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The Town of Logan is positioning itself as an emerging tourist destination.
The Logan City Council has launched a new tourism destination brand – Explore Logan.
Explore Logan will introduce visitors to the best the city has to offer, from a thriving arts scene to a menu of culinary experiences, to a passion for sports and adventure.
There are also hidden gems like historical sites and one-of-a-kind markets, as visitors are invited to ‘live a different experience’.
Deputy Mayor Jon Raven, chairman of economic development, urged visitors and day-trippers to southeast Queensland to look beyond Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
“The locals know that our city is full of hidden treasures. We have authentic and unique visitor experiences just waiting to be discovered,” said Cr Raven.
“With the 2032 Olympics approaching, we want to spread the word so everyone can enjoy all that Logan has to offer.”
Caterers Thom and Ann’s, which operate food trucks and coffee vans in Logan and the Gold Coast, were eagerly awaiting the influx of visitors.
“This will allow us to retain our staff, increase our profile and engage with the community,” said director Fiona Roebig.
The new tourism destination brand complements the Town of Logan’s plan to leverage the cuisines of its diverse communities.
The council developed Logan’s 2020 food tourism development plan.
He featured venues such as the Logan Central World Food Markets, which were broadcast around the world during a visit by celebrity chef Ainsley Harriot.
He said the global food markets reminded him of some of the farmers’ markets in London.
Other foodie attractions in the town of Logan include the Beenleigh Artisan Distillery, Kiwanda Cafe, Sugar Creek Smokehouse, and a range of ethnic cuisine restaurants in the suburbs, including Springwood, Slacks Creek, and Woodridge.
The world-class BMX track at Doug Larsen Park and the ATV tracks at Cornubia and Daisy Hill will satisfy visitors’ thirst for adventure.
An associated contest offers the ultimate Logan explorer pass worth $2699.
It includes a four-person go-kart session at Kingston Park Raceway and a wakeboarding experience at Bayside Wakepark, Carbrook.
The contest ends at noon on Thursday, April 28.
To enter, visit: Win the Ultimate Logan Explorer Pass – Explore Logan
The campaign is part of the Council’s 2018-2022 Destination Management Plan.
This is happening even as we speak. The EV market is gradually and obviously expanding its footprint in India. Besides new brands, even mainstream bike and scooter manufacturers have jumped on the trend and are already setting the pattern for their EV portfolio for years to come. But from a buyer’s point of view, one of the most or probably the most important aspects of an electric vehicle is the range it offers. We’ve done quite a bit of research and here are the top five electric two-wheelers in India that offer the most range on paper.
Ranger Komaki
While a lot of electric two-wheelers are designed with a bit of a conservative approach, the Komaki Ranger seems to be the opposite. It gets a proper cruiser stance with original bodywork. Although electric, Komaki also slapped on fake exhaust pipes, more or less to mimic gas-powered ones.
The Komaki Ranger is priced at Rs 1,74,500 (Ex-showroom, Delhi) and is fitted with a 3.6 kWh battery that claims to be enough for 200 km. Additionally, the Ranger also gets features like LED lighting, Bluetooth compatibility, phone charging, reverse and even cruise control.
Hello S1
Perhaps one of the most talked about EVs right now, the Ola S1 Pro also makes the list. It is priced at Rs 1,29,999 (ex-showroom Bengaluru) and can be booked through Ola Electric official website only. That being said, the booking portal is only accessible once a month or two, so the waiting period is quite long.
The Ola S1 Pro is powered by a 3.97 kWh battery that offers a range of 181 km (ARAI). In terms of features, the Ola S1 Pro is equally loaded like its foes. You get LED light proximity lock/unlock, remote start lock, call alert, message alert, infotainment, side stand alert, anti-theft alert, geolocation, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and more.
Hero Electric NYX HX (dual battery)
The Hero Electric NYX HX has been on sale for quite some time now and it sells for Rs 67,540 (ex Delhi showroom). It has a very family-friendly design and looks like the NYX HX also has quite a lot of storage space.
