Paulo Martins Founder and Bossman at Despomar, Ericeira, Portugal.
I love how Paulo, Carl and I met, through surfing, unfortunately sometimes these days we get so busy we tend to forget the journey surfing has blessed us with.
Paulo plays a huge part in the development of junior surfing and the industry in Portugal, great surfers, great waves, warm people and welcoming culture.
If you are passing through the amazing surf town of Ericeira, stop into Paulo’s new store, Shop 58, it really is hall of fame, please say gidday from us.
I’m sitting here in Mexico writing this with son Dane on a surf trip, funnily enough we are staying with great mate Roland from the Rockfood who Paulo mentions.
All these years later and we all still hang together and froth on going surfing like groms.
From Paulo
It’s the year of 1989. We are in September and the 1st international surfing event will happen the next week in Ericeira.
I saw Reid, for the 1st time paddling back from the inside at “Backdoor” when I see him dropping in and setting his line into one of the best barrels I ever saw at that spot.
Backdoor has it’s days, but I remember that week as one of the best ever. The combination of swell direction and the right sand on the reef, made magic. Surfed that spot together all week and become good friends.
I was starting to rep for Billabong, thru what would later be my company Despomar. Reid was surfing for Billabong professionally.
There were some coincidences, during that 1 st contest, that we all would remember forever. Reid did one his best results reaching the quarters, if I remember well!? Carl Weiser, partner at Sunday-collab and Reid’s best mate was an ASP judge at the event and I was a young local surfer, making a few bucks working for the contest organization…
A couple years later we all meet again at the beginning of Billabong Europe in Hossegor. We developed a much deeper friendship, working together for almost 20 years, thru the history of Billabong and the European surf industry.
Did many trips together, but the one that stands out was our first boat trip to the Mentawais in 2000 with a bunch of clever people that were important to the surf business, people related to Billabong, Globe, Electric and the Iconic Rock Food.
After many years Reid as Billabong Brand Manager and Carl as head of Xcel, they left and created Sunday-Collab. The first and best surf related coffee brand.
Sunday-Collab is the coffee brand of many surf shops and industry offices all over the world.
What a ride…
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The CHEMEX® coffeemaker was invented in 1941 by the eccentric chemist Dr. Peter Schlumbohm. Throughout his career he developed over 300 patents, ranging from cocktail shakers to automobiles. His focus was on making everyday objects more functional, attractive and enjoyable to use.
When designing the CHEMEX®, Schlumbohm desired to not only make brewing the perfect cup simple, but also to have the vessel be a thing of beauty. Being a chemist, he studied and understood clearly the chemistry behind the extraction of flavor and caffeine from coffee beans.
It was this knowledge that led him to invent the double bonded CHEMEX® paper filters for a perfect extraction every time. For the carafe, Schlumbohm was inspired by the Bauhaus school of design and non-porous labware that would impart no flavor of its own. Using these elements he fashioned the hourglass shape that has now become an iconic part of American history. Made simply from one piece of borosilicate glass and adorned with a wooden collar and rawhide tie, the CHEMEX® is pure in both form and function. It has been recognized and awarded by both the scientific community as well as the art and design communities. The CHEMEX® can be found in museums throughout the world and is included in the permanent collection at the Brooklyn Museum, Corning Museum of Glass and MOMA, NY.
CHEMEX® coffeemakers are made from the same high quality glass used for lab ware. It is beautifully clear and imparts no flavors or chemicals into your brewed coffee. Each coffeemaker is inspected, polished and hand tied before getting boxed up for shipping. The CHEMEX® coffeemaker is existing in three different sizes, depending on the amount of coffee you would like to brew you can choose between 3, 6 or 8 cups.
Click to read the full article.
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WHAT GETS US EXCITED HERE AT SUNDAY COLLAB?
THE SUNSHINE, QUALITY COFFEE AND TEA AND DOING GOOD FOR THE PLANET. THERE'S A FEW THINGS IN THE PIPELINE, SO WATCH THIS SPACE.
"IT'S ALL ABOUT QUALITY. IF YOUR PRODUCT IS RUBBISH - YOU'VE GOT NOTHING".
- PARKO, SUNDAY COLLAB PARTNER & AMBASSADOR.
PS : WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COFFEE ORDER?
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While Thomas and his family were surfing in Ericeira Portugal, he came across our coffee gig at Wave Gilders, Nic the owner has a really cool surf shop and is a great craftsman.
So, Thomas checked us out, got in contact and we are stoked the Alton family represent Sunday Collab.
We really like this story and part of our history, like-minded people and pretty cool how it all came about.
Thomas : “This is the story about our history and … how we got stoked about Sunday Collab.
We have our shop running since 1950… grandpa fled from south Tirol (now Italy) over the big glacier to Vorarlberg - Austria in 1948 He started as a shoemaker with a little shoe shop and my grandma behind the counter.
In 1995, I was 12 years old, I asked dad… - hey let’s make out of the sportswear corner a skate shop and snowboard gear with our own door.
His reply - ok let’s go (pretty cool guy my dad). So the Alton Premium-Board-Store was born.
We as a family looking always on each other. Everyone of us has his part and area in the whole company & store.
I'm run the board-store, all the marketing and outdoor stuff. My sisters look after the employees, shoe and fashion area. Dad and mum are behind the scene (back office).
The Alton Premium Board store is famous for our parties, movie premieres, contest and the good stuff what we are offering - since day one. Why? We always try to do what we love, and put it into our business, day by day.
1999/2000 was the first year with our own snow park in Damüls, Vorarlberg – Park Design. Our snow park management was born. – Snow Park Damuels
It’s epic to run a snow park brahhh… it’s my second passion."
Check Thomas and Nic out, say hi from us!
altonpremiumstore.com