David Hilts founded PaddleAir Products in 2004. The company grew out of an idea David had for several years and decided to use it as a marketing project while finishing his degree at the University of Phoenix in San Diego. After he designed and tried his first prototype, David discovered how efficient the PaddleAir system worked and realized that his idea could be a real benefit to older surfers like himself and possibly entry level surfers and people with back problems. He continued developing the PaddleAir PowerWear line, and through the evolution of dozens prototypes came up with the current product available today.

David grew up in Huntington Beach, California, and started surfing in 1966. He attended Huntington Beach High School and was on the school’s first surf team in 1972 and competed in the Western Surfing Association (WSA) and in team events as a member of the Huntington Beach Surfing Association. He competed in amateur surfing events for many years and occasionally still competes. David has been a part of the sporting goods industry for many years including working for a major wetsuit manufacturer and surfboard company, being a manufactures representative and owner of a retail sporting goods store. PaddleAir is the columniation of years of working in many different action sports and other sporting goods industries. David has drawn from the knowledge gained from those experiences to create a completely new product in the sport that has been a central part of his life for over 35 years.