From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Best Surf Shop

September 21 2005

Island Water Sports
1985 N.E. Second St., Deerfield Beach, 954/427-4929, www.islandwatersports.com

This is no theme-park store like those of the Ron Jon chain. Island Water Sports was community-oriented long before it was trendy, coordinating surf clubs and trips as well as offering free lessons to beginners. The staff includes a number of experienced surfers, and the store stocks everything a shredder or neophyte needs. The store's founder, the spiritual Kirk Cottrell, died in a surfing accident in 2001, but the staff is carrying on his legacy in fine form. The shop's reputation is such that pro surfers and skaters often stop by when they're in town, meeting fans and giving firsthand advice about life on the circuit. The IWS Web site even offers surf-cam reports from Miami Beach to Jupiter Inlet.