Welcome to TONA. A company committed to developing superior kite boarding gear by utilizing our greatest asset, YOU, the rider. Our goal is to reach out directly to the source, to gain the best feedback possible through our core community, Kite Scoop, bringing you the gear that you demand to take your riding to the next level. We want to push the progression of the sport offering products that are geared towards the riders needs. Keeping our finger on the pulse of the industry we believe that we can offer something fresh and different. We want you to tell us what you want to ride and we will find a way to make it happen! You can stay on top of what’s happening through the Forum or by following our product 
*Blog, where we will give you step by step, detailed updates on the research and development stages of our products. So get involved, voice you opinion and help us get you stoked about your riding!
(*We will Blog the progress of our products from a link on the product page where you can interact by asking questions and leaving comments)
“TONA first came into existence from a meeting Adam Anton (Kite Scoop) and myself (Dereck Camacho) had in Antigua in 2007. We were talking about the industry as a whole, and both of us have had our hands in the sport for some time now. Adam with the amazing popularity and growth of the best, most unbiased kite forum catering to the wakestyle movement. I have been making custom boards for riders who are looking to get more out of their equipment. To make a successful product, you need to have access be able to hear what the riders want, receive great input and then there has to be the technical means to make a solid production product. Adam has access to the community and I have the technical background to make it happen. Perfect combination. Another common bond we have is that we are both rooted in, and come from the Caribbean. True island style, we have a relaxed but direct approach to the industry. We want to see the sport head in a direction that is healthy for its growth. We are casual but committed to reclaim it from a main stream watered down direction and hand it back to the riders as this is where the progression and creative energy comes from. So together with the input of core riders we feel that we could synergize our efforts and get people fired up. Kite Scoop has broken away from the mold of internet forums that are overloaded with tech gear talk, and has managed to attract a large membership that is made up of both ‘big name’ and backyard riders who contribute their wisdom and personalities without taking themselves too seriously. A fantastic resource. I continue to use my custom R & D shop (dcboardz.com) to develop equipment tailored to the movement.
We work hard to create a system where the core of the sport can be represented and grow with the input and influence from riders themselves. I believe that we, along with the riders from the Scoop, have the best team available to make sure we stay grounded and moving forward in a direction that will stimulate creativity and push the limits of kiteboarding. So get fired up! Join the movement!” – Dereck
THE NAME
TONA (pronounced “toe-nah”) is the ancient Carib word for ‘water’ spoken by the native Amerindians who were the original inhabitants of the Caribbean. We found this name fitting seeing we are originally from the Caribbean and have been associated with the ocean since we were born. We are surrounded by water. It is just part of growing up in the islands. Everything we did is centered around the water. Water is life!
THE LOGO
The logo.
“We wanted something simple and I came up with the mangrove leaf as part of the logo. The long slender lines in the text are associated with the roots of the mangrove trees. I thought this fitting for a few reasons, one being the fact that Dereck and I first met in Fitches Creek (Antigua) back in the early 90s where he used to windsurf and I used to ‘skurf’ and wakeboard amongst the protected mangrove waters. It was where I first got hooked on water sports and the ‘Creek’ holds some of my best memories of riding with my friends as a youth. The mangrove is a plant that lives along the shore line and is vital to the environment, especially in the tropics. Its roots are in the water but it grows above ground. It is a relevant life form connecting the ocean to the land. Just like us, it needs both the water and wind to survive. Its roots help reduce coastal erosion and the plant itself is a vital part of the costal eco system, not to mention they can form some great flat water areas that are prefect for wakeboarding and kiteboarding!” – Adam