Hero has fitted the NYX HX with a dual 1.5kWh battery and claims it has enough charge for 165km. Its list of features is quite basic but functional. You get LED lights, regenerative braking, a phone charging slot and a folding rear seat.
Okinawa iPraise+
Finally, the Okinawa iPraise Plus is also on the list. It gets quite sporty bodywork and has a youthful appeal. The asking price is set at Rs 1.5 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and the iPraise+ packs around 160km of range.
The electronics suite consists of LED front and rear light, gas suspension, fully digital LCD console and smartphone connectivity. You can purchase the Okinawa iPraise+ from the company’s official website.
RV400 Revolt
Next, in the electric scooter mix, the Revolt RV400 electric motorcycle makes a good variation. It is priced at Rs 1.24 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and is the only offering in the bike maker’s current portfolio. Revolt powered the RV400 with a 3.24kWh swappable lithium-ion battery that offers 156km of claimed range.
Feature-wise, you get an all-LCD dashboard and 4G connectivity. Plus, it also comes with Bluetooth connectivity to pair your smartphone and access details like trip history, battery status, range, and nearest swap station.
A COUPLE who failed to secure an investment on Dragons’ Den have peddled their way to success with their brand of plus-size cycling clothing.
Richard and Lynn Bye were mocked from the den in 2014 when millionaires called their products ‘fat-shaming’ – but eight years later they’ll be the ones who will have the last laugh.
Richard and Lynn Bye facing Dragons’ Den Millionaires in 2014Credit: BBC 
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The Yorkshire couple failed to secure an investmentCredit: BBC 
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But their business – Fat Lad at the Back – is now worth £5millionCredit: Fat Lad at the back
Fat Lad at the Back (FLAB) is for tall riders with body sizes up to a 60-inch waist and 58-inch chest.
Despite its inclusiveness, Dragon Kelly Hoppen described it as “flawed and morally wrong” and Duncan Bannatyne said he would never wear the range.
However, after continuing what they knew would be a success, Richard, 49, and Lynn, 54, are now the proud directors of a £5million business.
Lynn said, “Of course the Dragons are highly respected and successful entrepreneurs, but they don’t know everything, so we weren’t put off just because they didn’t like our idea.”
The Yorkshire couple entered the Den wanting £80,000 for 10% of the business.
But just seconds into their presentation, they were drawn to their catchy and deliberately self-deprecating name – which refers to anyone in the back of an exercise band, no matter how small.
Deborah Meaden insisted she had “got it” but was still worried, while others were even more critical.
Peter Jones, estimated to be £1.16billion by The Sunday Times Rich List in 2021, said he knew he would be ‘definitely the big boy in the back’ but didn’t want the to be when he walked into the pub.
“I don’t see this as a mainstream opportunity or a mainstream brand,” he said.
Duncan, the mastermind behind the self-proclaimed health club chain Bannatyne, said: “The original concept of this is great, I just think the descriptive ‘fat boy in the back’ title or branding is wrong.”
Businessman Piers Linnery agreed, adding: “I don’t think you’re going to create enough traction, I don’t think enough people are going to buy this stuff.”
And interior expert Kelly went very strong, saying: “Your presentation to me is so flawed.
“Most people don’t want to think they’re getting middle-aged or overweight, they don’t want it pointed out to them.
“I don’t take a positive from it. Morally, I don’t like it because I know people struggle with their weight.
“It would be like a hat company being called ‘bald old men’.”
Despite the onslaught of criticism, Richard and Lynn of Ilkley came away with their heads held high, determined to prove the Dragons wrong.
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Richard, 49, is co-founder of FLAB and describes himself as the “original fat boy”Credit: Fat Lad at the back 
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The Dragons didn’t understand the theory behind the brand nameCredit: BBC
Richard said: “At the end of the day people get it or they don’t and we prefer that to just being another brand of vanilla.
“Peter and Deborah were very complimentary about the success the company had already had in a very short time, but they had no knowledge of the cycling industry or the opportunity Fat Lad represented.
“Kelly couldn’t see past the name, Piers couldn’t embrace a concept of ‘social cycling’ and thought ‘traveling’ and ‘running’ were the only types of cycling that really mattered.
