Donavon Frankenreiter
Who doesn’t recognize the shaggy-mustached guy seen in almost all of Sanuk’s marketing paraphernalia? Surfers and music-lovers alike are at least acquainted, if not totally on the ball, with this surfing rockstar. But for those who are not clued-in with this Donavon Franken who? Those who just seem to grasp this elusive surfing icon as a tongue twister, well lemme give you some Donavon Frankenreiter (again, it’s F-R-A-N-K-E-N-R-E-I-T-E-R) 101:
- Please don’t get all too confused with the name. It’s DONAvon, not Donovan nor Danovon, okay? I kept on hearing people during the Sanuk Opening Act event in La Union say his name in a number of ways. But if you really can’t say it right, better call him DONNY, as what this guy’s friends call him.
- His mustache is 100% real hair. And Donavon is not him without this iconic mustache. So during his mini concert, he gave away fake mustaches to fans and locals to get them donafied! People especially the kids were all giggling and making fun of each other (their mustached version).
Local kids donning the iconic Donavon mustache
Donavon with bandmate Matt Grundy samples tracks from Frankenreiter’s albums
3. This guy started riding the waves at the tender age of 10. After a couple of more years, if he’s not out on his surfboard, he’s jamming with his guitar. With musical influences like guitar gods Clapton and Page and songwriting heroes Dylan and Marley, he soon created a band and named it Peanut butter and Jam after one of his favorite high school bands, Pearl Jam. But it was in 2004 when his old pal Jack Johnson started his Brushfire Records that Donavon started hitting it real big and doing collaborations with equally awesome and talented musicians like Mario Caldato Jr. (famed Beastie Boys collaborator), Joe Chiccarelli of The White Stripes and My Morning Jacket, and Ben Harper among others.
Frankenreiter trying out the waves in San Juan beach, La Union
Surfers trying to impress the judges while wearing their costumes on
4. Mr. Frankenreiter here is one busy man. Aside from his surfing exploits and global music tours, Donny serves as the official Ambassador of Sanuk. Sanuk, known for its ultra light and comfy footwear and as the brand that embraces all things fun is the culprit for this groovy surf break party in La Union. Fun activities were held during the event. Well, if surfing with your favorite cartoon character costume on and playing beach futsal (beasal) with a lifesize ball is not fun and rad, then I don’t know what is.
Competetive spirits from the Beasal players all aiming to make a goal
Jeff Kelly and Pinoy pro-surfer Luke Landrigan awards the winners of the Sanuk Surf Costume Competition
La Union’s Brown Sugar samples some belly shaking Hula dance
The highlight of the concert: Donavon’s Balut Dare!
So, now that you got your Donavon Frankenreiter pointers, I’m sure you’re feeling wee more curious. So check him out here for updates and tour schedule.  But before I wrap this up, I think we owe Sanuk a whopping hand for bringing Donavon and mounting this event in the Philippines. You see, it’s not every day that we have someone as cool as Donny (who performs to an at least 5000 crowd on tours), go to PHL and have an intimate surfing+musical bond with him. So many thanks to our friends from Sanuk Philippines and Jeff Kelly, Sanuk founder himself, for bringing us an authentic taste of the ocean! Until the next surf break season!
–Bim Legisniana
Photos courtesy of Sanuk Philippines
