Stay Alive is a brand new surfshop/warehouse based on the concept of the circular economy.
Stay Alive is the possibility to give a second life to your surfing equipment (board and wetsuit) thanks to the deposit-sale. All you have to do is go there with your gear, set the right price and the shop takes care of the rest. A large choice of second-hand surfboards is available, for all levels and all budgets!
Stay Alive is also a selection of committed technical accessories (pads, leashes, daggerboards, etc.): Made in France, recycled material, bio-sourced…
Finally, and in collaboration with local partners, Stay Alive offers a surf repair service but also the opportunity to ensure the end of life of your wetsuits and clothes through recycling.
Meet Louis Alexandre who tells us more about the shop but also about his life as a rider 🙂
Who are you? (Short presentation of the team, start of activity, location etc.)
Louis, manager of the Stay Alive shop in Mérignac (49 avenue Henri Vigneau, Bâtiment C – Cellule 9), where I work with Paul, a great young man from Royan. Passionate about shaping, he did his shaping at Euroglass and UWL.
How would you describe your shop and the brand you represent? (Concept, values etc.)
Stay Alive is a brand new surfshop/warehouse in Mérignac, based on the concept of the circular economy. Stay Alive is the possibility to give a second life to your surf equipment (board and wetsuit) thanks to the sales depot. All you have to do is go there with your gear, set the right price and the shop takes care of the rest. A large choice of second-hand surfboards is available, for all levels and all budgets! Stay Alive also offers a selection of technical accessories (pads, leashes, daggerboards, etc.): made in France, recycled material, biosourced… Finally, and in collaboration with local partners, Stay Alive offers a surf and textile repair service, but also the opportunity to ensure the end of your wetsuit and clothing life through recycling.
What is a typical day at Stay Alive?
It starts with coffee with Paul at the shop counter. Then we plug in the sound and it’s off to the shop and the boards for a good clean. Then the day passes quickly between the curious who have heard about Stay Alive, managing deposits, sales, those who come for lunch next door, those who are looking for a model, an accessory or who simply want to chat over a coffee. There is a nice chill space to rest.
How do you store your boards in your shop?
All our boards are installed on racks throughout the shop and on a large central rack with wheels. Otherwise it is stored and displayed on the Rack Ta Board easels. You can put up to 3 boards on the trestles, which is quite practical.
What is your favourite/most useful model at Rack Ta Board?
Clearly the easel! For displaying and storing the boards, it is also the ideal tool for presenting the boards to customers, so that they can touch them and see them up close. Very useful to make small repairs on the boards too.
How did you hear about Rack Ta Board?
I think I stumbled upon it a bit by accident on the internet. Then I started to see them in the shop.
On a personal note, what made each team member want to start surfing and when did you start?
I must have started at the age of 9 or 10 in Normandy, my cousin had started it and it motivated me directly. And surfing in a place where there are few waves and where you can freeze in the winter gives you motivation and a hunger for waves! Paul started in Soulac at the age of 6. Coming from a family of surfers in Royan, his father took him to tease the mosses as soon as he could.
If everyone had to choose just one place on earth to surf/skate it would be?
Paul is also a very good skater, you will be able to meet him at the new Chartrons park in Bordeaux which has just reopened, he lives just opposite, it’s his garden. For surfing, as a good Royannais, Paul swears by the Côte Sauvage, near the Semaphore or Tequila (when you take out a barrel there it’s the same effect as a shot of Tequila). For me, it would be a good Landes break with friends. Otherwise the skateboard and I ended, too many injuries.
What is your favourite surf spot in your life (for each team member)?
Weligama Bay in Sri Lanka for Paul, and Mangamaunu in New Zealand for me.
A final word?
See you in 2023 for a great opening night at Stay Alive, stay tuned!