“And Duncan, seeing his last streak, wasn’t really investing in anything, so it wasn’t a complete disaster.”
And although disappointed, Richard and Lynn went to great lengths to bring the brand to the masses.
Lynn said: “We realized that when someone has a problem with the name, it says more about their attitude towards fat than it does about the business and what we’re trying to accomplish.
“We now have customers in 89 countries, 60,000 people in our communities, and we’ve enabled tens of thousands of people to ride bikes and helped them look good while they do it – in many cases, when they never thought they would be able to.
“That was our goal, and the Dragons can take whatever message they want out of it.”
At the end of the day, people either get it or they don’t, and we’d rather that than just be another brand of vanilla.
Goodbye Richard
The idea for FLAB was formed after Richard spent years riding in ill-fitting bike gear resembling “a chicken wrapped in plastic wrap”.
Without a kit to fit the larger frame, he went looking for something more suitable but found there was nothing for the “fat boy in the back”.
He realized the potential and phoned his wife, “I’ve got good news and bad news. We’re starting a new cycling clothing company, and you’re running it.”
After extensive research into manufacturers, Lynn located a family-owned factory in Italy that was prepared to make larger garments to suit larger bodies.
And once made, the first batch of kits sold out in less than a fortnight.
Then, later in the year to satisfy women’s demand, Fat Lass at the Back was launched, followed by an unbranded range for those who didn’t want to carry the name.
Lynn said: “FLAB is a selfless brand. It wasn’t just about selling jerseys for us, it was about building a community and giving fat people ‘permission to ride bikes’ and a place. where to belong.
“I think we were ahead or ahead of the game in building a socially responsible business that wasn’t just about making money, but also had a strong community focus and achieved good results.
“I am immensely proud of what we have achieved – supporting, inspiring and motivating thousands of people to lead happier, healthier lives.
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Lynn in action wearing Fat Lass on the backCredit: Fat Lad at the back 
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Moments after their launch, they were drawn to the brand nameCredit: BBC
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Fat Lad at the Back has customers in 89 countriesCredit: Fat Lad at the back
Growing up, I always lived in big cities. I’m talking about Jakarta, Hong Kong and now London – cities with thousands, if not millions of cars, but I’ve never driven once.
In London, taking an Uber is incredibly easy. I press a button on my phone and voila! A driver is less than five minutes from my house and will pick me up and take me to my destination shortly. What a dream! Well, if only it were that simple.
Unfortunately, London is insanely expensive and the average Uber ride is around $20 (i.e. not taking into account rush hours, rush hours, etc.) which means that in the long run term, it’s just not feasible, especially not for young people. people.
So what is the solution? A bicycle, of course.
In London, the average commuter spends around £120 GBP (approximately US$160) per month on travel, whether using the bus, train or tube. In the long run, it’s also a lot of money – money that could be invested in a bike.
Enter: VanMoof.
I toyed with the idea of buying a bike for a long time. After all, it’s the fastest and easiest way to get around the city.
As a loyal user of Uber bikes, I have recognized the value of an e-bike. It can take you anywhere incredibly quickly and get you there without you needing to put all your power into the bike, leaving you drenched in sweat.
Today, Amsterdam-based VanMoof launched its two new bikes, dubbed Lyra and Vega, and once again pledged to “revolutionize the way people experience their cities around the world”.
“This is not just a leap forward for e-mobility, but for the future of our cities as a whole,” the label said.
For those of you who like the tech behind the bike, you’ll be enthralled by the new Gen 5 motor. There’s even a Boost button, which will get you going full throttle. The bikes also have a long-lasting battery, which means you can cycle for hours.
I know what you’re thinking. “Someone is going to steal it!” and yes, that’s a big fear for me too, and also part of the reason why I didn’t pull the trigger when it came to buying my own bike.
But, every VanMoof comes with anti-theft technology! “Our ironclad protection puts bike thieves out of business,” says the brand.
With VanMoof’s “Peace of Mind” service, they literally have bike hunters who will track down your bike or replace it in the event of a tragic theft. There are also Bike Doctors, who help you with technical problems.
