Max Oudendag took a few minutes last fall to talk about being a Kindred local. 10 years ago Max was pivotal in turning our board-building hobby into a livelihood. He gave us a boost at exactly the right moment by requesting our first ever paid commissioned build! He reinforced our hunch that people would be interested in buying custom or small-batch exceptional rides that reflect the rider - and double as beautiful artwork. For more than a decade Max has been underpinning the foundation of our community. He does this by investing time, energy and heart into sports, events and small business here on Vancouver Island. If there is something cool going on around here, you can bet Max is part of it. He is an expert at bringing people together through projects and to our humbled delight he includes Kindred at every opportunity. This year has seen in-person events cancelled. We’ve all been searching for ways to uplift each other and preserve our sense of interconnection. How many sidewalk conversations about gardening did you have with your neighbours this year? Have you taken up new outdoor sports hobbies? In the face of tough times people are turning to nature and many are satisfying a craving for carefully-crafted goods that facilitate a life well-lived. Choosing outdoor recreation and shopping with small businesses is an empowering way to strengthen our communities. Max made this realization long before the pandemic hit. His actions over the past decade have had a trailblazing and lasting effect that we see very clearly. Three cheers for Max! Give this guy a high five below or an elbow bump next time you see him. If there is a “Max” in your own community, keep your eyes on what they’re up to and show them some love. Thanks to Ivan from Visual Inclination for capturing these interviews: https://visualinclination.com/

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Steve turned off the tractor for an afternoon to talk about building the very first pair of Kindred skis. Steve is a skilled storyteller. He seems to know exactly when to pause, when to exaggerate, and exactly when to tell a joke. This ability to draw people in and make them laugh is especially useful in the hospitality industry. You see, Steve and his wife Carolyn run Two Eagles Lodge Bed and Breakfast just South of us in Union Bay. Like many home-based-businesses owners, this couple does it all. Carolyn masterfully orchestrates the business and is logistics manager of the steady rotation of guests while Steve is maintenance man and groundskeeper. When it comes to guest experiences this is where Steve’s hospitable nature and gift for storytelling shines. Who doesn’t want a host who keeps the mood light, and primes you for making memories by recalling his own adventures? If you need more proof of what us locals already know: that you’d be wise to stay at Two Eagles (once things get back to normal...) check out the miles-long list of accolades on their website. From fresh eggs at breakfast, to sharing local’s knowledge about places to explore, to evenings spent on the ocean-view porch around a crackling fire punctuated by Steve’s stories - these guys make their guests feel truly at home, and have awards to prove it. We’re really thankful for the support Steve has shown our business, from commissioning that first pair of skis to volunteering his time and equipment to help us move our workshop twice over the past 10 years! We're fortunate to have him skiing around on his Kindreds knowing he tells their story - with grinning enthusiasm - to anyone who asks. Thanks again to Grayden and Ivan from Visual Inclination for capturing these interviews: https://visualinclination.com/ Visual Inclination on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/visinc/ Two Eagles Lodge B&B : http://www.twoeagleslodge.com/ Two Eagles on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/TwoEaglesLodge Two Eagles on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/twoeagleslodge/

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Some Thanksgiving! Thanks for the kind words about your experiences, Fellas! #customsnowboard #snowboarding #alpinelifestyle #mountainlife #shred #snowboardreview #madeincanada #kindredsnow #snowday #woodsnowboard #craftgear

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