As a young surfer, Mike Kaufmann got to paddle out with some of the best surfers in the world when guys like Bruce Clelland, Larry Miniard, Ray Hinson and the Rolands were in the water. But Mike’s skateboarding climb started when George Wilson literally taught him how to do frontside airs in 1977. Being Mitch Kaufmann’s little brother didn’t hurt either, especially when the Kaufmann’s mom made it clear that when Mitch had permission to push the boundaries on how far from home and where he could travel to surf or skate that Mike had to be included! Traveling to places like Cocoa, Sebastian Inlet and Daytona to surf and Six Stories, Haines Street and Skatboard City in Port Orange to skate meant that if Mike was to be included he had to charge as hard as everybody, and he did!