
For many, it’s never too early to celebrate surf season. The Point Loma Boardroom will host the annual Spring Surf Fest on Saturday, April 11 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Liberty Station Marketplace. “It’s a surfing celebration to give back to the community and celebrate our surf shop and the Liberty Station Marketplace (as a whole),” said Point Loma Boardroom owner Nate Cintas. The Spring Surf Fest will feature live entertainment, free food, a fashion show and raffle prizes. The event is free and open to all. “It’s an annual event where we celebrate the coming of summer,” said Liberty Station event manager Bridget Wear. “It’s a great evening for people to come down with their kids, enjoy great music and celebrate living in Point Loma.” The event will start at 3 p.m. with authentic Hawaiian dancers and music. The dancers are one of three acts that will provide entertainment throughout the festival. Following the Hawaiian dancers will be a 90-minute performance by Sunset Cliffs’ own Blonde Brothers. Drummer Lance George, 14, lead vocalist and bassist Josh Larocco, 13, and lead guitarist Chris DeVito, 12, make up the Blonde Brothers, a middle-school-age rock group that perform classics more than twice their age. “For them it’s more of the challenge of playing music,” said Jenny Larocco, Josh Larocco’s mother. “They think that a lot of newer artists aren’t as artistic. I think that’s what draws them to that type of music.” The Blonde Brothers started playing at a school talent show two years ago and have not put down their instruments since. The Correia Middle School students have performed all around San Diego, including at the USA Sevens rugby tournament last month at Petco Park. “They’re really rad,” Cintas said. “It’s three kids under the age of 15 that just start jamming (guitarist Carlos) Santana and the Allman Brothers. It’s classic.” The entertainment will conclude with the Lomatones performing from 6 to 8 p.m. The area dance band specializes in classic rock. The Point Loma Boardroom will also be putting on a fashion show during the event. The fashion show will showcase “Olivia,” a new spring line that Cintas designed. “It’s a beautiful line of women’s clothing from Indonesia,” Cintas said. “We even make the fabrics from scratch.” Wetsuit manufacturer Matuse and skate company Sector 9 will have representatives at the Spring Surf Fest, providing discounts on merchandise. Festivalgoers will also get a chance to meet professional riders from both companies. “You can meet the guys behind the name,” Cintas said. Raffle prizes will be given away throughout the event. Cintas said prizes from his shop include apparel, sunglasses and jewelry. “Most of the tenants here will offer raffle prizes,” Cintas said. “I will also have my models giving away promo gear throughout the day.” While enjoying the entertainment, funseekers will also have the chance to dine on food from some of Liberty Station’s restaurants. Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza will sell pizza by the slice during the event and will give away free slices from 3 to 4 p.m. Panera Bread will provide free drinks and Starbucks will offer free cookies. The Point Loma Boardroom is located at 2445 Truxtun Road, Suite 108. Cintas, who was born and raised in Point Loma, opened the Point Loma Boardroom 3 1/2 years ago. He decided to start a surf shop after working as a commercial fisherman for 18 years. “I’ve always been really passionate about surfing,” Cintas said. “My two older brothers encouraged me to follow my passion.” The Point Loma Boardroom sells high-end surf, skate and snowboarding gear and merchandise. This also includes the apparel Cintas himself designed. “We’re like a surf boutique,” Cintas said. Cintas said what makes his shop different from a chain is that making sales is not his top priority. Surfing is his passion and he approaches business that way. “You meet the owner and I actually surf,” Cintas said. “I enjoy meeting people and sharing my wisdom of surfing with people. It’s very much relational. It’s not about the sale.” The Point Loma Boardroom moved to Liberty Station two years ago. Cintas said he is happy with the location. “It is an amazing atmosphere. It’s a great, family-oriented situation,” Cintas said. Cintas said he came across the location almost by accident. “I stumbled upon the building that I am in,” Cintas said. “It was an old military bathroom in the 1930s. Now it’s a free-standing surf shack.”