Industry News

Mesurf.com seeks to connect surfers with everything surf-related

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 June, 2009 : - - Aussie upstart MeSurf.com builds their website on the basis that surfers need eachother. They need equipement, forecasts, sponsors and videos. On top of this, the company is well aware that surfers have an opinion on just about everything, so you'll find threads on any product, clip, event or release. Read on to find out what makes this noteworthy upstart tick.

WHAT IS MESURF?
mesurf is all about quality surfing content, top line design and relevant information. We’re creating an online surfing community that allows surfers to connect with the entire surf industry including brands, shapers, photographers, artists, surfers and all the pieces in between.  Everyday we publish fresh independent product reviews as well as brand releases, quality video clips and easy to follow fitness and technique tips.

WHAT SETS MESURF APART FROM THE OTHER ONLINE SURF PORTALS?
We are putting in the hard yards to produce a top quality site that delivers high quality content continually. We know surfers have an opinion on just about everything, so we’ve created mesurf to let them have their say. You can comment on any product, clip, event, release or anything else we post on the site. We’re so stoked on this functionality that we’re giving away a brand new stick from Chaos to one lucky punter just for throwing in the their two-bob’s worth. Head to www.mesurf.com.au and leave a comment for your chance to win.

TALK US THROUGH THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF MESURF AND WHAT EACH SECTION SETS OUT TO ACHIEVE
We currently focus on 5 core pillars:

PRODUCTS: A showcase of the best surf products that all surfers should know about.

ENTERTAINMENT: The best surf clips that are guaranteed to have you frothing! We also throw in a few crazy clips and images mix things up...

EXPOSE: Interviews & travel stories plus industry profiles of photographers, artists and shapers who the surf industry the amazing place it is.

FITNESS: We work with industry professionals to bring you key fitness techniques that’ll make you a better surfer.

TECHNIQUE: Quality surfers take you through a step-by-step guide on how to rip in the line-up.

NEWS+EVENTS: The latest news from surfing Australia, mixed with interesting and unique news items from the mesurf Blogs.

HOW DID MESURF COME ABOUT?
mesurf has been a project that’s been brewing for about 2 years. Back 12 months ago we launched a site called Shaper Search (www.shapersearch.com.au) designed to connect surfers and Australian shapers. Whilst working on Shaper Search we kept coming up with loads of additional content and big ideas which they didn’t really fit with the core offering of Shaper Search, that’s when mesurf started to take shape. 
I’d been gagging to get my hands on info about the product side of the sport for ages. Just wanting to know about the latest gear as it dropped and about the quality of the products circulating the market. There wasn’t really a central place that covered this information and so my business partner, Dave, and I started toying around with some basic sketches of what mesurf.com.au was going to be and offer and then we just went for it.

YOU MENTIONED SHAPER SEARCH EARLIER, WHAT’S THAT ALL ABOUT?
Shaper Search is a massive passion of ours! Boardies, apparel and wetties are all sick, but without boards who’d give a f*ck? We’d all be playing golf! Shapers are the true core of the surf industry. It sucks to see these guys, who are the foundation stone of the surf community, having their businesses eroded by cheap pop-outs hitting the market. The few bucks you save buying imported boards just isn’t worth the cost of the loss of connection with our Shapers and the knowledge and experience they bring to the table. We want to reverse this trend, give Shapers a voice and put the soul back into the surf community.

If you’re a Shaper reading this, we’d be stoked to hear from you. Drop us a line at info@mesurf.com.au

WHAT’S BEEN THE REACTION FROM SURFERS AND INDUSTRY?
We launched mesurf at the end of 2008, and since it’s inception we’ve been growing at a rate of close to 20% month on month, with May 2009 posting over half a million hits. For a site that’s not even 7 months old we’re blown away with it’s traction!  We have a strong portion of unique visitors that are finding us organically and a very healthy return rate, which we’re attributing to our constant updating of the site so it’s fresh every time you come back.
We’ve had very positive feedback from the industry that have been involved with the site which is fantastic. If you haven’t been on mesurf, then you and your brand are missing out!

HOW DO YOU FIND PRODUCTS AND HOW CAN BRANDS BE INVOLVED?
We’re always searching the web, checking in with marketing managers and just keeping a finger on the pulse of the industry. We offer mesurf as a free service for brands and ask that they just keep feeding us information on any or all of their products as often as they want - mesurf serves as a gateway for brands to tell the surfing world about their products and services. The fact we’re free to use and designed in a way that it heros the product makes mesurf a marketers wet dream! To conduct reviews we require product for a few weeks to put through it’s paces. We then give the product back if the client so desires.

ANYTHING EXCITING WE SHOULD BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR?
The beauty of online is that you can continually evolve and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Shortly we’ll have CoastalWatch surf reports and forecasts on mesurf. We’re also currently toying with video reviews that will be a new element to the site. mesurf also have a mobile arm in the wings that will be all time by late ‘09.  This in itself will be massively exciting and like nothing that is currently in the market place.

LET’S TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE TEAM BEHIND MESURF. WHAT’S YOUR BACKGROUND AND CONNECTION WITH THE SURF INDUSTRY?
My (Ben) background is aerospace and mechanical engineering, which is a long way from the surf market I know! I pulled out of that arena years ago and moved into the sales/marketing area of the workforce. Beginning in magazines I later moved into a role at Australia’s Surfing Life for almost 3 years and finished up with them late 2007. I’ve also worked part time around the traps in and around surf shops here and there while I was studying. Since leaving ASL I have been working with Dave on mesurf, Shaper Search and a few other projects.

Dave’s background is in advertising and marketing. He’s a nightmare to work with as he’s always got a new idea that’s got to be done, then he’s off and you don’t see him for a week! But more often than not they are sick ideas, so yeah, it all works out well!

SO DO YOU STILL MANAGE TO GET THE ODD SESSION IN BETWEEN ALL THIS CONTENT?
We try to surf everyday. Sometime we get pretty hectic with mesurf and miss out on the odd session, but if the surf’s pumping we’re out there. It’s good to be out as much as possible testing new products, speaking with surfers and keeping the dream alive.

OTHER THAN SURFING WHAT ARE YOU BOYS INTO?
If we had the time we’d be doing something active every minute of the day! I’ve (Ben) recently been getting into longboarding (hill skating) when the surfs flat. This is a pretty quiet area in Aus but I can see if growing quickly. Speed, sliding, carving, it’s a mad little sport that can help with your surfing. I’m trying to make more of an effort with practicing yoga and have a huge passion for snowboarding and wakeboarding when I can fit those in.

I was into dirtbikes as a kid until breaking both arms and a collar bone back 3 years ago, but will get back on a bike again soon. Pretty much anything that’s fast, fun and requires some balance I’m into.  Surfing however is number one, always has been, always will be. Dave is also a mad keen snowboarder and it’s hard keeping him at bay during the winter season. Wakeboarding and motorbikes are his other intests, but like us all there’s just not enough time to be hooking in.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO GET OFF YOUR CHEST?
While mesurf is Australian based, we cover all areas of the world, so don’t think you have to be an Aussie surfer, photographer, artist or brand to be a part of mesurf. If you surf and want to speak with other surfers then come check us out and get involved.

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www.mesurf.com.au

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Benjamin Salked

Industry - Surfersvillage