It all started back in the 1980's , with one man selling sunglasses on the beaches of Maui, Hawaii. As demand grew for glasses that protected from the severe glare and UV rays of the Hawaiian sun, yet wouldn't distort the wonderful colors of the island, Maui Jim was formed. The company developed is propietary technology PolarizedPlus, which was later patented and then enhanced to create PolarizedPlus2.
When Maui Jim started it had an original line of seven styles. Up until 1991 the glasses were exclusively sold in Maui , Hawaii. The company was purchased by Hester Enterprises in 1991, and three years later Hester enlisted RLI Vision Corp to be the mainlad distributor of Maui Jim. In 1996 Maui Jim Inc. was formed and acquired RLI Vision. Today Maui Jim sells more than 86 styles with 200 SKU's and is the fastest growing polarized sunglass make in the world.
Right now, you're probably wondering why am I giving you the history of Maui Jim Sunglasses. Simply put, if not for Maui Jim brand sunglasses, I would not be where I am today in the flyfishing industry. As you continue to read on , I think you'll see the light.
So why am I so excited about Maui Jim, well here are four really good reasons.
1.Glare Reduction
2.True Colors
3.Repels Water, Dirt , and Smudges
4.Choices of Lenses Depending on Use
So what does all this have to do with flyfishing? As fishermen, our goals while out are pretty simple... catch fish and enjoy our surroundings. The above listed reasons make it really easy to understand how Maui Jim helps us to meet and surpass those goals. Let me break the product down for you.
Maui's PolarizedPlus2 reduces 99.9% of harmful glare (healthy eyes) and is the most advanced polarization available to reduce glare from above, below, and behind each lense. This filter also blocks glare from any smooth or shiny surface (water) which makes it possible to see below the surface of water.
Now true colors, this is so true it's not even funny. Maui uses three rare earth elements on it's lenses and when combined with the glare protection colors are truer. And they weren't messing around with this. You won't recognize your favorite fishing spot the first time there with Maui Jim's on.
Repellents, not like bug spray. Think about it we are standing in water, catching fish that splash. Not sure about you but I hate water spots. But with Maui's I am not worried, also really easy to wipe away my fishy fingerprints at the end of the day.
And last but not least is lense choices. Maui literally has a lense that can work in any type of condition. My favorite is the HCL Bronze, these are great for fishing brackish water because they enhance contrast in murky or stained conditions.
Just recently, Maui has stepped it up again by never settling for anything but the best technology, they released the new MauiPure lenses. This lense offers the optical brilliance of superthin glass with excellent scratch and impact resistance. The 3 new styles with MauiPure are in stores now, so make sure to check them out.
Now as I said earlier, I told you I would explain why I am giving you the run down on Maui Jim. As some of you may or may not know I am one of the Maui Jim Brand Ambassadors for fly fishing. At this point you already have made the assumption I am only writing this because of the last statement. However there is more to it. Almost exactly a year ago today, after a local newspaper article was written on me, I got a weird social media message congratulating me on the article and wishing me luck for the Teva Mountain Games. I was intrigued that some stranger now where close to where I live read an articel on a no named fly fishing guide. So after some research I got the digits to call this person , and find out what was going on . This phone call lead to a conversation with the public relations guru for Maui Jim. After a good half hour, I asked if Maui was looking for any athletes to join their already spectacular ambassador team. With one word , my life changed quite a bit. That word was yes.
Beginning a week later I was officially a Maui Jim Ambassador. It wasn't until getting out to the Teva Games, did I really see that my life changed. I met up with the Maui crew at the tent in Vail Village. After 10 minutes of meeting everyone, I was introduced to Mary Osborne. For those that don't follow surfing Mary is a Pro Longboarder and was the winner of the MTV show Surf Girls. After speaking for a few minutes, she did an interview on camera with me, all on how and why I was competing and my background as a guide. It was like she knew me for years. Before that point the only interviews I had ever done were with newspaper reporters or for jobs. After the interview I met the tow other fly fishing ambassadors, which made me feel somewhat better, that I wasn't the only odd ball at the tent. We were then introduced to Pro Stand up paddle boarders Anthony Vela, Candice Appleby, and Slater Trout. The entire week every ambassador was treated like a rock star. We were cheered on by our new friends in all of our events, with cameras following us everywhere. To end my week, I was asked by Plum TV to do a live interview on their Sunday morning show, and we even did an autograph session for attendees of the games.