VanMoof is already present in more than 50 cities and counts big names such as Frank Ocean and Tyler, The Creator on its long list of fans.
It’s about changing the narrative around cycling and encouraging more people to see more of their city while doing it.
You don’t have to wear spandex with sports sunglasses – you can also enjoy a leisurely stroll. And even fashion, thanks to collaborations with labels like Jacquemus and GANNI.
With public transport prices rising, as well as Ubers and taxis in major cities, investing in a VanMoof just might be in our best interest – and the label knows it.
“We want to make our cities greener, cleaner and more enjoyable places to live. And the more people who join the revolution, the better – that’s why our e-bikes are now more accessible than ever. .”
The VanMoof S5 and A5 are currently available through the label’s waitlist, which launched online today, or through an early access code.
Retailing at £2,298 (around US$3,000), it’s certainly an investment, but it’s one VanMoof hopes more young people will make, to completely rewrite the narrative around transport – and we’re all aboard.
Fair Price Sale, organized by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to provide milk, eggs and meat at reasonable prices to the city’s poor and needy, proved to be not so fair, according to many consumers.
The initiative was taken to help those in need, but many affluent consumers were seen queuing to buy more than their fair share of produce at various fair-priced outlets in Dhaka on Monday.
The ministry chose 10 outlets in the city for the sales which started on Sunday. However, poor management of the sales process has been reported by many consumers.
Some managed to buy 4 to 5 kg of meat from the mobile vans while many had to leave empty-handed as the products were running out.
According to the rules, each person in line could buy a maximum of 1 kg of beef or mutton, 1 kg of chicken, a dozen eggs, two liters of milk. But some were seen buying 2-3 kg of meat, 5 liters of milk and 30 eggs at the Khamarbari sales centre.
As more and more people bought more produce, the Khamarbari outlet ran out of meat at 12 p.m. and milk and eggs at 12:45 p.m., leaving 12 shoppers still in the queue.
On the day the sale opened, Dr Monjur Mohammad Shahjada, Director General of the Department of Livestock Services, told The Business Standard that the initiative was taken mainly for the poor and needy.
Nurul Amin, a consumer, told TBS, “I came to buy the goods yesterday, but the sale was over by then. I couldn’t even buy meat after queuing at 11:30 a.m. today. today. They ran out of meat around 12 p.m..”
If those who have money buy 2-3 kg of meat, we will not be able to buy any, he said.
A person was seen buying 3kg of beef citing the name of a secretary. However, he did not mention which ministry the secretary belongs to.
When asked, salesman Mohammad Robin told TBS, “Look, a man came and took 3 kg of meat on behalf of a secretary. What can we do here?”
Another consumer, Liakat Ali, bought 2 kg of meat, 5 liters of milk and 30 eggs. He told TBS, “My house is in Kazipara area of Mirpur. I noticed the outlet while riding my motorbike and bought some necessary items.”
Another customer, Jahid Hasan, said it was not possible for him to buy meat because the price was high in the market. “After queuing for 45 minutes, I was able to buy products. I asked for 1 kg of chicken, but I received half a kg. But I received 2 liters of milk”, a- he declared.
Jahid said there was noticeable mismanagement in the sale otherwise it shouldn’t end so soon.
Mainly, 10 spots have been selected for sale – Abdul Gani Road, Khamarbari Roundabout, Japan Garden City, Mirpur 60ft Road, Azimpur Maternity, Nayabazar in Old Dhaka, Arambag, Notun Bazar, Kalshi and Jatrabari.
In mobile vans, a liter of pasteurized milk was priced at Tk60, beef at Tk550, mutton at Tk800, dressed broiler chicken at Tk200 per kg and four eggs at Tk30.
Sales will continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until 28 Ramadan.
However, sales at two locations – Japan City Garden and Jatrabari – were suspended on Monday due to vehicle issues.
Khamarbari outlet supervisor Sanowar Hossain said some 100kg of beef, 20kg of mutton, 100kg of chicken, 1,500 pieces of eggs and 200 liters of milk were brought in today.
However, the beef sold out quickly as there was a huge crowd at the start. People from far away received 2 kg of meat instead of the usual amount.
