Patrice Guenole GONGSUP Executive Manager

SUPSURFMAG: First of all, thanks so much for doing this interview with us. We've been seeing so many killer photos coming from Galaxy of New Generations riders.  We're all curious about GONGSUP. Tell us about yourself and the company Galaxy of New Generations.

PATRICE: Thank you. First of all, all guys in the company are pure riders. I say “riders” because we are all surfers, it is our main passion. We all have a large extreme sports background. We are all in love with surfing but when we can’t surf we want to have fun too… So we do snowboarding, kiteboarding, windsurfing, diving, wakeboarding, hydrofoil, and many activities associated with extreme-type sports. We want to enjoy the ocean every day. The ocean is our passion. We just want to have fun with friends in whatever part of the world we are. We are all driven by the goal to never be frustrated and enjoy the ocean everyday.

 I was a professional longboarder and windsurfer about 10 years ago. Then, I ventured into kitesurfing while still keeping up with my longboarding and windsurfing. For 7 years prior to that, I was bodyboarding and skimboarding. My intention is to show up with the perfect toy for the day.

 Galaxy of New Generations was born out of this concept. I started this brand in 1996. The first goal was to offer performance gear at a low price. The original intention was not necessarily to help people to discover the surf, but of course, things evolved and we sought to enlarge the quiver of regular surfers. I wanted to see surfers with the right toys in their quivers for any given day.

 So, we built GONG influenced by all the needs of “real” surfers. By “real” surfers, I mean those who are not necessary living in the perfect spot but have to get in the ocean. GONG is the mix of a galaxy of new generations who want to enjoy the ocean regardless of whether or not the waves are perfect.

SUPSURFMAG: How is stand up paddling growing in Europe?

PATRICE: Over the last three years there have been noticeable changes about every 6 months. We were the first company to have a molded SUP in our lineup. After Laird visited Biarritz with his stand up paddle surfboard, I started to practice. I saw pictures a few month before his arrival and the first molded board was ready to go just few days after his visit.

 It’s funny to think back on. At first, people were laughing. I remember my first session…awful! My first paddle was 8’ long!!! We didn’t anything about SUP and I am sure we did all the wrong things possible. But step by step, we have discovered the right way.

 Back then, it was the most open minded surfers who were interested in what we were doing. We built incredible relationships with some of the guys who are still involved with the SUP movement such as JPAction, Romain Maurin and friends.

 At first, many of the surfers were against stand up paddling. However, on each beach in Europe, every once in a while, we would find a curious guy who ended up falling in love with stand up paddling. Then surf shops soon started to consider marketing stand up paddling. Some were interested and some were against it claiming that “SUP is not a business, it is just an image.”

 About that time, we started our website www.gongsup.com The success was amazing and so fast. Our concept was to create a family website to share our passion with friends. Some days it the content is radical and some days it is just super mellow. It worked so well. Now, the SUP passion is alive.

 The stand up paddle surfing industry is massive and about 99% of our customers either do it or are ready to give it a try. I am really proud about that, and I sincerely want to thank Laird, Brian, Todd, and all of the industry pioneers. Now everybody knows SUP is a facet of ocean sports.

SUPSURFMAG: How is stand up paddle surfing being received in the lineups?

PATRICE: Everybody is amazed to see guys “walking” over the water. Top surfers are always super cool just like regular surfers. Sometime, the intermediate surfers are a bit aggressive but it is going better and better everyday. Before, surfers were thinking it could be dangerous to have pure SUP beginners at the peak with 2 meter waves high. Now everybody has realized that it is quite impossible for beginners to even get out there with an 11’ board without being smashed by the waves. Thus, the “hierarchy” is kept, I hate this concept but it seems to be true.

SUPSURFMAG: In your opinion, what is the future of stand up paddle surfing?

PATRICE: We rely a lot on the market of those who surf in super small waves and flat water. Even so, we have to provide a pure surfing feeling to this part of the market. My friends and I don’t want to do stand up paddle surfing on a kayak or a windsurf board. We want that 100% surf feeling, even in flat water.

On the other hand, it has been clear for years now that SUP can work on huge waves. On a stand up paddle surfboard, you are fast, powerful, stable, you have much more control! We love this challenge but I don’t want GONG to focus on this. My vision is the future of SUP is on the perfect connection it can have with the surf. That’s why I want to bring pure that surfing sensation to GONG riders. The future of stand up paddling can be massive but I don’t want to see guys on stand up paddle surfboards with the intention of snaking everyone else at the peak. I am a 100% longboarder but I have always refused the idea to take up longboarding just to be more comfortable and surf it like a 6’0 from the rear.

SUP can be big if it respects the whole surf culture and history.

END PART 1 OF 3
 

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