Hi, Bartek here from EASY-surfshop.
EASY turns 25 this year — and I’m about to hit 50. With milestones like these, it’s hard not to look back. And when I do, I realise just how much has happened along the way. I think of all the boards, wetsuits, sails and countless other bits of gear that have passed through our hands. How many have travelled the world with you, taken you through those unforgettable first planing runs, and are still out there today — either with you or living a second life with someone else. There’s something pretty special about knowing that a board we once packed in our shop has since collected a whole story of its own: road trips, windy days, great sessions and memories that will stick around for years.
Then there are all the conversations and all the people we’ve met along the way — in the shop, on the phone, on the beach. Sometimes it all started with a question about a board or a sail. Fast-forward a few years and we’re still in touch, bumping into each other by the water and talking about far more than just gear.
When I started EASY, the idea was simple: turn my passion for watersports into something I could share with others and make great gear easier to get hold of. Twenty-five years later, I can see how much came with it — friendships, trips, shared sessions and plenty of opportunities to create something together. That still gives me a huge amount of satisfaction and keeps me excited about what comes next. I still have a long list of things I’d like us to do better, and I still get a kick out of hearing that the gear was just right and the session was a good one.
I love being on the water. I love the wind. And I feel incredibly lucky that for 25 years I’ve been able to build EASY SURF around exactly that.
In 2001, we launched our first online shop. Back then, buying watersports gear online was far from the norm, and we were one of the early ones to give it a go. I wanted good gear to be within reach even if your nearest surf shop was nowhere near you. Wherever you were in Poland, you should be able to find the right board or sail, talk to someone who knew the gear and have it delivered to your door. Looking back, I think we caught the wave at just the right moment. The internet was opening up a whole new world, and we were eager to see where it could take us.
A lot has changed since then. Boards and sails have evolved, shopping habits have changed, deliveries can now reach places we could only dream of back then, and entirely new sports have found their way onto the water. EASY has evolved right alongside them. We’ve kept tweaking, improving, growing — and, more than once, learning things from scratch.
But through all of that, one thought has stayed with me: how can we make it easier for someone to find the right gear, get it when they need it and spend more time doing what this is all about — getting out on the water?
That’s what our team and I are still working towards today. Bringing together the right choice of gear, finding offers that genuinely make sense, sharing advice based on experience and stepping in when something doesn’t go to plan. Because, of course, not everything always does. Twenty-five years in business comes with tough calls, mistakes and things you wish you’d handled differently. What matters to me is that you know there are real people on the other side — people who care, who want to make things right and who never take your trust for granted.
Because there’s a person behind every order. Someone counting down the days to a trip. Someone buying their very first board. Someone getting back on the water after years away, or getting ready to share the sport with their child. I know that excitement. I know how a new piece of gear can put a smile on your face before it has even touched the water.
And then come the messages, the photos and the stories you share with us in the shop or when we meet on the beach. The board was perfect. The trip was brilliant. That move finally clicked. Those little updates mean a lot. It’s a great feeling to know that, somewhere along the way, EASY played a small part in making it happen.
But more than anything else, what these 25 years have given me is people.
Customers who gradually became familiar faces and then friends. Friends I keep meeting on the water. Suppliers and partners who have been part of the journey for years. People across the industry who may sometimes be our competitors, but who are driven by the same love for the sport. And, of course, the EASY crew — the people who bring their energy, knowledge, hard work and patience to this place every day.
When I think about 25 years of EASY, these are the things I remember most: the people, the conversations, the trips and those really good days on the water. Some of you have been around almost from day one. Others only found us recently. Either way, I’m very glad you’re part of the story.
So thank you. For every order. For recommending EASY to a friend. For every kind word — and for telling us when we could have done better. I know there are plenty of places you can buy your gear, which makes the fact that you keep coming back to us mean even more.
I’m nearly 50 and, if anything, I seem to have more ideas than ever. I still want to push EASY forward, fix what needs fixing and help you find gear that makes your days on the water even better. And yes — I still check the forecast and get excited when the wind is coming. Some things never change.
Let’s celebrate where it all belongs — by the water.
On 19 September, we’re celebrating 25 years of EASY and my 50th birthday in Kiekrz, just outside Poznań.
There’ll be plenty happening on and off the water: gear testing, sessions, racing, competitions and demos. Then we’ll swap the boards for birthday cake, a bonfire, music and a proper party — with the celebrations carrying on into the evening at Klub Szkwał!
What I’m looking forward to most, though, is simply seeing everyone. Some of you I’ve known in person for years. Others I only know from phone calls, messages or the name on an order. It’ll be great to finally meet by the lake, catch up and have a proper chat.
If you’re around and fancy joining us, I’d love to see you there. Bring your family, bring your friends, come for the whole day or just drop by in the evening.
You’ll find the full EASY SURF FEST programme and all the details here.
Thanks for being part of these 25 years. See you on the water!
Bartek
EASY-surfshop
