Naman Shrestha
Many surfers face the waves without a helmet or safety gear, which often results in various types of head injuries. Davon Larson identified a gap in the market and developed Surf Skull, which provides comfortable yet stylish helmets for surfers. In the sixth episode of ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ season 17, the founder pitched the business to the Sharks and talked about his future plans in an attempt to get them on board and help him take Surf Skull to newer heights. Since their appearance on the show, many things have changed for the company.
Surf Skull Helmets: Who Are They and What Do They Do?
Before the idea of Surf Skull struck him, Davon Larson earned his bachelor’s degree in Communication and Computer Information Technology from Brigham Young University – Idaho. From 2015 to 2016, he worked as a Digital Producer at Voltage in Boulder, Colorado. While pursuing his master’s degree in Integrated Design & Media at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, he was employed as a User Experience Designer at the University and a freelancer at Colours. After graduation, Davon landed a job at IBM as a User Experience Designer in 2019. After a two-year stint, he moved to Google, where he was a UX Designer for a couple of years.
Having moved up the ranks, Davon is currently the Sr. Interaction Designer at Google, besides being the Founder of Surf Skull. It all started when he endured a cut to his head while surfing in Mexico. The incident made him realize that although the market had protective gear for surfers, they refused to wear it because the helmets were bulky and over-the-top. Thus, he embarked on an entrepreneurial journey to create something low-key, stylish, and suitable for surfers to wear, and founded Surf Skull. It was also crucial as the injuries that a majority of the surfers sustain are related to their heads, especially cuts and concussions. To bring his vision to life, Davon assembled a competent team consisting of Kendall Larson Williams, Paul Huang, Aaron Christian, and Owen Murphy.
Each of them worked on different aspects of the product and Surf Skull as a whole. After testing several prototypes, focused on the comfort and safety of the product, Davon and his team officially launched the company in 2023. The helmets that they provide have an appearance similar to a bucket hat, but they feature a bump cap inside to protect the wearer’s cranium. They also come in a baseball cap style. Due to the hard plastic and shock-absorbing EVA on the helmet, the surfers would be protected from flying fins. Right after Surf Skull hit the market, the company shipped more than 2,000 units and received great reviews from surfers, encouraging Davon to continue improving the products.
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Surf Skull Helmets: Where Are They Now?
Since its launch in 2023, Surf Skull has garnered a significant following for its innovative products. The Santa Cruz, California-based company has likely experienced significant growth over the past year. In the first week of March 2025, the team set up a tent at one of the largest Surf Demos, Camp Shred, at the San Elijo Campgrounds in Cardiff, and had a fun time showcasing their products to the attendees. In May 2025, they also visited the waters of the South Pacific, specifically in Fiji, during the same month, to test their new product. By the time, the team had already begun working on Surf Skull Version 2, intended to serve as an improved version of the original by extending 20% more on the lower part of the back of your head.
A Kickstarter campaign was launched in August to raise $10,000. By September, the team announced that they had already exceeded their goal and ordered their first official production batch of the improved helmet. The campaign was closed after they successfully raised $14,472. In October, the crew provided an update to their backers regarding the small and medium insert molds, as well as the Kickstarter shirts and hoodies. Along with the enhanced design and feel, Surf Skull Version 2 also features Reeflex technology, which mitigates rotational force impacts, as well as a sturdier, impact-resistant foam.
They put about 20 prototypes of the advanced version of their helmet to rigorous testing, not just in the labs but also on national and international waters. In September 2025, the engineering team visited Australia to check the durability of the product. While there, they also hit the Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic and introduced Surf Skulls to many attendees. It was also taken to Melbourne for testing, particularly at the wave pool at URBNSURF in Tullamarine. In November, Surf Skull V2 bagged a special mention on Time magazine’s Best Inventions of 2025 list. As of writing, the preorders made on Kickstarter for Surf Skull Version 2 are scheduled for dispatch in December.
As for the prices of the products, you can purchase a floppy or stiff Medium and Large-sized Black Surf Skull V1: Low-profile Surf Helmet in Bucket Hat style for $79.00. For the same price, you can get a Surf Skull V1: Bucket Hat Surf Helmet in the colors Blue and Beige, Shades of Tan and Army Green. However, an XL version of the same will cost you $85. Version 2 with Reeflex is available for preorder at $129. You can choose from sizes Small, Medium, Large, and XL, as well as colors Black, Beige, Red, Multicolor, and Green. Pre-ordering V2 will also get you 50% off on Surf Skull V1 for a limited time with the code “Shark Tank.” Children/Toddler Black Low Profile Surf Helmet and Bucket Hat is available for a discounted price of $49 (original price: $65), while the Baseball-Style Helmet is being sold for $59, instead of $65. They also sell a vibrant range of T-shirts starting $40 and a Surf Skull – Ghost hat for $35.
