Robin Kegel is the founder and board shaper at Gato Heroi, a DIY surf company getting plenty of love in the surf scene and beyond for its innovative approach to longboarding. The name Gato Heroi means “cat hero,” Kegel’s response to hotdoggers flailing about in the water with leashes (most Gato Heroi boards have no leashes).
Big time director/photographer David Black shot these pics of Kegel at work and play in Capistrano Beach, California, where the Gato Heroi studio is based. The photos were spun off of a larger video project commissioned by Microsoft as part of its Windows Me campaign (we featured another Windows Me video earlier — for Kurt Vile’s “Baby’s Arms”).
You can view and bid on a custom Gato Heroi surfboard, valued at $1400, by clicking here. All proceeds go to Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Relief Fund – A GlobalGiving Project.