Surf Punks: June 2010

The city of Red Bank NJ is an interesting town. Multiple coffee shops and bars flood this small city with tons of people morning noon and night. Most would say that a surf a surf shop would never survive a season in this town due to the fact that it is twenty minutes from the beach and also that their are so many places to shop. Over the past five years Mike Boylan has proved that wrong.

Mike a avid surfer, skateboarder, and musician decided to start a shop just due to the fact that it has been his dream for a long time. Stokaboka surf shop is located in the heart of Red Bank, close to plenty of great places to eat and to hang out. The shop has a super cool vibe which was influenced by a trip he took to California for research and development. Stopping into shops from LA all the way south to San Diego he got a lot of great ideas as to how to market and make his NJ shop a different style. Influenced by Thalia Street surf shop in California and also Mollusk in NY Mike knew how he was going to execute his ideas.

As you walk in a relaxing vibe overwhelms you with paintings of old sail boats and nautical theme artwork. He also has portraits of the people involved in his blog Anchors and Whales which is a small group of people that have created this blog to support StokaBoka and make it more then a surf shop crew, but a family. The shop itself has a lot of pride and heart in their products.

Carrying companies that corporate surf shops are denied accounts Stokaboka carries a lot of underground companies that for some are still in development themselves. Companies such as Rake, Insight, Ando and Friends, and Atwater flood his clothing with a certain merchandising technique that is rarely scene. Using a lot of random nicnacs to display his products you wonder to yourself how did he think of that.

He also carries some more recognizable clothing brands such as Volcom, RVCA, and Obey. Asa far as surfboards go I personally would like one of each. Carrying surfboards by Kookbox, Rainbow, Rusty, and Chaize which is a local shaper in the area, he has a great collection for anyone who surfs.

His skate collection has something for everyone as well. Carrying long-boards and also carrying Gremie Skateboards which is a California based company with some really cool artwork. He also carries Instinct Skateboards which is a company based out of Highlands and is making quite a name for themselves.

Another cool thing about his shop is the fact that he has made a little shaping room in the basement which still has the original working door from when the building was built in 1909.

As far as a team goes he only has one surfer as of right now. John Dykeman which is a local surfer which frequents in Loch Arbor. A great long-boarder which has turned so many heads he is nicknamed Praying Mantis. He has done this because when he cross steps his way up to the nose the way his arms are he looks like a Praying Mantis. His skate team is definitely a well developed crew of great guys in and out of New Jersey.

Photo: Pete Pontone

Just getting onboard Chris Anderson which is a powerhouse grom at the age of 14. He won last years best foot forward Zumies contest in Jersey and is supported by Instinct Skateboards.

Kyle O'Neil also skates for StokaBoka and is supported by the Atwater Collection and Ipath footwear. He is another young kid or at least old enough to by smokes but not beer. Also Pete Pontone, Sean Mahon, and Rob Schup. The interesting thing that Mike also does which not many due at all is he makes his own commercials. Having a back-round in film and editing he has been making commercials since day one. I had the chance to check out his latest commercial at his 5 year anniversary party last month and I must admit he has some skill.

That's all I gotta say about Stoka. If you get the chance to go into Red Bank check it out. It's on Monmouth St right next to the Dublin House Bar. By the way a great place to get a black and blue brew.

Here is a few more random shots I got