Friendship, community, and brotherhood.
And when I say brotherhood, I’m exclusively referring to [my co-founder] Brick. We started making art and our own lane in the surf world because we simply loved it and wanted to inspire others around us through our lens as Black American artists. I’m speaking for myself, but I really never imagined it turning into what it is now. It’s so beautiful.
Once we started getting more involved in surf, an intention for what we were doing started to grow exponentially… Realizing how little black people were involved in the community simply because of access and lack of confidence in getting involved in such a new space. That really lit a fire to take it more seriously and see that it was much bigger than us.
So many ways.
I mean for one, surfing is extremely therapeutic… much like yoga and other things that help us see the world in a different way – the act of doing it with others just creates this unique bond between peoples that is brand new to most.
It’s not every day you meet surfers or people interested in surf… so when you do, it tends to help you understand someone else very quickly and also realize that many of your interests and lifestyle is very similar.
I hate to be that guy but… everyone is going to have to wait and see 😉
I mean to generalize, we are going to be doing MUCH more than just community events. More merch, content, and community outreach – unlike anything people have seen, especially in surf. We will continue events of course, but not just beach parties.
For the most part – EBC is just getting started.
Friendship, community, and brotherhood. Those three things led Gage Crismond and Justin ‘Brick’ Howze to start Ebony Beach Club (formerly Black Sand Surf), a surf and art collective based in Los Angeles showcasing people of color in the historically privileged and white-dominated sport of surf. From hosting large artists of color like Duckwrth at the Black Market Flea to teaching young and old members of the community to surf, Ebony Beach Club is just getting started on paving its own lane in the world of surf.
When Ebony Beach Club asked if we wanted to get involved with their summer event series Beach Bounce, we were stoked to support with some Desert Water, and took the opportunity to sit down and ask co-founder Gage Crismond a few questions about the collective’s origins, the power of surf to bring people together, and the wild playlist he curated for Madre Radio.
Yeah, I mean Madre has inspired me a lot. Through branding and aesthetics to the mezcal itself and what it tends to do to my mind when I drink it. I feel that the community Madre has created, much like EBC, is filled with like-minded people.
So with the playlist I just tried to balance a mix of new and old songs that I love and feel others don’t know – but should. While throwing in some jams that challenge how we listen to music. A lot of abstract picks in there.
I tried to organize it from chill to more eccentric… usually I just shuffle it all together. But that’s just me.
What a question! Haha I love it.
I think I would have to say…. Alvin Ailey. A black movement / dance legend.
He’s a huge inspiration to me, yes, but I’m more so considering what I believe mezcal does to us all. Loosens us up, and feels so great to have in the body. I’m a firm believer that mezcal produces a high rather than a drunk.
I think we would have wonderful conversation and I would learn so much.
Follow Gage and Ebony Beach Club to hear about future events.
Read our last feature on musician and mystic Laraaji.
I love music so much… I feel like every week I have a new song stuck in my head! Currently, I have been listening to a lot of alt, hardcore, and punk music – new and old. I keep singing “90” by Offshore Projects; such wonderful lyrics.