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Tahitian waterman Raimana Van Bastolaer has been riding his original iconic red C4 SUP board at the breaks around his home, including the infamous Teahupoo, for three years.
While he has been offered many other boards to ride he has remained loyal to the one that has got him in and out of so many critical waves. You'll see it featured in the upcoming IMAX movie ULTIMATE WAVE, directed my Stephen Low, where he shares center stage alongside long time friend Kelly Slater.
Raimana is often referred to as the unofficial Mayor of Tahiti, not for his incredible talents in the water, but for his efforts in the local community and his 'service with a smile' to the many pro events, movies and visitors that visit his home every year.
C4 Waterman SUP shaper Dave Parmenter made Raimana that magic red board in 2007 with no strings attached. In 2010, Raimana officially joins the inner core of C4 Waterman.
"First it's the people, then it's the products that make C4 special to me," says Raimana on his decision to team up with C4 on upcoming product design.
On the slate for 2010 is a 'Raimana World' pro model unlike anything on the market.
"My model is going to be special, somewhere between the BK Pro and the Sub-Vector. I trust Dave Parmenter to make the boards because he has already made me the only board I trust at Teahupoo."
With a mission to make the waterman lifestyle attainable for everyone, C4's founders sees Raimana's inclusion in the team as another leap toward achieving that goal.
"You have to remember that we are about the Waterman's Lifestyle," says C4 Waterman CEO Todd Bradley. Brian Keaulana adds "When you have a guy like Raimana, who has such good energy, spirit, and has pushed the boundaries on what an SUP can do, there is a wealth of knowledge to share. He has much to bring to watermen and women of all abilities and we want to help him share that. That is what C4 is all about. It's not about selling products as it is promoting a lifestyle."
So what Does Raimana plan to do with that magic red board now that he will soon have his own pro model?
" I will always keep that board, but for now, the Red Board will be getting some much needed ding repair!"
Expect to see the Raimana World model in Australia in the second half of the year. I have seen the plug for this design and it is like nothing else yet on the market!!
We can all learn something about life from watching this video.
What a great outlook on life.