Honda Two-wheelers India has drastically reduced the prices of its flagship motorcycle, the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade. The new Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade was announced for the Indian market in mid-2020 while the bike was officially launched last year at a starting price of Rs 32.68 lakh, ex-showroom. However, it has now received a massive price reduction of almost Rs 10 lakh and is currently selling from Rs 23.11 lakh, ex-showroom Gurugram (Haryana).
The new vs old starting prices of the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade are mentioned in the table below:
| Brand and model | New price | Old price | Difference |
| Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade | Rs 23.11 million | Rs 32.68 lakh | Rs 9.57 lakh |
Although Honda has yet to send out a press release justifying the reason for the massive price reduction, the new price list has been updated on the official BigWing India company website. The new Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade is currently offered in India in two color variants. Its STD Black variant is now priced at Rs 23.11 lakh, while the STD Red color scheme retails at Rs 23.62 lakh, all ex-showroom prices in Gurugram (Haryana).
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It is worth mentioning that at its previous price, the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade was almost twice as expensive as its rivals including the Kawasaki ZX-10R (Rs 15.83 lakh), Ducati Panigale V4 (starts at Rs 23, 50 lakh) and the Aprilia RSV4 (Rs 23.69 lakh), all prices ex-showroom. The new Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade is the most powerful Fireblade ever! This motorcycle is powered by a 1000cc, liquid cooled, 4 stroke, DOHC, inline 4 cylinder engine.
The CBR1000RR-R Fireblade develops a staggering maximum power of 214.5 hp at 14,500 rpm and 113 Nm of maximum torque at 12,500 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and it also benefits from Honda’s Selectable Torque Control (HSTC). For braking duties, the motorcycle is equipped with two 330 mm discs at the front and one 220 mm disc at the rear with dual-channel ABS.
Also read: Triumph Tiger Sport 660 vs Kawasaki Versys 650 vs Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT: Comparison
Stay tuned with Express Drives for more updates and also subscribe to our Youtube channel for the latest automotive news and reviews.
Welcome to another amazing day here at Universal Orlando Resort. It’s a little overcast, but hopefully that will keep the crowds away.
We are off to a good start. Looks like it’s going to be a slow day.
It’s hot and windy with no rain – perfect for a visit to the parks. Let’s see what’s happening at Universal Studios Florida.
We’ve had a lot of people lately for spring break, but today is great. It’s really quiet around here.
The Media Center was looking for participants today. Team members are usually looking for guests who meet certain requirements to watch previews of new shows and leave comments. It takes about an hour, but you’ll receive a $30 universal gift card for attending.
The characters are now hugs and high five guests. We are not the only ones to be delighted!
Some face coverings are on sale. We spotted these Chocolate Frog masks for $4.99 in Diagon Alley.
Kudos to all the amazing team members who help keep the parks so clean for us!
Only 20 minutes wait for Transformers: The Ride – 3D.
It’s our lucky day. The Hogwarts Express had only waited 15 minutes this afternoon.
Mardi Gras is still running for 3 weeks, but merchandise has started going on sale. Grab this discounted Mardi Gras merchandise before it’s gone!
Hogsmeade station waited 65 minutes when we arrived at Islands of Adventure. You feel much busier in this park.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure waited 70 minutes.
Although it seems busier here, the crowds aren’t bad at all. This open space looks really nice like this.
Have you ever looked up and noticed the owls? There are quite realistic details in the rafters. Also keep an eye out for owls and you might see them moving.
This Jurassic Park pop-up book is absolutely beautiful. We keep spotting it around the park with different pages open and it looks great. We will add it to our collection!
We’re a little obsessed with the pretty pink flower above the VelociCoaster panel. Surprisingly, the attraction waited 70 minutes.
It’s so good to see guests enjoying the Jurassic Park Discovery Center. The team members here are absolutely amazing. We would like to see this area get a bit of an update in the future.
Looks like there are a lot more people this afternoon. A 70 minute wait for Skull Island: Reign of Kong is not a good sign.
Toon Lagoon continues to undergo minor renovations in the area.
It’s great to see characters having fun interactions with guests again.
