Surf Skull Update | Shark Tank Season 17
During a morning surf session off the coast of Santa Cruz, Davon Larson took a hit to the head from his own board and bled into the water. That scary moment made him realize how often surfers get hurt, yet most still don’t wear helmets because they’re big and awkward. Together with his friend Paul Huang, he came up with Surf Skull, a surf hat that looks cool but secretly protects your head from impact. Were they able to earn a deal with any of the sharks? Here’s how it all played out in our Surf Skull update and pitch recap.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Surf Skull after
Paul and Davon entered
In terms of a Surf Skull update, the company leveraged its
| Shark | Result |
| Daniel Lubetzky | Accepted offer of $50,000 for 20% equity |
| Daymond John | $50,000 for 25% equity |
| Barbara Corcoran | $50,000 for 15% equity |
| Kevin O’Leary | No offer |
| Lori Greiner | No offer |
Shark Tank Surf Skull Pitch
- Entrepreneurs: Paul Huang and Davon Larson
- Business: A helmet designed for surfing
- Ask: $50,000 for 12% equity
- Result: $50,000 for 20% equity
- Shark: Daniel Lubetzky
Paul and Davon introduced themselves as the founders of Surf Skull, a Santa Cruz brand that makes what they call “the world’s sickest surf hat.”
They quickly got the sharks’ attention when Davon stumbled mid-pitch but laughed it off, saying he was fine because of their product. That moment perfectly showed what Surf Skull was designed for.
Surf Skull is a low-profile helmet disguised as a bucket hat, made for surfers who want protection without looking awkward. Davon explained that one in four surfing injuries is head-related, yet only 2% of surfers wear helmets.
The reason is that most helmets are bulky, ugly, and uncomfortable. After splitting his own head open in the water, Davon decided there had to be a better way. That idea became Surf Skull.
Barbara Corcoran asked about testing, and Davon said the first version had been tested with solid results, while the upcoming Version 2 was still being finalized with help from aeronautical and biomedical engineers.
He described the new helmet’s TPE non-Newtonian foam as soft and flexible on the head but rigid on impact. Lori Greiner liked the design, and Daniel Lubetzky praised how much lighter and sleeker it feels compared to traditional helmets.
Meanwhile, Daniel wants to know about their sales performance. Paul explained that Surf Skull sells directly to consumers through its website.
Since launching two years prior, they have done around $100,000 in lifetime sales, with $45,000 coming in their first full year.
However, he admitted that sales had slowed recently as they focused on developing the second version.
Daymond John then asked about pricing. Paul said Version 1 costs about $10–$12 to make and sells for $75, while Version 2 will cost $12–$15 and retail for $100.
Daniel followed up, asking if they had a patent. Davon said they had applied for one that covers the helmet’s unique slip layer, designed to reduce rotational impact and help prevent concussions.
The sharks seemed intrigued. Daniel asked how they met, and the founders shared how they used to work at Google, bonding through a company surfing group.
Davon was a product designer, and Paul worked in finance and marketing. Lori chimed in, saying it was a “great partnership.”
Kevin O’Leary said the market was too narrow, and since he’s not a surfer but a biker. He’s not interested in making a deal.
Barbara, on the other hand, jumped in first with an offer of $50,000 for 15% equity, saying she believed in their passion and the cause.
Daniel followed with an offer of $50,000 for 25% equity, stating that he could help them scale faster.
Daymond matched Daniel’s offer but added that he could get them into major retailers like Lids and Finish Line. Lori exits the negotiation and says that Barbara’s deal is generous.
Daniel probed the entrepreneurs further, wanting to know what kind of help they needed most. Davon said marketing and manufacturing.
As things got intense, Barbara offered her social media team’s support.
Daniel, on the other hand, matched the energy, telling the guys that his connections in the surf community could open big doors for them.
Paul and Davon countered Daniel at 20%, and he immediately accepted, snatching the deal from Barbara’s hand.
Barbara jokingly demanded an apology, but the entrepreneurs explained that Daniel’s experience in the water sports space with companies like Tandem Boogie made him the right partner for them.
Do you think Paul and Davon were right to partner with Daniel instead of Barbara? Let’s find out in our Surf Skull update.
Shark Tank Surf Skull Update
Well, Paul and Davon might have made the right call. We have reasons to believe the deal with Daniel is heading in the right direction.
After the show aired, Daniel took to his LinkedIn page to share his excitement about partnering with Surf Skull.
Our Surf Skull update found that the company quickly leveraged its
They rolled out a $20 off preorder offer for their new Version 2 (V2) surf helmet, with shipping set for 30–60 days through the Surf Skull website.
They also launched a bundle promotion, allowing customers to buy the older V1 Floral Surf Helmet together with the V2 for 50% off the V1.
Local Santa Cruz outlet KSBW confirmed the partnership and spotlighted how the brand’s surf-helmet-in-a-bucket-hat design resonated with both safety-minded surfers and casual beachgoers.
Further, our Surk Skull update found that the company smashed its recent Kickstarter goal and began testing new models in Fiji, Australia, and the South Pacific, signaling early product validation beyond the U.S.
While things are still early, we’ll keep an eye on Paul and Davon and report further progress in our next Surf Skull update.
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Marvin Uzor
Marvin Uzor is a content contributor for Shark Tank Recap. He specializes in crafting engaging, well-researched content that delve into the latest Shark Tank stories, keeping readers hooked. He has a soft spot for his favorite Shark Tank companies, Bombas and Doorbot, known for their innovation and impact.