About The STORM Factory

Spider Michaels began his career at age 18, when he was recruited as a lifeguard for Houston’s first waterpark, Six Flags WaterWorld, located beside the iconic AstroWorld amusement park. 

He advanced quickly, earning a promotion to Water Safety Supervisor, where he managed operations and oversaw a large team of lifeguards.

WaterWorld soon entered the Texas State and Regional Lifeguarding Competitions with three competitive teams. 

The premier team—composed of collegiate swimmers and highly trained staff—was known as S.T.O.R.M. (Strong Team of Rescue Men). Spider served as a core member of this elite group for many years.

STORM went on to dominate the field, winning 15 consecutive lifeguarding competitions over a decade, including ten straight Texas State Championships and five Regional Championships. Spider contributed to thirteen of those titles.

After thirteen years in the waterpark industry, Spider transitioned into motorsports, working with major racing organizations including NASCAR, IndyCar, and the NHRA Drag Racing circuit. Despite the career shift, he remained closely connected to his STORM teammates and never forgot the foundation those years provided.

Throughout his extensive motorsports career, Spider amassed a substantial collection of photographs and videos from events across the United States and from his travels throughout Europe. Wanting to share this catalog with others who enjoy experiencing the world through travel and adventure, he set out to build a website.

Collaborating with former STORM teammates—many of whom also assisted with his clothing brand, Contraband, and various special events—he chose the name The STORM Factory to reflect the team’s continued partnership.

Spider developed The STORM Factory by working with multiple service providers to bring years of media to the public. Today, the site features links to his photography, videography, travel blog, and three Contraband online stores, including his Amazon storefront.

The STORM Factory showcases an extensive range of content, including galleries from Paris, Amsterdam, London, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, NASCAR events, the Indy 500, the Texas Renaissance Festival, cosplay conventions, Graceland, New York City landmarks, Los Angeles attractions, and major U.S. sites such as Mount Rushmore, the Liberty Bell, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Space Needle. It also highlights Houston’s renowned BBQ Cook-Off, festivals, museums, zoos, and much more.

Spider continues to expand his media library by attending events and destinations that offer opportunities for photography, videography, and storytelling—living, as he describes it, the life of a 21st Century Pirate.

The STORM Factory: “Capturing the fun in life and Taking No Prisoners.”