That’s all for today. Thank you for following us to the parks this afternoon. We’ll be back soon, so be sure to stay tuned to Universal Parks News Today for all the latest updates!
Today being the residual economy of the past few years, we have another repercussion on the record—and this one is going to hit Honda NR750 fans with a full no-no.
Our source today is a specialist in the rare collector’s motorcycle trade named Ciarán Perrin (of Extreme Trading in Norwich), who forwarded to Multi-channel network that it is almost impossible to get your hands on the usual lots of nice retro Japanese machines from 1980/1990.
The reason?
Apparently soaring prices in Japan mean that bikes are not only twice as expensive and harder to get here (in the UK), but they end up around the same price as a bike in the UK anyway United States, making imports unnecessary for today’s market.
Combine this with:
…and you have a sparse market that just can’t keep up.
“…it no longer makes commercial sense for importers like Ciarán to bring in bikes for sale”, explains the report.
Ciaran continues:
“If I want to buy an RC30 or an NR750 in Japan, by the time I land it they’re the same price as you can buy one in the UK. I still have to do some work when it arrives too.” As nice as it is, you’ll probably have to put an extra £1,500 into it – maybe £5,000 depending on what needs to be done.”
“We’re still buying the bike from Japan if we can find it, but basically it’s sort of finished at the moment. I know two dealers who have sold bikes to America, and once they leave the UK United, they will not return.
We’ll keep you posted on more stories and information as they come in from the pipeline itself. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter where our main man Cameron Martel curates the best of the latest news and delivers it to your inbox, drop a comment to let us know what you think and as always , stay safe on the twisties.
For decades, the image of a surfing lifestyle has been one of Southern California’s top exports, but for too long it’s been tied to an all-white, geographically restricted ideal.
South African surf lifestyle brand Mami Wata wants to change that.
No more WWD
“Everyone thought the surf industry was surf culture, and the best thing brands did was convince us that was the definition,” said LA Brand Co-Founder Selema Masekela. sports commentator and television host, referencing the big names in Orange County and Down Under, Billabong. and Ripcurl among them. “I see a huge opportunity for this to be broken.”
This week, Mami Wata opened its first U.S. store in Venice on SoCal’s upscale Abbot Kinney beach retail line, where brands like James Perse and Aviator Nation have outposts nearby.
On Wednesday night’s opening night, Lupita Nyong’o, Rita Ora, band members LANY and pro surfer Julian Williams were among those who stopped by to show support, shop and sip southern wine. African.
“The surf culture in Venice is not homogeneous, all types of people get in the water here, so it made sense,” Masekela said during an interview about the pop-up location. “And Venice has become a destination for people in SoCal and around the world. I lived here for 17 years and watched Abbot Kinney go from being a place for locals to a place where brands need to be relevant.
“This pop-up represents a key marketing piece for us, and I hope it gets shared virally. We are a small business with global goals,” he said.
With a giant banana above the door and a dice-patterned facade, the 1,800-square-foot store is eye-catching, and the cheery clothes inside even more so.
The logo of the mermaid Mami Wata (which means “Mother Ocean” in West African pidgin) is splashed on baseball caps and hoodies, while t-shirts are adorned with slogans such as “The Ocean Is My church”.
The $50-$140 “Animism: Luck Is Alive” Spring 2022 collection includes swimsuits, lycras, shorts and bowling shirts with whimsical robot, motorcycle or cartoon dice prints . Everything is made in Africa using cotton spun from Zimbabwe and Malawi, among other materials, and visual references from across the continent.
At the party, guests snapped photos of the brand’s colorful surfboards, crafted by Hugh Thompson in Jeffrey’s Bay, and Masekela was invited to sign Mami Wata’s famous cocktail book, “Afrosurf.”
Courtesy of Greyson Tarantino/Mami Wata
The co-founders produced it themselves during lockdown, turning to Kickstarter for funding, then sparking a bidding war between publishers that was ultimately won by Penguin Random House.
Over 15,000 copies of the book featuring profiles of African surfers, essays, photos and illustrations on surf culture have sold, helping to spread Mami Wata’s message and keep her momentum going during COVID-19. All profits from the book are donated to Waves for Change and other African surf therapy organizations, with philanthropy being a cornerstone of the brand.
