Below is a visual history of Mello Marine, from humble beginnings to the shop you know today and love.
Mello Marine started as Mello's ski shop in San Pablo, CA in 1969. The Mello family, avid tournament water-skiers, saw a need for a professional level ski shop and started the business on family property. The property had been a cattle farm and the first buildings were actually built in the cattle barn.
Over the years it expanded numerous times until in 1977 a new tilt up 20,000 sq ft building was erected to meet the growing business needs.
During the years Mello’s ski shop was the number one dealer for Kidder ski’s O’neill wetsuits and many other products, and included a skateboard shop for a few years in the late 70’s early 80’s, it was a family business run by Bob, Betty Mike and Mark Mello every day.
As the store and the industry changes Wakeboarding became a focal point of the industry and Mello’ ski shop as well. You can see the original street sign hanging proudly in out new store in Rancho Cordova.
Mike Mello the oldest son was a National champion water skier and competed on the waterski pro tour in Jumping in the 80′s as well has setting numerous waterski records and winning 2 overall titles, while competing collegiately for Sacramento State university Mike held numerous collegiate records and was a 2 time collegiate all American and a 4 year team captain.
While coaching the team in the early 90′s mike met Sally his wife to be, as she was competing collegiately at an all- star level. Sally would go on to win 2 Overall titles as well and prove to be a very aggressive competitor in her own right.
In 1994 Mike was offer the chance work as a stunt man on the Universal Studios production of WATERWORLD and spent 6 weeks on the set in Hawaii ski jumping, and working on all the background stunts and was made a member of the screen actors guild, Mike is listed in the stunt credits of the movie.
In 1994 Mike was offer the chance work as a stunt man on the Universal Studios production of WATERWORLD and spent 6 weeks on the set in Hawaii ski jumping, and working on all the background stunts and was made a member of the screen actors guild, Mike is listed in the stunt credits of the movie.
Starting in the 90's Mike Mello Moved away from the Bay Area and the family business to the Sacramento area to further his skiing career and took a job working for Hammers ski and marine as sales Manager, selling Centurion boats and in 1995 was the number one salesmen nationally for Centurion, that year Sally and Mike were featured in a nationally syndicated ad for Centurion waterskiing.
From 1996 through 2000 Mike Mello worked with Cope and McPhetres marine selling Mastercraft, Tige', and Supra boats as well as Four Winns family boats.
In 2000 Mike was offered and accepted a position as General Manager of Bell Acqua, a private man made waterski/wakeboard facility in Rio Linda. This opportunity allowed Mike and Sally to work together doing something they loved, teaching waterskiing and wakeboarding, and hangin’ at the lake! We sold Mastercrafts for the first year then Malibu offered us the line and we accepted and were quickly racking up awards for sales and customer service.
In 2003 with sales skyrocketing we grudgingly left the lake and moved to a larger facility in Rancho Cordova to accommodate the sales volume.
In 2004 Mike and Sally were offered a partnership opportunity with Cope and McPhetres/Ultimate watersports and accepted, this partnership lasted until 2008 when it was unilaterally dissolved by Bob and Frank Cope, and the store, as well as all the franchised closed.
Seeing the opportunity's that the dip in the marine industry had made available Mike and Sally searched for the best fit for their next endeavor. A chance encounter with Centurion Owner Rick Lee while mountain biking at Northstar brought about several meetings and with the full support of Rick Lee and Centurion, Mello Marine was born in December of 2009.
Centurions dominance of the wakesurf industry was desirable as well as their excitement to be in business with the Mello’s, their west coast location (Merced, Ca), strong product line and outstanding reputation in the industry.
In 2000 Mike was offered and accepted a position as General Manager of Bell Acqua, a private man made waterski/wakeboard facility in Rio Linda. This opportunity allowed Mike and Sally to work together doing something they loved, teaching waterskiing and wakeboarding, and hangin’ at the lake! We sold Mastercrafts for the first year then Malibu offered us the line and we accepted and were quickly racking up awards for sales and customer service.
In 2003 with sales skyrocketing we grudgingly left the lake and moved to a larger facility in Rancho Cordova to accommodate the sales volume.
In 2004 Mike and Sally were offered a partnership opportunity with Cope and McPhetres/Ultimate watersports and accepted, this partnership lasted until 2008 when it was unilaterally dissolved by Bob and Frank Cope, and the store, as well as all the franchised closed.
Seeing the opportunity's that the dip in the marine industry had made available Mike and Sally searched for the best fit for their next endeavor. A chance encounter with Centurion Owner Rick Lee while mountain biking at Northstar brought about several meetings and with the full support of Rick Lee and Centurion, Mello Marine was born in December of 2009.
Centurions dominance of the wakesurf industry was desirable as well as their excitement to be in business with the Mello’s, their west coast location (Merced, Ca), strong product line and outstanding reputation in the industry.
By this time Mike and Sally had 2 wonderful boys Bobby and Mikey and were avid wakesurfers and wakeboarders.
Our initial location was small and has since doubled, we added pro shop equipment from the start as that was in our blood but have subsequently added stand up paddleboards as well.
Sally, stand up paddle boards (SUP) daily with her sister, niece, dog or whoever wants to go, she recently won a SUP event in Sausalito, CA.
The Mello family, seen in front of Mello Marine in 2013.
In 2014, Ricky was adopted in as a new member of the Mello family. Like his new siblings and parents, Ricky is also an avid watersports fan.
We look forward to steady growth in the years to come, many years of our relationship with Centurion and the chance to meet and have the opportunity to earn the business and spread the positive energy watersports create with anyone we meet.
We look forward to steady growth in the years to come, many years of our relationship with Centurion and the chance to meet and have the opportunity to earn the business and spread the positive energy watersports create with anyone we meet.
Mello Marine is conveniently located near the areas of Sacramento, Rocklin, Roseville, Granite Bay, Folsom.