New business imports surf styles from coasts
By Denise Nell Special to the Kansan
Students who are fans of surfing may have a little trouble finding a tide in Lawrence. But they can find all the necessary gear to dress like a surfer at Shark's Surf Shop, a new business that opened its doors in Lawrence in August.
Owner Chris Cox said that he and his wife, Mary, who live in Overland Park, had come up with the idea for the shop, 701D W. Ninth St. while vacationing on the coasts.
"Every time my wife and I would go on vacation to either coast, we'd visit surf stores and buy a lot of things and think they were cool," he said.
Cox said that they had decided to bring some of the brands that were popular on the beach, such as Massimo, Stussy, Quicksilver and Big Dog, home to Kansas.
The surf styles of clothing are baggy and colorful. Multicolored knit shorts, flannel hooded shirts and T-shirts bearing logos such as "It's not that life is short; it's just that you're dead for so long," can be found throughout the store. Also featured are Teva sandals, and customers can order custom-made Vans canvas shoes in six colors and patterns.
The first Shark's opened in Mission four years ago. Stores then were introduced to Bannister Mall and Lawrence.
Cox said that KU students and the absence of stores carrying popular surf brands had attracted him to Lawrence.
"It's close to home, and it's the kind of age bracket we shoot for," he said. "It's 'in' stuff you can't find anywhere else in the Midwest, even in major department stores."
Kim Lowell, a fifth-year San Diego senior and an employee at Shark's, said she had been surprised to see a surf store open in Lawrence.
Lowell said she thought that the brands and styles popular with her friends at home were catching on with KU students.
"I've seen a lot of it on campus," she said. "It's been around for a long time, and a lot of people have liked it, but it hasn't been available around here. They would mostly have to go to Kansas City or order it, and that's kind of a pain."
Surfboards are not available at Shark's, but the store does carry Mr. Zog's Original Sex Wax, a brand of surfboard wax. The wax is sold as a novelty item, but many residents use it to wax skateboards. Lowell said some people even had taken to chewing the wax, which is sold in different flavors.
"I have never chewed it, and I don't even want to try it," she said. "I think it started from surfers just getting bored and chewing it. Some friends of mine in San Diego did."
George Brajkovic, Kansas City, Kan., junior, and an employee in the store, said that some people had been disappointed to find only surfboard wax in the store.
"People have come in here really disappointed that we don't have body boards," he said. "But where are you going to surf- Clinton Lake?"
Tom Leininger / KANSAN
Stussy is one of the popular brands of surf style clothes available at Shark's Surf Shop, 701D W.9th St.Massimo,Quicksilver,Vans and Big Dog are other brands available.
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LIFE'S A BEACH · BIG JOHNSON · TEVA
October 29,1993 K-you •Fall Fashion Tab
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