© pic: Darrel Wong PhotographyJosh Angulo, one of the top names on the PWA tour and well known as a hero at Ponta Preta, found some time to keep us updated about his family business Angulo, his ambitions on the tour and thoughts about several topics in windsurfing. Josh is 34 years old, could win a lot of single events and a PWA worldchampion title in the wavesailing discipline back in 2003. He believes in Jesus Christ, grew up on the North Shore of Oahu. By the mid-80s the family decided to pack it up and head to Maui where Josh got hooked on windsurfing at the age of 10. By 15 Josh signed his first professional contracts and had his first professional win under his belt at the age of 17. Nowadays he is focused on his competition carreer, on his own business - he runs a board company and a windsurfing center - and on his family life.
>>> SLIDESHOW Josh Angulo
Links:
Anguloboards.com
Angulocaboverde.com
AnguloonSUP
C7: When did you start to work on the brand Angulo?
Josh: I have actually been involved in the family business as long as I can remember... when we were really young we would it at my dad's shop on Oahu while he shaped and he would give me and my brothers a small piece of foam and a piece of sandpaper an we would try and shape miniature surfboards.... Mark was always the best with that.. As I got older, sweeping and cleaning the store and factory as well as packing boards with my brothers was all part of our responsibilities. It was always a family business.
C7: Do you work together with your father ED or are you responsible yourself marketing the Angulo windsurfing products?
Josh: When we started making production boards a few years back, my dad and I worked hand in hand and had a lot of fun doing it. In the last 4 months however, my family has given me full control over the windsurfing products, branding and company. It has been an exciting last few months and we will be coming out soon with some really new and exciting products.
C7: How many people are working on the Angulo products?
Josh: We are 7 people, with a core group of 3 people on the day to day basis.
C7: Did you sail all your career on Angulo boards?
Josh: I have a great relationship with many reknown shapers and have rode boards shaped by Roberto Ricci, Peter Thommen, Jean Bouldoires, Carlos Sosa, Keith Teboul, Fabien Vollenweider, Mark Nelson and Mark Angulo...... but in all honesty, the best boards I've ever had were always from my dad. He really is master craftsmen and I'm sure the best boards he ever shaped were for his sons.
C7: Is it hard not to sail on Angulo shapes in Slalom and would you prefer, if custom boards would be allowed? Or is your plan to enter the Slalom board market very soon?
Josh: We will be on the slalom market for 2009. The production boards will be ready soon in time for PWA approval. I look forward to kicking some butt on Angulo shapes next year and any slalom rippers interested can contact us.
C7: Which image do you want to produce with the brand Angulo?
Josh: I honestly don't think we will try to hard to produce an image beyond just being ourselves. We love windsurfing and the people involved with it. We like making products that we enjoy and therefore our stoke relates directly to the public and the products we make. I'm getting more into it as I get older and I am confident that the great feeling I have about our brand and it's possibilities will relate directly to our products.
C7: How many windsurfing boardlines do you offer at the market in the moment and are you satisfied with your range?
Josh: At the moment we have 3 lines, but we will very soon be releasing a whole new board range consiting of 6 lines.... I am quite satisfied with the shapes of our current line, but it doesn't cover enough of the public's needs. I am, however, very excited and satisfied with our new line that we will release in the new year.
C7: Do you feel a negative influence on your business resulting out of the worldwide crisis in economy?
Josh: I honestly feel like we are just starting off. Since taking over the family business a few months back, we have a new excitment and energy in the brand and although sales may slow down on a global scale, I am quite confident that with our new board line, sales will increase, but most importantly, Angulo style and Angulo stoke will once again become an important part of daily windsurf life.
C7: In which countries are your main markets and is it hard to find new distributers?
Josh: All of our countries and dealers, riders and clients are equally important to us. Finding solid distributors is a challenge for me but if it wasn't challenging would it really be fun?
C7: What´s your opinion of boardtests in magazines?
Josh: I believe they are important to give the public a good overall view of the many products.
C7: Do you use production boards or are you sailing on protos shaped by your dad?
Josh: I mostly ride Production boards, but I have prototypes by my dad, my brother and Jean Bouldoires.
C7: What are the 2009 highlights in your range and which product was the best you designed since you started with Angulo
Josh: Our 2009 range is really a 2008/ 2009 and we are soon presenting a 2009/2010 line..... all the years and release dates are still a bit confusing to me, because most brands release a board in 2008 and say it's a 2009... I still don't understand the logic behind it... don't the brands use calendars? I guess people would consider that naive by me, but that's okay.... In 2008/2009, my favorite was the Chango 88. I won 2 Maui events and Cabo Verde on that board as well as an expression session in Sylt... I also got 2nd last year in CV on the same production board.
C7: Where do you see Angulo in 2010?
Josh: In 2010, I see us working hard, having fun, praising Jesus and enjoying the fruits of a blessed family.
C7: Is Angulo a growing brand right now?
Josh: Absolutely!
C7: You are a passionate Windsurfer and you like to rip waves. What´s your favourite location to have a ride and which Angulo board will you take out of your bag?
Josh: Ponta Preta, Ho'okipa and Little Ho'okipa .. Chango 88 all the way.
C7: For how long will you keep on going on the PWA tour?
Josh: I'm not sure, but with the CV event on tour and the slalom going on, I'm sure I'll keep going a little longer.
Thanks for the interview!