Courtesy of Pro-Lite
2022 marks 40 years of the brand that started the surfboard travel bag category. With no signs of slowing down innovation wise, we are taking a moment to see how far we have come in this 40+ year journey. 40 years of marriage is considered the “Ruby” anniversary. So for our Ruby Anniversary we tracked down Pro-Lite co-founder Dave Nielson, to visit the inception and evolution of brand. An idea born out of necessity from two friends working for an airline, trying to safely transport their boards around the globe.
From our humble beginnings cutting foam templates and wood boxes on the North Shore, to hand sewing board bags in Costa Mesa, California, for touring pros and Average Joe’s. This has been our journey, inventing a category 40 years ago, and still being driven to make the best surfboard bags out there.
Here is a bit of our story……
Driven by the Journey since 1982 www.prolite.com
About Pro-Lite Int
WHAT A LONG STRANGE TRIP IT’S BEEN…
Pro-Lite was conceived in the minds of two traveling surfers, Bill Hapgood and Dave Neilson. At the time the pair was working for a major airline traveling the world. Soon into their travels they realized one key ingredient necessary to continue their journey, they needed to protect their surfboards.
In 1982 Pro-Lite was born. Bill and Dave searched out industrial sewers in Costa Mesa, CA and began making a limited line of surf travel bags. This put Pro-Lite on the map as the first bag manufacturer to make travel grade surfboard bags in the United States.
As the brand’s reputation as a quality travel bag manufacturer grew, surfers from the United States and around the world looked to Pro-Lite to provide them with the gear to get their surfboards to their destination safely. Professional surfers from around the world began to use Pro-Lite travel bags as they bounced around the world on tour.
Through the 90’s Pro-Lite expanded its product offering to include a full line of bags for day use as well as leashes, traction pads and racks. This put Pro-Lite in a position to be the go-to brand for any products used to enhance your surfing experience.
The evolution of Pro-Lite continues today with new owners in place since 2005 and a renewed energy and vision to design and manufacture the best surfing accessories in the world. Still privately owned, and operating out of Ventura California, Pro-Lite continues to operate with just 3 full time employees, who love to surf and are passionate about what they do. Pro-Lite’s key focus is quality and innovation, and to this day remains first and foremost a travel company that will continue to make products that are designed for the journey.
Safe Travels….
Driven by the Journey since 1982.
