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Lidders can be contacted at
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|
|
|
| Age |
28
years. |
| A.K.A |
TC. |
| Years
bodyboarding |
16
years. |
| Homebreak |
Can't
tell, one of the tahitian island, it was featured in the movie blast off
1, I think but it doesn't say where it is and let's keep it that way |
| Best
contest results |
I
have only entered 5 contest and have never gone past the semis. |
| Sponsors |
Myself
and mum. |
| Favourite
bodyboarding style |
Prone
cause I suck at dropknee. |
| Favourite
boogers |
Toby
P, Crispin Hughes & Chad Barba. |
| Favourite
food |
Tahitian. |
| Favourite
woman |
Any
weather girl when she announces good weather for waves. |
| Favourite
music |
Deep
House. |
| First
move |
Lip
launch. |
| Favourite
move |
Projected
air off oncoming sections. |
TC setting
up camp at Mahia.
Ed)
A lot of bodyboarders are now starting up their own bodyboard companies
all over the world, what inspired you to setup Vescovato?
TC) Having marathon sessions
in Tahiti and ending up with massive rashes on my stomach because surf
shorts all close at the front with painful snap buttons or strings. My
mates had the same problems so I got thinking and came up with a side entry
boardshort. Finally I always thought it would be great if I could make
a living out of my favourite pastime. So one day I got made redundant
from my corporate job and gave it a go.
Ed)
How much work and planning was involved in setting up the company?
TC) A lot of planning and
tick lists were set up. Vescovato is a small operation so I have to work
twice as hard to make sure we will still be there in the next few years.
We don't have the million dollar advertising budget the big surf company
have, so everything has to be carefully planned. The product has to be
insane as to make up for the fact that we are totally unknown. I was fortunate
to have experience in marketing, this enabled me to apply good work habits
to a small business.
Ed)
You have a pretty impressive team consisting of riders from all over the
world, how did you build the team?
TC) It was a matter of getting
one and the rest would follow. I contacted Toby Player 6 months ago while
I was in OZ and showed him my shorts and he liked the concept and jumped
in. Since then Adam Mc Namara in Queensland got in touch and he is now
in the team which is cool. Toby just got 11th in the Peer Poll from most
underrated last year so I am stoked at the moment!! Building a team is
pretty easy everybody wants to be sponsored - it is just a matter of picking
the guys with that little extra. Now I am getting more sponsorship inquiries
through my website (www.vescovato.com) than purchase inquiries which is
a bit of a joke.
Ed)
What are your goals for Vescovato?
TC) Although our distribution
is fairly extensive there isn't enough money in it yet to make a living
out of it - but that is objective # 1. We have progressed very fast though
with 25 shops selling our stuff and more coming all the time. A lot of
OZ bodyboarders wear MCD and other hardcore brands our objective is to
offer them something they can be proud of wearing. It annoys me that so
many boogers spend their money on brands which are owned by surfer who
basically write us off and end up laughing all the way to the bank.
(40% of surf company revenue in the USA come from Boogers but they don't
support the sport or sponsor any riders - figure the logic in that!? )
When eventually Vescovato becomes big I would like to fully sponsor boogers
to the point that they can make a living - preferably a New Zealander,
an Australian or a Tahitian.... unfortunately that is not going to happen
for a long time as I ain't even paying myself yet!
Ed)
You are originally from Tahiti , what are the waves like over there?Are
there many local boogers that rip? How does it differ from NZ?
TC) Tahiti is renowned for
Heavy reef waves, there are many of them and a lot of people actually learn
to surf on them. Although I may sound biased, Tahitian boogers are insane
with the most notorious being Matthieu Walbrou although the locals will
tell you that there a few guys who charge as hard as Matthieu. It is just
that they hardly ever leave their local spots or travel so you will never
hear of them. On the local National TV recently, they featured Vetea (Poto)
David getting towed in on a massive day at a reef that is mostly surfed
by boogers - there was one booger surfing it the same day and they got
some footage of it where he actually manage to paddle into this monster
deeper than Poto and nearly made it out. Everybody is still talking about
it to this day, but you will never hear of him. Tahiti is not unlike NZ
where there are a few rippers which you will never hear about because all
the bodyboard media are concentrated in Australia, California or Hawaii.
Ed)
What are your opinions on the current NZ bodyboard scene?
TC) More and more boogers
are taking the reins, there is a lot more confidence as we are now a fairly
thight bunch and the money that is generated by our sport is starting to
come back to the boogers. It is really competitive but at the same time
family like, it feels like everybody knows each other and have the same
passion. However just like anything else they are a few detractors, a few
guys that always complain about the contest site or this or that, these
guys usually never organise anything or do something for the sport. This
is negative energy which no one needs. Be part of the solution not the
problem.
Ed)
Anything else you would like to add?
TC) I would like to congratulate
all the people that are trying to make something for NZ bodyboarding: Des
at DC bodyboarding, Gav at SMS, Jeff at SDS, James Blair at Play, Tim at
Fluid Motion, Yourself for your site, Koop bodyboarding for their clothing
and informative website. The Paratas for their contests, Dale Sattler for
his Newsletter/Magazine and everyone who is having a go at doing their
bits. I would also like to thank everyone who has helped me set up...much
respect. |
| For
more info on Vescovato Functional Boardwear, FUNCTION LTD, Science
Viper & Gyroll contact Thierry at
FUNCTION
LTD,
PO
Box 128-236,
Remuera,
Auckland
1005,
NEW
ZEALAND
or
Tel: 64 9 522 6765, Fax: 64 9 529 0811, Mob: 64 (0)21 386 286
or
e-mail [email protected]m.
or visit his website at www.vescovato.com
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