WSJ #040 Mike LaVecchia

The Wave Sliders journal

ENTRY # 040

Written By: Mike LaVecchia

Intro By: Jack Ventura

INTRO:

As the founder of Grain Surfboards, Mike LaVecchia is a true craftsman and visionary in the surfboard industry.

Mike's journey has been fascinating, and unlike typical surfboard makers he brings a rich tapestry of experience from other pursuits. From his early days in the snowboarding industry to his time as a licensed boat captain on Lake Champlain.

This diverse background makes Mike and his brainchild Grain Surfboards truly special and allows him and his team to approach surfboard building with an infectious spirit of experimentation and collaborative innovation I'm not sure you can find anywhere else...

Enjoy this read from Maine resident, surfer, and craftsman, Mike LaVecchia

Who are you?

Share a few sentences explaining who you see yourself as these days...

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I'm a daydreamer, a lifelong pursuer of hobbies and passions, most happy on or near the water. I’m at my best when I wake up each day with something to do, someone to visit with or someplace to see.

What was your first job?

First jobs reveal a lot about who we were.

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I had a number of summer jobs through high school, but my first real job was with Burton Snowboards in Vermont. I was introduced to snowboarding in the late 70's and quickly fell in love with the sport. By 1981, after building a few snowboards with friends, I had bought my first board. By the mid 80's I was ready to settle into life in Vermont and got a job with Burton. I worked there in different capacities for 15 years or so and that time, and the friends I made, truly helped shape the rest of my life.

What have you learned through surfing that translates to everyday life?

What you have learned from surfing and how those lessons help you through daily livin'...

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Definitely patience. I’ve learned to slow down and enjoy the process. I’m reminded all the time how important family and community are to me and that whether I’m riding a wave or just floating around watching friends get fun ones, appreciating the little moments are actually the big things.

What is something you'd like to accomplish in the next 10 years?

Share a goal for the next decade, and how surfing might have influenced these aspirations.

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I’d like to find a way to deprioritize work in my life and travel more, at least for a little while. Ever since I was little, I’ve dreamed of living simply but seeing lots, whether by boat, car, motorcycle or on foot.

I’m dreaming of setting off and doing some exploring. It’s been years since I’ve driven around the country. I’d like to poke around the west, get up north and ride around the Canadian Rockies. Get back to Scotland and spend time in the Hebrides with friends.

What Mike Is Stoked On Lately...

Someone in the surf community you are stoked on:

Tom Blake has always been an inspiration to me. A forward thinker, someone who wasn’t afraid to go his own way.

A quote you like?

"A boy's will is the wind's will, And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."

A place you want to visit that you have not been to yet?

When I dream of places to see, it's usually north, where the weather is more raw and landscapes get a bit more rugged. The Faroe Islands are high on my list at the moment, also a return trip to Iceland. .