My Adventure from 1996 to 2007

In 1996, a friend and I were planning a trip to the Caribbean. Our original destination was Cabarete in the Dominican Republic, one of the world’s famous windsurfing spots. Unfortunately, by the time we were ready to go, there were no available places left, so we had to look for an alternative.

That alternative was Cuba.

Happy Salty shirts have made it to Miami and are already turning heads, worn by legends like Elian Lopez and others. I first met Elian back in 1996, when I accidentally ended up in Cuba instead of the Dominican Republic. From the very first moment, I was struck by the incredible climate, the breathtaking beaches, and the perfect windsurfing conditions that welcomed me …

Before I ever decided to offer rash guard shirts, I wanted to be absolutely sure they could handle real conditions — not just look good on paper. So I put them to the test. For three weeks straight in Cuba, I wore the same rash guard under intense sun, in salty seawater, and through long, active days outdoors. This wasn’t a light trial …