About Gnarly Padz

At Gnarly Padz, our story begins with a personal experience that sparked a revolutionary idea. I’m an avid surfer living in San Clemente, California, where I ride my bike daily from North Beach San Clemente to Trestles. Like many others, I used to use a bicycle surfboard rack and a bungee cord to transport my board. But one day, my son experienced a painful accident when his bungee cord got caught in his bike tire, causing him to wipe out and injure his arm.

This incident drove me to seek a safer and more effective solution for securing surfboards on bikes. I quickly realized that there were no existing options that met my needs. With the rise of e-bikes and the increasing speed at which surfers commute to the beach, I wanted a better-secured solution to secure your surfboard inside a bicycle surfboard rack.

Determined to make a difference, I set out to create a better solution. I started by experimenting with inflatable surfboard pads. From my garage, I bought a sewing machine, marine vinyl, and air wedges—a heavy-duty tool used in construction. I taught myself to sew, created custom pouches, and embedded the air wedges to develop the first version of Gnarly Padz.

My journey didn’t stop there. I realized that I needed to scale up to bring Gnarly Padz to life. Learning the intricacies of overseas manufacturing, I refined and customized the air wedge to perfectly fit the needs of surfers who e-bike to the beach to surf.

Today, Gnarly Padz is a fully realized product designed to provide unmatched protection and security for surfboards transported by bike. It’s more than just a product; it’s a solution born from a personal need, engineered for safety, and crafted with passion.

Gnarly Padz also offers environmental benefits over traditional bungee cords. Unlike bungee cords, which lose elasticity over time due to sun and saltwater exposure and often end up discarded, Gnarly Padz is built to last. Our inflatable pads are designed for durability, reducing waste, and promoting sustainability by minimizing the need for frequent replacements.

Join us in making your surf commutes safer, more enjoyable, and environmentally friendly with Gnarly Padz.