Born From the Break
Where Passion Meets Performance
Ridethewing exists because we got tired of compromising. Tired of gear that looked good in photos but failed on the water. Tired of advice from people who'd never felt the rush of catching the perfect wave or the pull of wind in a kite.
We're riders first. Everything else follows from that.
The Beginning
It started in 2019 with a simple frustration. Jake Martinez, our founder and a lifelong surfer, had just received another disappointing online order. The board was nothing like advertised. The customer service rep couldn't answer basic questions about materials or performance. The return process was a nightmare.
That night, Jake called three of his riding buddies. They'd all experienced the same thing. Great gear existed, but finding it meant wading through misleading marketing, inexperienced retailers, and products that had never been tested in real conditions.
The solution seemed obvious: create a store where every product was tested by actual riders. Where customer support came from people who understood rocker profiles, flex patterns, and why wind direction matters. Where honest performance trumped profit margins.
Six months later, Ridethewing launched with 50 handpicked products. Each one had been personally tested by our founding team. If we wouldn't use it ourselves, we didn't sell it.
That principle still guides every decision we make.
Our Approach
Tested in Real Conditions
Every product in our catalog has been evaluated by our team of experienced riders. We test in waves, wind, flat water, and choppy conditions. We push gear to its limits because that's what you'll do.
We don't rely on manufacturer specs or marketing promises. We ride it, analyze it, and only stock what performs.
Curated, Not Comprehensive
We're not trying to be the biggest water sports retailer. We're focused on being the most trusted.
Our buyers are professional riders with decades of combined experience. They handpick products based on quality, innovation, and real-world performance. Only about 20% of the gear we evaluate makes it into our store.
If it's here, it earned its place.
Support From People Who Ride
When you contact us with questions about sizing, conditions, or gear recommendations, you're talking to actual water sports enthusiasts. Our support team rides regularly. They understand your questions because they've asked the same ones themselves.
No scripted responses. No reading from spec sheets. Just honest advice from people who know.
Who We Are
Today, Ridethewing is a team of 15 passionate riders serving over 10,000 customers worldwide. Our team includes competitive surfers, kiteboarders, paddleboarders, kayakers, and windsurfers. Some of us grew up on the water. Others discovered it later in life and became obsessed.
What unites us is a deep belief that great gear makes great experiences possible. And that riders deserve better than the status quo.
We work from a facility in [Your Location] where we warehouse inventory, test new products, and film guides for our community. Our testing days are some of our favorite days. There's something special about putting gear through its paces with a team of people who genuinely care about performance.
Our Commitment
To Quality
We obsess over details. Materials, construction, design, durability. If it doesn't meet our standards, it doesn't get our name.
To Authenticity
We ride what we sell. Our recommendations come from experience, not commission structures or vendor relationships.
To Community
We listen to feedback. Your experiences shape our selection. Your questions improve our content. Your passion fuels our mission.
To the Water
We partner with ocean cleanup initiatives and prioritize sustainable materials wherever possible. The water gives us so much. Protecting it isn't optional.
The Numbers
2019 — Year we launched
15 — Riders on our team
10,000+ — Customers served worldwide
100+ — Combined years of water sports experience
4 hours — Average email response time
30 days — Risk-free trial period on all gear
But numbers only tell part of the story. What matters more are the sessions you have with gear that performs. The confidence you feel knowing your equipment won't let you down. The joy of finding a community that shares your passion.
That's what Ridethewing is really about.
Looking Forward
We're still growing. Still learning. Still testing new gear and adding products that earn their place.
But our core promise hasn't changed since day one: we only stock gear we'd trust with our own adventures. Everything else is just details.
Whether you're catching your first wave or your thousandth, whether you're a weekend warrior or a seasoned pro, we're here to help you find the right equipment and make the most of your time on the water.
Because at the end of the day, that's what this is all about. Not transactions or inventory turns or conversion rates.
It's about the feeling you get when everything comes together. When the conditions are perfect, the gear performs flawlessly, and you're completely present in the moment.
Those moments are why we ride. And why we built Ridethewing.
Join Us
Website: www.ridethewing.com
Email: support@ridethewing.com
Instagram: @ridethewing
Questions? Ideas? Stories from the water? We'd love to hear from you.
Ridethewing. Built by riders, for riders.