Bay. I kept that boat long enough, about 4 years, to learn how to ocean sail. With the intention to sail it down to the South Pacific. I ended up having to settle for round trip sail to Hawaii. Which was one hell of an adventure. After a total of 55 days at sea 35 of them alone, I was ready to spend more time in the mountains near Reno.
Since we started Sharkbaitsurfwax I’ve considered relocating back down to the coast, preferably near my old stomping grounds of San Clemente. But, you know, you can’t always go back home. For one thing rent’s, housing prices, and taxes, well I guess that’s more than one thing, make moving back to the coast almost impossible.
But if that ever changes I’ll definitely reconsider.
Dan
June 29 2018
