Dan and Matt Cassidy
Meyer Boarding Company — Miramar Beach’s homegrown skim, skate and surf board manufacturer since 1985 — is flourishing under the helm of Dan and Matt Cassidy, the Gulf Coast-born brothers who set out in 2009 to continue the legacy of company founder Mike Meyer. The company offers a wide selection of handcrafted, custom boards created individually from start to finish, and the Cassidy brothers have found success by combining passion, hard work and youthful energy to build a product that’s made 100 percent in the U.S.A.
“Taking over Meyer Boarding Company has been an amazing adventure, and we feel as though we’re really hitting our stride now as business owners,” said Matt Cassidy. “Mike left an incredible tradition that we’ve worked hard to continue while also infusing our own energy and dreams into the growth of the company. Being able to work alongside my brother creating original designs each day is pretty cool.”
One way the two craftsmen have left their mark is through new Paint, Skim & Skate Workshops. The company teams up with a local artist to offer children the opportunity to create their own, one-of-a-kind design on a skim or skateboard of their choice. The unique workshops have garnered much enthusiasm from locals and visitors alike, and Meyer now hosts multiple workshops per month during the high season at various area vendors including YOLO Board + Beach, Destin Commons and area galleries (most recently at Andy Saczynski’s studio in Grayton Beach).
PHOTO: Sean Murphy
“The paint workshops allow kids to really unleash their creative energy while also introducing them to a fun sport,” said Justin Lyons, a local contemporary artist and longtime friend who has also partnered with Meyer on the workshops. “Seeing their sweet reactions to the finished boards and the excitement at having created something of their own is a rad feeling.”
Having grown up surfing, skating and skimming on the Northwest Florida coast, the Cassidy brothers impart their own experience and passion for the water into their board designs. Dan brings a construction background to Meyer that includes anything from welding, framing and electrical while Matt worked in the retail surf industry for 15 years. Each board undergoes a multi-day process before completion, and the hands-on method of the board’s construction means that each one is unique.
“Matt and Dan are truly dedicated to their craft,” said Jeff Archer, co-founder of YOLO Board, a retailer of Meyer Boarding Company products. “It’s refreshing to see their creativity and passion for what they do, and we look forward to collaborating with them on board painting workshops and much more.”
Photo: Shelly Swanger Photography
