Our People
Product Description
Cort Larned, General Manager; Powerex and HPL
Cort is one of windsurfing's leading pioneers, visionaries and advocates.
1975: Started sailing on a Windsurfer One Design with teak booms 1978: Won the U.S. Nationals 1979: Won the Overall Worlds 1982 - 1987: Competed in the World Cup 1988 - 1995: Founded and ran Cort Larned Windsurfing Instruction 1990 - 1998: Instructional Editor for Windsurfing magazine 1997: With MacLean Quality Composites, acquired Powerex 1999: With MacLean Quality Composites, acquired Hawaiian Pro Line Cort still windsurfs as much as possible, and has a love for and intimate knowledge of the sport. Cort's passion for windsurfing products combined with the technical expertise of MacLean Quality Composites, results in masts that are extremely durable without sacrificing performance.
Derrick Ho, Sales Manager; Powerex and HPL
Derrick started in the windsurfing industry in the 1980s selling gear at his local Southern California shop, Bruce Jones Surfboards and Sailboards. The year 1990 found him working for AMPRO-which later became KC Fiber-selling and helping to design masts and carbon booms. Derrick was hired in 1996 at Powerex, and 2006 will mark his 10th year there as sales manager. In his 20 years of working with windsurfing masts and carbon booms, Derrick has seen a lot of changes, designs and "innovations" fall by the wayside. But some things have never been forgotten at Powerex: value, quality and respect for the customer. Derrick is still an avid windsurfer, and he is looking forward to another 20 years in the sport and in the industry.
Manny Ceci, Hawaii Representative; Powerex and HPL
Manny has been windsurfing for 16 years. Originally a plumber from Toronto, Ontario, he moved to Maui in 1993. Manny had a bad experience with a Powerex competitor who wouldn't cover his warranty. He thought the industry needed a good mast company that would stand behind its product, so he called Powerex and asked for a job representing Powerex for Maui. Manny has been our rep and customer service liaison for the past nine years. In that time, he has had a global influence on the windsurfing market, almost single-handedly pioneering and championing the RDM. When people broke their conventional-diameter masts he let them try an RDM, or harassed them as they paddled in with "Shoulda used a Powerex RDM, you wouldn't be swimming." If a customer does break a Powerex mast, which isn't often, Manny is Johnny on the spot, ready to get them back on the water. Manny still charges Ho'okipa-which he refers to as the office-and he can be found there most days when the surf is up.
The Parent Company; MacLean Quality Composites
Since 1988, MacLean Quality Composites (MQC) has manufactured advanced composite products for the recreational, industrial and automotive markets. MQC is the leading mast supplier in the world today, with over a 35 percent market share.
MQC is the leading OEM supplier of carbon tubing to the high-end performance bicycle market; MCQ has been supplying Trek bicycles for the last 15 years, including the bikes that Lance Armstrong rode in his record seven Tour de France victories.
In addition, MCQ is an original equipment manufacturer for HANS Performance Products, the company behind the HANS Device-the only head and neck restraint mandated in both NASCAR Nextel Cup and Formula 1 auto racing.
"The most common racing injury that results in death is the basilar skull fracture� Dale Earnhardt died of a basilar skull fracture, yet the change in velocity as he hit the outside wall at Daytona was around 40 mph� He was not wearing a head and neck restraint. In contrast, Ritchie Hearn's crash while testing at Kentucky Speedway in 2002 happened at more than 200 mph� The only injury he sustained was a broken foot. He was wearing a HANS Device." (Source: HANS Newsletter)
As a windsurfer, it's comforting to know that you can rely on the same composite technology that auto racers bet their lives on.
Cort is one of windsurfing's leading pioneers, visionaries and advocates.
1975: Started sailing on a Windsurfer One Design with teak booms 1978: Won the U.S. Nationals 1979: Won the Overall Worlds 1982 - 1987: Competed in the World Cup 1988 - 1995: Founded and ran Cort Larned Windsurfing Instruction 1990 - 1998: Instructional Editor for Windsurfing magazine 1997: With MacLean Quality Composites, acquired Powerex 1999: With MacLean Quality Composites, acquired Hawaiian Pro Line Cort still windsurfs as much as possible, and has a love for and intimate knowledge of the sport. Cort's passion for windsurfing products combined with the technical expertise of MacLean Quality Composites, results in masts that are extremely durable without sacrificing performance.
Derrick Ho, Sales Manager; Powerex and HPL
Derrick started in the windsurfing industry in the 1980s selling gear at his local Southern California shop, Bruce Jones Surfboards and Sailboards. The year 1990 found him working for AMPRO-which later became KC Fiber-selling and helping to design masts and carbon booms. Derrick was hired in 1996 at Powerex, and 2006 will mark his 10th year there as sales manager. In his 20 years of working with windsurfing masts and carbon booms, Derrick has seen a lot of changes, designs and "innovations" fall by the wayside. But some things have never been forgotten at Powerex: value, quality and respect for the customer. Derrick is still an avid windsurfer, and he is looking forward to another 20 years in the sport and in the industry.
Manny Ceci, Hawaii Representative; Powerex and HPL
Manny has been windsurfing for 16 years. Originally a plumber from Toronto, Ontario, he moved to Maui in 1993. Manny had a bad experience with a Powerex competitor who wouldn't cover his warranty. He thought the industry needed a good mast company that would stand behind its product, so he called Powerex and asked for a job representing Powerex for Maui. Manny has been our rep and customer service liaison for the past nine years. In that time, he has had a global influence on the windsurfing market, almost single-handedly pioneering and championing the RDM. When people broke their conventional-diameter masts he let them try an RDM, or harassed them as they paddled in with "Shoulda used a Powerex RDM, you wouldn't be swimming." If a customer does break a Powerex mast, which isn't often, Manny is Johnny on the spot, ready to get them back on the water. Manny still charges Ho'okipa-which he refers to as the office-and he can be found there most days when the surf is up.
The Parent Company; MacLean Quality Composites
Since 1988, MacLean Quality Composites (MQC) has manufactured advanced composite products for the recreational, industrial and automotive markets. MQC is the leading mast supplier in the world today, with over a 35 percent market share.
MQC is the leading OEM supplier of carbon tubing to the high-end performance bicycle market; MCQ has been supplying Trek bicycles for the last 15 years, including the bikes that Lance Armstrong rode in his record seven Tour de France victories.
In addition, MCQ is an original equipment manufacturer for HANS Performance Products, the company behind the HANS Device-the only head and neck restraint mandated in both NASCAR Nextel Cup and Formula 1 auto racing.
"The most common racing injury that results in death is the basilar skull fracture� Dale Earnhardt died of a basilar skull fracture, yet the change in velocity as he hit the outside wall at Daytona was around 40 mph� He was not wearing a head and neck restraint. In contrast, Ritchie Hearn's crash while testing at Kentucky Speedway in 2002 happened at more than 200 mph� The only injury he sustained was a broken foot. He was wearing a HANS Device." (Source: HANS Newsletter)
As a windsurfer, it's comforting to know that you can rely on the same composite technology that auto racers bet their lives on.