Remember I am not trying to , as they say toot my own horn here. But the entire reason I originally signed up for this blog account almost a year ago was so I could blog about this unbeleviable ride I have been on since last year. I mean come on a troutbum fishing guide from Northeast PA, I never saw this coming. Seriously who gets to teach a bunch of pro surfers how to cast a fly rod, or become the student and learn to paddle a SUP board by champion paddlers. And I definitely never saw myself signing autographs, I actually laughed at the first few I did because it looked like chicken scratch.
Maui has been a great company to be a part of, and this blog is my way of saying thank you. And I hope to be a part of the Maui family for years to come. This year has been off to a great start already. Watch future posts for some event dates in the near future.
Tight Lines
Greg G.
Showing posts with label greg gondella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label greg gondella. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
OH Canada......
Modern as they come, Fishbum Outfitters is your true modern day apres’ flyfishing clothing line. With sick graphics and a well known protaff spreading the word this Candian company is on it’s way to the top.
Based in Ontario , Canada Fishbum Outfitters is outta the gates and running. When I say running I mean a dead out sprint. Shortly after seeing a few pics on the book of face, I did a little dabbling looking into who or what Fishbum is. Going through the motions I looked at their site, their clothing and their desgin. I was amazed at what I saw, and being a competitive angler and guide, touring around with some of my other sponsors, I figured I need to talk with these guys. But I knew this was gonna be a different kind of conversation than I have had with my other sponsors on whether or not we could work something out.
So I called…What’s the worst thing that could come out of it they blow me off right. NOT!! I spoke with Matt Rimmer one of the owners, and after a 20 minute conversation , and I expressing to him I really liked what they were doing by going after the modern day sportsman, and he expressing back to me that he was interested in working with me. BUt he did need to talk it over with the folks on the board of the company. After the conversation I went back to their site looking at the great designs they had put together, right of the bat it made me think of an (brand unnamed affiliated in the MMA). In my head I was like damn I need to be able to rock this gear. A few weeks went by as they were busy with shows, but soon after their prostaff manager called me up , and we talked for a bit. Then we hit the X. We had worked out an agreement to bring me on as a staffer.
Ok so I got lost a little there bear with me there is a reason I promise. So back to their clothing , T’s , Long Sleeves, Hoodies, Hats and decals. With the coolest designs out there. I mean come on how often can you rock a T with a giant fly reel on it that read “Kickin’ It Old School”, or a T with a fly angler in the middle of a great fight that reads “Game On”. How about a hoodie with with fish bones down both sleeves. I guarantee you my mentor into fly fishing , my uncle who taught me at the age of six would have have slapped the silly off my face back in the day. But things have changed in the industry, bigger ,badder, more technologically advanced equipment, but yet everyone still dresses like it’s 1985.
As the title of my blog inspires , become a modern day flyfishermen. Sure if I am at a real classy event I’ll dres up a little. But even my clients enjoy the way I perceive the sport , they comment on every trip how cool , or new something is. I applaude the guys and gals at Fishbum for taking this on . And these are some great people too, I talk with them just baout every day. It only takes me an hour or so after a conversation to stop saying EH or Right….Just Kidding Matt and Dan.
Currently they are doing shows in Canada, and will be hitting the US in the very near future. But don’t think that means you can’t get the gear right now. If you go to www.fishbumoutfitters.com you can shop right on line, but move quick cause they have a super contest going on right now. You can be randomly chosen to win an all expenses paid trip to Thaddeus Lake Lodge to fish with some uber flyfishing celebs, plus you’ll get some awesome gear from Fishbum, Maui Jim, Flytooth Flyline and William Joseph just to name a few.
Back to why I got lost a few paragraphs ago. Whether I was or was not sponsored by Fishbum I would still rock their clothing. It’s a fresh new look for FlyFishing or just the fishing industry in general. Someone who thought outside the box. This industry is a big industry , but yet very hard to compete in at times. I believe Fishbum will not have this issue, because they thought outside the box.
Tight Lines
Greg G.
Based in Ontario , Canada Fishbum Outfitters is outta the gates and running. When I say running I mean a dead out sprint. Shortly after seeing a few pics on the book of face, I did a little dabbling looking into who or what Fishbum is. Going through the motions I looked at their site, their clothing and their desgin. I was amazed at what I saw, and being a competitive angler and guide, touring around with some of my other sponsors, I figured I need to talk with these guys. But I knew this was gonna be a different kind of conversation than I have had with my other sponsors on whether or not we could work something out.
