I keep hearing and reading the phrase
'too big to fail'...
Since Clark Foam shut its doors, there
has been a lot (a heck of a lot) of new innovation in the industry –
both on a private and commercial level. I'd hesitate to call the
departure of Clark Foam a good thing, but I'm not sure it was a bad
thing either.
I'm not much of a surf historian or economist, but it seems to me that enough time has pasted to attempt a more objective assessment of the aftermath of Clark's exit. It would surely make for some
interesting reading, if not a real lesson in
destructive/constructive capitalism.
If anyone else has been having similar
thoughts, I'd enjoy reading them. The rise of the composite market, return to wood, different foam manufacturers, different technologies, materials, applications, etc. ... any thoughts or opinions - good or bad, pro or con, up or down, whatever?
My personal opinion only here… so please, don’t take offense from anything this hack has to say, but here goes…
I don’t know about the industry, because I’m not part of it, but it’s most likely the best thing that has EVER happened to the backyarder, once the dust settled and foam became available again. Mostly because quality EPS and epoxy resin saw a window open wide, and I, personally, am happy they jumped through.
Fresh-air rushing in through an open window is a good analogy.
The developments in EPS and epoxy technologies have been kind of
remarkable over the last decade, and they have and continue to impact
design. In many ways the same is true for wood technologies.
Like I wrote, I’m not much of an historian or economist, but the
response to the shock seems almost classical. The first response was
to simply take whatever materials/technologies that were available
and make do -i.e. the goal being to produce a final product that
basically mimicked that which was there before. But once in place,
design and application were also set free, and started to change.
Admittedly, some of the changes have been subtle, but they’re there and are likely to continue to evolve along their own somewhat unique paths.
Innovation was always there, but these kinds of shocks to the system do have way of giving innovation a fighting chance. Experience a few of these shocks in life, and the next time you sense one about to happen or happening you can’t help but see it in different terms.
I don’t think Clark’s closure can be solely blamed for what the surf industry will look like in ten years, but it was a real kick in the ass. As have been the flood of boards coming out of Asia, which was well on its way prior to the event [Clark’s closure], but nevertheless took great advantage of the ’ open window.’
Admittedly, such thoughts really aren’t new. Perhaps I’m just trying to prepare
myself (to take advantage?) of the next shock (large or small) to the
system, surfing related or otherwise. Nevertheless, the mindset that
develops tends to impact everything going forward.
Damn, kc, this is a subject that would require thousands of words to address properly. If I had a thesis to do it would make a great subject (those days are past). So many variables/factors involved; the boom in surfing population, the trade agreements that made Asia the global center of all manufacturing, the acceptance of molded products, the influence of pro tour, on and on. Clark's closure is hard to isolate from all those things.
I do like the sentence about the ''shocks... having a way of giving innovation a fighting chance''. The PU/PE board was way ahead of it's time when conceived, and it's had a good 50 year run. It'll probably be around for more years because it's easy. But it's a lot more fun, and more satisfying, to raise the bar and participate in change. I go to work everyday with a smile on my face.
Mike well said mate. re “It’ll probably be around for years because it’s easy.” now thats the truth.
I am not a shaper and i live in Aus but this topic i find interesting (clark shut down) you could be naive and say it has not affected me because of what i do and were i live. But i am sure it has somewhere down the line becoase i ride surfboards. Boards are made in china because now it is set up it is easy so easy.
I hope we can all be like you and go to work with a smile on our faces for we are partaking in change in what ever it is we do.
You’re right, it would be difficult to isolate the impact of Clark’s closure, but it was a seminal event.
You’re also right about it being a ‘thesis’ level effort. But being the lazy ass that I am, I was just hoping to read what others, if their were others, might have been thinking.
Then again, if somebody has a too much cash laying around and are into offering research grants (though an outright gift of money would be preferred), please contact me. I’d research and write the piece… once I got back from an extended vacation in the South Pacific and general World tour (doing research of course)… and after buying a new car…and maybe a few other items… my 5/3 is like a sieve, need a new one of those, and…