Surf's up at East of Maui in Lewes

East of Maui’s Dewey Beach surf shop has been serving the wave-seeking set for more than three decades. Shop co-owners Alfred duPont and Bob Singer recently opened a new shop in Lewes.

“We’re doing a lot of the work ourselves, and it took a little longer than expected to open the shop,” duPont said, taking a break from setting up display cases and moving more products to the sales floor.

The shop sells kiteboards, standup paddleboards, surfboards, skimboards and skateboards, all of which are available in several configurations.

He said the shop’s product lines are made up mostly of items employees have used and recommend based on personal experience.

“Customers are more likely to buy if the person selling has used it and knows how it performs,” duPont said. He said every employee has experience using one or more products sold.

“Who would buy a surfboard from someone who’s never surfed?” he said.

Prices vary significantly in each board category. A Naish 2012 Skate kiteboard can be had for as little as $279, but the Naish 2012 Global costs $999.

“This is a Penny skateboard. They’re really popular with kids,” duPont said, showing a florescent pink, plastic skateboard. Made in Australia, most Penny skateboards sell for less than $100. But brands such as the Arbor Axis Bamboo– made of bamboo, a renewable resource– costs $200. Arbor products are produced with environmental sensitivity.

The store also sells GoPro cameras. The GoPro Surf Edition is a high-definition, 11 megapixel video camera that can be mounted on any type of board or worn on a helmet.

Waterproof to 197 feet, the camera captures a user’s style and technique and is useful for instruction.

duPont uses a GoPro for kiteboard instruction. “I’m always yelling to them let it out,” he said, which means pushing the kite’s control bar away from their body.

“They always say ‘That’s what I was doing.’ I say ‘No, you weren’t.’ Then I show them the video,” duPont said. He said letting the kite out produces lift, but pulling it toward the body doesn’t.

This week, the shop received a Lift, brand kiteboarding foil. Manufactured in Puerto Rico by duPont’s friend Nick Leason, a hydrofoil lifts the carbon-fiber board atop the water. “It’s a smooth ride,” duPont said, adding the kiteboard  performs well in light winds. He said the shop would have Lift kiteboards in stock soon.

In addition to product information and sales, East of Maui’s website also provides local weather, current and forecasts including water and air temperatures, wind conditions, surfline, wave height, air pressure and historic weather data.

The user can specify where they are planning an activity, what the activity is – surfing, windsurfing, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, skimboarding or fishing – and see what influences weather might have.

Lessons and rentals are available for all board products the shop sells. There is also a full line of brand-name surf apparel.

East of Maui hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

The shop is at 34 Cape Henlopen Drive near the Freeman Highway intersection. The phone number is 827-4466.

For additional information, go to www.eastofmaui.com.