UMI Surf Company

SurfWatch recently caught up with Frankie (Tlaloc Beresford) at a sneak peek of her Umi Surf Company shop to find out more about her new surf system causing buzz and excitement on the waves.

SW:  (laughing)  So let's start at the beginning!  What made you want to start your own board company?
ғяαηкiε: It kind of just happened, and it all stemmed from probably about a year ago. Talking to people about how we can't get an HP5 anymore and then thinking about making a board like it. At that point it was talk and nothing happened.  Then at the beginning of February '19 the topic got brought up again while talking to Leanne Mordue and I, for whatever reason, was motivated enough to actually start. I built the first prototype/script February 14th and at that point it was like..."Yeah, I can do this, let's do it." I started thinking about if I wanted to just make a single board or what and decided to go big and full on build out a company.

SW: Had you done anything like this before - scripting and boards?
ғяαηкiε: I had dabbled in, like, super simple scripts, like, door scripts, pose ball scripts but nothing remotely as complex as a surfboard.  And then as far as boards go, I had done some simple things in Blender so I wasn't too unfamiliar with it but needed to learn a lot along the way from a lot of people.
I wouldn't have been able to get close to where I am without the help of the SL Community Forums, https://community.secondlife.com/forums/topic/433147-scripting-a-surfboard/.  This is actually the first post on there. Builders Brewery, my friends, Charlotte Dąbrowska (tx1313), Eɪʀᴇɴ (eirenhalwater), POMF (denise.foxtrot), ThalesMiletus Resident, and Mallory Bear (malloryrosenberg). These people were amazing in helping understand the scripts I would be needing to use, how to script in general and the work in Blender.
What we have now are 4 different board shapes, Benito (fishtail), Risu (shortboard), Tamago (eggshape) and Ki (longboard). Depending on the shape/size of the board, you get a different ride. Just like how it would be in RL with the different types.  Short boards can cut and turn faster, move quicker and the longboards are a little slower on the speed and turns, more for cruising and enjoying the ride.  You can can also pull some awesome airs with the shorts, too.

SW: Is this a good time to talk about similarities to the HP5 you mentioned earlier?
ғяαηкiε: Yes, definitely.  Now the HP5, what I and some many others love about that board is how you need to ride the wave and use it to do tricks like barrel rolls, airs, turns, etc. You aren't really pressing "keyed tricks" to do things.  What we hate about that board is that it can get broken down by lag.  So we wanted a board that you could control your movements, use/ride the wave and not be bogged down on the lag.

SW:  That sounds ideal!  Did you achieve it?
ғяαηкiε: Yes, definitely. We didn't replicate the HP5 exactly but built upon it and made it our own. We have a board that is fun to ride and takes practice to really excel at it. I didn't want it to be able to be mastered immediately, I want people to get out, ride it, learn it and have fun.

SW: It sounds so exciting!  Is it out there on the market now?
ғяαηкiε: We have two locations were you can demo the boards right now, Hummingbird Point and Cielo. I expect that they will be on the market and for sale in the beginning of April. (I am building the shop right now and getting things ready.)
One more thing I want to tell you about right now though...I've been keeping this on the semi-down-low.  In addition to the surfboards and launching at the same time....with the support and encouragement from Sɧℹ (shilow.carter), I have built a Boadyboard system as well.  To be completely honest, I think I love it more than any surfboard out there including the ones I just made.

SW: COOL BEANS! I will be trying that! (laughs)
ғяαηкiε: Okay, so our shop (smiles).  The way our boards work is, you first buy the basic shape. It comes with a default design. If you want a different design, you can buy the applier and add it to you board same way you would with changing textures on clothes.  If you want to preview what they look like before you buy you can click the pics on the wall.  It'll show you on the spining board.  I wanted to do it this way to make things easy and cheap on the wallet for people.

SW:  And the boards are called again?
ғяαηкie: Four types of boards.  Benito, Risu, Tamago and Ki.  The board shapes influence the ride so the same script in everything for now.  Some minor changes in the long boards, eventually a longboard specific system.
So we have the boards, the designs for the boards.  We also have two types of traction pads and three different types of fins.  You can also change those textures with an applier, too, this way you can really make your board unique to you.
But if that wasn't enough for you, I also have it built into the boards so you can apply "stickers" over the top of your design.

SW:  You thought of everything!  (laughs)
ғяαηкiε: You can thank Eɪʀᴇɴ for that idea. She is the one who first proposed it to me.  We'll, of course, have rezzers for sims available. One for each type of board but if you want to go big, you can grab the super rezzer.  It has the ability to rez each type of board including the bodyboard.  The Super Rezzer, has the ability to rez every board we make if you can't decide what type you want.
Now when it comes to the Bodyboards, it is the some sort of deal with the surfboards. You can apply different designs to the bottom, rail and top of the board. You can also apply stickers on the bottom of the board, too.  When it comes to the Bodyboards, it is the some sort of deal with the surfboards. You can apply different designs to the bottom, rail and top of the board. You can also apply stickers on the bottom of the board, too.  And, of course, a bodyboard isn't complete without a set of fins so we have those available, too.
The big takeaway from the concept of UMI Surf Co. is that we made boards that are fun to ride and to customize to your liking. If you really want to get super custom with unique designs, we will be available for a complete custom job and pricing will vary depending on what you want.  We will also be featuring guest designers from cool artists across Second Life (SL).

UMI Surf Company will open it's doors to the public April 9:
UMI Surf Company HQ

[editors note:  After the interview, we took the rezzer to Kia Kaha to try out the boards.  I tried the shortie - I found it a blast very similar to an HP5 but with more control.  I plan on buying the longboard - the ride was smooth and solid, and I anticipate many hours on many waves with that board.  I also tried the bodyboard and did experience the thrill of bodyboarding on the waves.]

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