So I called…What’s the worst thing that could come out of it they blow me off right. NOT!! I spoke with Matt Rimmer one of the owners, and after a 20 minute conversation , and I expressing to him I really liked what they were doing by going after the modern day sportsman, and he expressing back to me that he was interested in working with me. BUt he did need to talk it over with the folks on the board of the company. After the conversation I went back to their site looking at the great designs they had put together, right of the bat it made me think of an (brand unnamed affiliated in the MMA). In my head I was like damn I need to be able to rock this gear. A few weeks went by as they were busy with shows, but soon after their prostaff manager called me up , and we talked for a bit. Then we hit the X. We had worked out an agreement to bring me on as a staffer.
Ok so I got lost a little there bear with me there is a reason I promise. So back to their clothing , T’s , Long Sleeves, Hoodies, Hats and decals. With the coolest designs out there. I mean come on how often can you rock a T with a giant fly reel on it that read “Kickin’ It Old School”, or a T with a fly angler in the middle of a great fight that reads “Game On”. How about a hoodie with with fish bones down both sleeves. I guarantee you my mentor into fly fishing , my uncle who taught me at the age of six would have have slapped the silly off my face back in the day. But things have changed in the industry, bigger ,badder, more technologically advanced equipment, but yet everyone still dresses like it’s 1985.
As the title of my blog inspires , become a modern day flyfishermen. Sure if I am at a real classy event I’ll dres up a little. But even my clients enjoy the way I perceive the sport , they comment on every trip how cool , or new something is. I applaude the guys and gals at Fishbum for taking this on . And these are some great people too, I talk with them just baout every day. It only takes me an hour or so after a conversation to stop saying EH or Right….Just Kidding Matt and Dan.
Currently they are doing shows in Canada, and will be hitting the US in the very near future. But don’t think that means you can’t get the gear right now. If you go to www.fishbumoutfitters.com you can shop right on line, but move quick cause they have a super contest going on right now. You can be randomly chosen to win an all expenses paid trip to Thaddeus Lake Lodge to fish with some uber flyfishing celebs, plus you’ll get some awesome gear from Fishbum, Maui Jim, Flytooth Flyline and William Joseph just to name a few.
Back to why I got lost a few paragraphs ago. Whether I was or was not sponsored by Fishbum I would still rock their clothing. It’s a fresh new look for FlyFishing or just the fishing industry in general. Someone who thought outside the box. This industry is a big industry , but yet very hard to compete in at times. I believe Fishbum will not have this issue, because they thought outside the box.
Tight Lines
Greg G.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Finally A Place to Start
Hello World!! After signing up for an account here months and months ago. It took me getting the flu and resting for a few days, to finally get a chance to write. I will start first by giving you a small background on how this blog will go . If you don't know me or if you do know me, I am a professional flyfishermen, and guide. So most of my blogs will contain fishing related material, gear reviews, interviews with other flyfishermen or updates and news from my sponsors.
Here is a little background on me so you can kinda of understand where I am coming from. I am 32 years old married to my wonderful wife Kara of almost 3 years, we have our son Luke who is 10 and our Coonhound Dixie. I will write like I live, I grew up in the era of punk rock, hip hop, and rock. I take alot of things from the era I grew in. So I dress differently than most flyfishermen, and when I am talking about things, I usually go right for the point of things. I try not to dress it up to much.
From this blog post on I will hopefully (keep in mind it won't always work out) try and post two new blogs every week. And if for some reason I am coming up short on ideas, I will post short blogs about my family and friends good only of course. So I hope you all enjoy my blogs please feel free to give advice, critique things and the such. Not saying I will accept them , just kidding. Keep in mind though I am no english or literature major, I am a flyfishermen. So there will be grammatical errors, especially in punctuations, and mispelling here or there.
Tight Lines
Greg G.
Here is a little background on me so you can kinda of understand where I am coming from. I am 32 years old married to my wonderful wife Kara of almost 3 years, we have our son Luke who is 10 and our Coonhound Dixie. I will write like I live, I grew up in the era of punk rock, hip hop, and rock. I take alot of things from the era I grew in. So I dress differently than most flyfishermen, and when I am talking about things, I usually go right for the point of things. I try not to dress it up to much.
From this blog post on I will hopefully (keep in mind it won't always work out) try and post two new blogs every week. And if for some reason I am coming up short on ideas, I will post short blogs about my family and friends good only of course. So I hope you all enjoy my blogs please feel free to give advice, critique things and the such. Not saying I will accept them , just kidding. Keep in mind though I am no english or literature major, I am a flyfishermen. So there will be grammatical errors, especially in punctuations, and mispelling here or there.
Tight Lines
Greg G.
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