Slyde Handboards is a company that designs and manufactures handboards for bodysurfing. They were designed to make bodysurfing easier and more accessible to people of all ages and skill levels. Basically, Slyde Handboards are two tiny surfboards for your hands that make bodysurfing a lot easier for all. They are designed for better control, better balance, higher speeds, and longer rides than other conventional bodyboards. Slyde Handboards are also constructed from high-quality material – high-density foam that is reinforced with fiberglass, with even more durability features wrapping the sides of the board. Slyde Handboards, which come in a number of different designs, were made to last and make bodyboarding a fun and thrilling activity for all.
The idea for Slyde Handboards came to Steve Watts, the creator and founder of Slyde Handboards when he was a little kid bodysurfing in South Africa. The idea of a ‘handboard’ came to Steve at the age of 14, when he made use of two food trays to aid his balance while he surfed – he called it a combination of a surfboard and a snowboard. After studying and getting a degree in product design, he designed, created, and sold his first few handboards on an online Shopify website.
Steve started his business after moving to Venice, California, out of his home garage. Steve met and married Angele Fernando, and the couple has been working on Slyde Handboards together since 2013. The pair’s business was already on an upward trajectory after a successful Kickstarter fund helped them release their new Slyde Phish in 2014. Steve and Angela appeared on season 7, episode 24 of Shark Tank, to pitch their Slyde Handboards to the sharks. They had already made over $1 million in sales and were looking to take their business to the next level.
Steve and Angela got on Shark Tank, seeking a $200,000 investment for a 15% stake in their company. They presented their product with a video and handed out samples to the sharks. They provided details about the retail prices, the yearly sales, and their sales projections for the ongoing year.
The first shark to back away from the deal was Lori Greiner, as she felt she wasn’t the right fit for the company. Robert Herjavec had a couple of questions about their profit growth model and how they plan to market their products. Angela responded that they needed to educate consumers to help promote their sales.
Kevin O’Leary was next to back out, stating the company was too small to invest in. Mark Cuban was interested but had a couple of concerns about the target demographic market being too small. Cuban also mentions his own company, Tower Paddleboards, that could work in tandem with Slyde Handboards as he needed supporting products.
Ashton Kutcher was very interested in the products but was hesitant as he had no experience with these kinds of products. Kutcher was willing to invest if Mark Cuban was interested in partnering up. Cuban was quick to agree, and the pair made a $200,000 investment offer for a 25% stake in the business.
Angela and Steve were insecure about giving up more than a 20% stake, and after a little more back and forth, and with Robert and Kevin jumping in with their own $200,000 for 15% offers, the pair finally settled with Mark and Ashton on a $200,000 investment for a 22% stake. The pair were quite happy with landing two sharks on their company’s side.
Since landing their deal with Mark and Ashton, the pair’s business has grown extensively. With Ashton’s social media understanding and Mark’s market understanding, the pair have grown Slyde Handboards sales to over $1 million annually. Slyde Handboards are now available in many retail stores across the USA and have distributors in Spain and the UK as well.
Our Review of Slyde Handboards
Slyde Handboards are great bodyboarding boards for beginners, amateurs, and professionals alike. They have a wide range of products available for all skill levels. The Grom Soft Top handboard is great for beginners. The wedge and the phish handboards are perfect for amateurs looking to hit bigger and badder waves. And the Bula handboard is for those experts looking to go faster and steeper on larger waves.
All Slyde Handboards are incredibly buoyant, rigid, durable, and provide amazing lift. They all are incredibly compact and lightweight as well, making them easy to store, carry, and transport. They are forgiving and make it easy for beginners to learn and improve.
Anyone who bodysurfs will find it difficult at first on a handboard. Even expert surfers will find it difficult to get used to a handboard – you will fall and wipe out on your first few runs. But once you get used to Slyde Handboards, they are incredibly fun to surf with. You’ll notice better control, maneuverability, increased speeds, and longer rides when compared to traditional bodyboards.
Pros of Slyde Handboards
Lightweight: All Slyde Handboards are incredibly lightweight. This improves speed, buoyancy, control, and of course, makes them easy to transport and carry on the beach.
Durable: Slyde Handboards are constructed with the highest quality materials out there. They make use of urethane, epoxy, and fiberglass for an incredibly durable, high-quality, and long-lasting handboard.
Size: Slyde Handboards are all compact in size, especially the Bula handboard designed for experts. This makes carrying, transporting, and storing them anywhere incredibly easy and problem-free.
Cons of Slyde Handboards
Price: Slyde Handboards are very pricey in terms of the market they are in. What’s more, is that they are priced higher on Amazon, so make sure to order from their own website if you do want one.
Safety Concerns: Slyde Handboards are small but hardy and durable. If you are not careful about the wave’s power or your placement, the boards really hurt when bouncing back on the waves. The boards also place all the pressure on the shoulders, which can cause injuries if not done correctly.
Who Are Slyde Handboards for?
Slyde Handboards are crafted and designed for the surfing and bodyboarding crowd. Thrillseekers looking to have fun on the water without having to spend on more expensive, conventional surfboards.
Are There Any Alternatives?
At this time, we are unable to find any direct alternatives. You can find similar but not exact alternatives in wakeboarding equipment stores.
Our Final Thoughts
Slyde handboards are amazingly fun handboards to have. They will help you learn and improve your hand boarding ability – it doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner, an amateur, or an expert. Slyde handboards will have a handboard for you.
