Kudo Surf started the way many things do in surfing: through friends, shared waves, and time spent in the water.
Kudo Surf is a Siargao-born surf brand shaped by a love for surfing, community, and the desire to give back. The team behind KS Boardriders is driven by a passion for fostering authentic surf culture.
Over the past decade, they have grown alongside the island’s surf community, supporting local surfers, collaborating with artists and riders, and building long-lasting gear designed for life in the water. As a sponsor of Queen of the Point in Siargao, Kudo Surf is helping highlight the next generation of women longboarders riding one of the most iconic waves in the world.
But the story behind the brand goes back to a much smaller surf scene.
Back in 2014, many of the surfers around them were competing on the Asian Surfing Championship (ASC) tour. One of them was Nilbie Blancada, who was on her way to becoming the ASC Women’s Champion. Supporting friends in the water was part of what first sparked the brand’s idea.
Meanwhile, co-founder James had access to a factory that produced rash guards and board shorts. The idea was there, waiting for the right moment.
That moment came when Marja joined the business.
Marja was then living in Singapore, and working together finally brought them to the same place.
“In a way, Kudo Surf became our first baby before we even had a family,” Marja says.
From the start, the name meant something.
“Kudo” stands for recognition and respect — a way of acknowledging the surfers and the local community who were riding Siargao’s waves long before the island became known around the world, Marja explains.
Over the years, Siargao has gone through many chapters.
Tourism Road, once a muddy dirt road that flooded during the amihan season, is now one of the island’s busiest areas. There was the boom after the film Siargao, the quiet pause during COVID, and the devastation of the super typhoon in 2021.
Through it all, Kudo Surf stayed close to the people and culture that shaped the brand.
When the typhoon hit the island, the Kudo Surf shop was one of the lucky buildings that remained standing. It quickly became a place where volunteers gathered, supplies were stored, and relief goods were distributed across the community.
“It reminded us that Kudo Surf is more than just a shop or a brand,” Marja says.
“It’s part of a community that shows up for each other when it matters most.”
That sense of community is still at the heart of the shop today.
Locals, travelers, beginners, and experienced surfers all cross paths here. Some come in looking for a board before paddling out at Cloud 9. Others are just starting their surf journey and looking for guidance from the crew.
The locals remain the backbone of the shop.
“We give locals a special discount because they’re really the heart of the island’s surf culture,” Marja says.
Friendships keep the brand grounded. Surfers like Marama Tokong and the Alcala family have long been part of Kudo Surf’s story. Collaborations with local surfers and artists often grow from those relationships.
Many Kudo Surf designs are created with island artists, making the shop a place where surfing, art, and local culture meet.
Sustainability is another part of the brand’s approach. Many of their products are made using ECONYL® regenerated nylon, a material created from 100% post-consumer waste.
Just as important is how the team operates each day. For Marja and James, building Kudo Surf in Siargao has always meant caring for the people who make it possible.
“Our team is like family to us.”
“We want the shop to be a place where everyone feels respected, supported, and proud of the work they do,” Marja says.
That same spirit is why supporting Queen of the Point felt like an easy decision.
“Honestly, any event where everyone ends up wearing crowns at the end is already a winner in my book,” Marja laughs.
But behind the humor is genuine support for the growing community of women surfers on the island.
Queen of the Point celebrates longboarding and creates a space where women can surf together, push each other, and celebrate their style in the water. Hosting the event at Cloud 9 — a wave respected around the world — makes it even more special.
Marja remembers surfing a WSL qualifying series heat there herself. Sharing the lineup with just two other women left a lasting impression.
“There’s something really powerful about that experience.”
“Events like Queen of the Point create more moments like it,” she says.
As Siargao grows as a surf destination, Kudo Surf hopes to stay part of what makes the island special.
Supporting local surfers. Working with artists and shapers from the island. Building gear that lasts and reflects the place it comes from.
At its core, the brand is still built on the same simple foundation.
“A Siargao-born surf brand built on friendships, good waves, and gear we trust in the water,” Marja says.
And if there is one thing Marja hopes surfers everywhere remember, it’s something simple.
“Respect the lineup. Say hello to the people you share the waves with. Because in the end, that’s what surfing has always been about.”
We are proud to call Kudo Surf our sponsor and hope you get the chance to meet their extraordinary team in Siargao.
Written by Barbara Wilson