“Afrosurf” book and Mami Wata logo hat. – Credit: Courtesy of Greyson Tarantino/Mami Wata
Courtesy of Greyson Tarantino/Mami Wata
Launched in 2015 in South Africa, the brand opened its first store in Cape Town. Masekela joined in 2018, bringing his own African-American perspective informed by years on the road with his father, famed South African trumpeter and political activist and exile Hugh Masekela, growing up in Southern California and being on the surf commentary circuit.
It was when his father was playing on Paul Simon’s “Graceland” tour of Australia that Masekela first saw her surfing at Bondi Beach. “For me, it was like watching a B Boy, breakdancing on the water. I didn’t know how or when, but I knew I had to try.
When the family moved to Carlsbad, California in the 1980s, he got a chance.
“I was lucky to have moved to a place where surfing was the way the community functioned and it was all about the ocean, so it wasn’t something people were doing for the novelty. or sport, it was a lifestyle,” he said.
Not that it’s easy. “I went to a school where no one looked like me…and when I said [a classmate] I wanted to learn to surf, he said to me: ‘You can’t even swim, what do you mean?’
It started a fire under Masekela, and he spent 153 days straight on the beach so he could catch up with the other kids. Becoming a board member for the first time is an experience he speaks of in spiritual terms. “It was the first time I felt close to God,” he said, explaining how surfing led to his passion and life’s work, founding a few brands before Mami Wata and commenting on the sports on ESPN and NBC worldwide.
Selema Masekela signs a copy of “Afrosurf”.
“I’ve never seen the brands reflect anything that looked like me, and to be a surfer you had to get as close to the idea of the SoCal or South Australian perspective as possible. I was that kid trying to lighten my hair to look like those people and be accepted.
After apartheid began to be dismantled and he returned with his father to his native South Africa in 1991, Masekela again faced racism, when he was nearly arrested for surfing what was once a whites only beach.
“This trip made me curious about how to broaden the landscape, because every time I encountered a black surfer, and sometimes it was so intermittent that years went by, there was always a moment of recognition that we had the same contact points and battles.
He was introduced by a friend to the three co-founders of Mami Wata, Nick Dutton, Andy Davis and Peet Pienaar.
“I went to their store in Capetown and was blown away to see people like me working in a surf shop and this idea of Afrosurf. I said, ‘What if we could take this global and redefine what surf culture looks like?’ he said he joined the team as a US-based co-founder
The brand has grown steadily ever since, starting with dtc and then moving into wholesale with Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Selfridges and others.
The brand had an initial collaboration with Moncler, which sadly ended at the start of lockdown in 2020. But Masekela has his eye on other opportunities, possibly including in the hotel space.
“Hello 1 Hotels!” he’s laughing. “For so long, SoCal and Australia have been the driving force, and that explorer mentality of going somewhere, conquering a wave, and then maybe building a surf camp,” he said. he explained about the mindset shift. “I hope what we are doing happens in other parts of the world as well and that the idea of surf culture can have more momentum.”
Inside the Mama Wata store. – Credit: Courtesy of Greyson Tarantino/Mami Wata
Courtesy of Greyson Tarantino/Mami Wata
There are encouraging signs, he said, citing Vans’ recent collaboration with black surfer collective Textured Waves, for example.
“And look at Brazilian surfing, from the late 2000s to today, when it dominated the World Championship Tour,” he said. “Until recently it was common to downplay and dismiss Brazilian surf culture as not part of surf culture. Their attitude, language barrier, they are not cool. Now you have Ítalo Ferreira as the face of Billabong and Gabriel Medina as the face of Ripcurl The world tour audience is 80% Brazilian.
Mami Wata is in talks with professional African surfers about sponsorship, but is not a brand that aspires to be plastered on the world tour, Masekela explained.
“I’ve commented on it for two decades, but it’s such a small microcosm of what surfing is. For so long, brands have poured all their money into 30 people. It’s a life of surfing, but not like most people live a surf lifestyle.
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