My work email this morning had a link to a new biz article on transworldsurf.com. Seems Costco has inexpensive foreign surfboards again, which they contracted directly to procure. Nels
My work email this morning had a link to a new biz article on > transworldsurf.com.>>> Seems Costco has inexpensive foreign surfboards again, which they > contracted directly to procure.>>> Nels Yep, three sizes for $229. 6’10", 6’6", 6’2" functional shapes with simple airbrush. The Costco surfer employees are snagging the best ones cause they are decent shapes. Wetsuits are next. Heeeellllooo China! Lost jobs are in the horizon…the nature of non-union manufacturing(cost cutting). China will put even Mexico out of work, get ready the flood gates have opened. This involves me too(another industry), so I’m not just crying wolve.
“Charlie don’t surf”…Robert Duval as Colonel Kilgore in the film Apocalypse Now.
“Charlie don’t surf”…Robert Duval as Colonel Kilgore in the > film Apocalypse Now. may not surf, but seems to be shaping the hell outta some foam and sending it on over here.
may not surf, but seems to be shaping the hell outta some foam and sending > it on over here. That is all the world needs, to flip a board over and see “Made in China” # 975682314.
I think the Chinese will find what we all found, “Prenty work to make good surfboard for not prenty money”. aloha, tom
hey Tom, As a proud American of Chinese descent (6th gen.), I find that stereotypical, and all in all un-cool. My grandfather was died in action on the USS Essex in WWII. My wife’s from the mainland, and the crap she has to put with here makes me want to puke, I thought we had moved on. Who knows, maybe one of these boards will ‘fall off the truck’ in China, and into to the hands of a stoked Chinese grom. Talk about a cultural revolution! Also, I dont see anyone bleating about those overpriced Surftech plastic boards that are popped out of molds in Thailand. (Surf shops peel the stickers off) I didn’t realize the surf been that bad…
I think the Chinese will find what we all found, “Prenty work to make > good surfboard for not prenty money”.>>> aloha, tom Lets get serious,this subject opens up more questions. What would you do if all of sudden you could by blanks for $20.00 each?Resin $2.00 per gallon etc.Would you buy in if the quality was there?? Just curious…I have no current opinion on this.
I say, let the consumer make the choice. No hardcore surfer is going to buy one of those Costco “bargain barrel boards” for themself. The American custom surfboard market will continue to exist. However, a very low priced board might get new potential surfers into our sport. If they catch the stoke, they will naturally progress into the custom made market. It WOULD be halarious if we see 9’6" longboards, next to the mountain bikes, at Costco or Sam’s Club though. Don’t worry about it, and eat more Chow Mein!>>> hey Tom,>>> As a proud American of Chinese descent (6th gen.), I find that > stereotypical, and all in all un-cool. My grandfather was died in action > on the USS Essex in WWII. My wife’s from the mainland, and the crap she > has to put with here makes me want to puke, I thought we had moved on.>>> Who knows, maybe one of these boards will ‘fall off the truck’ in China, > and into to the hands of a stoked Chinese grom. Talk about a cultural > revolution!>>> Also, I dont see anyone bleating about those overpriced Surftech plastic > boards that are popped out of molds in Thailand. (Surf shops peel the > stickers off)>>> I didn’t realize the surf been that bad…
If I order a 6’6" pintail can I get a discount card for a used liver? My uncle needs one bad!
This whole thing rubs me raw but the bottom line is if they did sell blanksfor 20. or resin for 2. and it was they same stuff I am using ,yep I’d buy it—so as for surfboards if they sold say a Al Merrick for 240. would I buy it yep and so would everyone else but that ain’t what they are selling so its like the local underground shaper trying to cut in by selling bds.to the shops for 200. all I can say is you get what you pay for and customs for the individual well that just don’t exist in that type of venue.
Let’s be realistic. These are first time boards for 10 - 13 yr old groms. How many of them have $500 clams to shell out for a custom or even off the rack board. How many of their parents are foolish enough to do so. Okay so I was one of those fools but only after failing to find a decent used board. But, I wish I would have seen the Costco board before writing my check to Mr. Becker(no disrespect or disatisfaction Phil) Now does that mean I will buy my next board or my son’s next board from Costco? No! Our local craftsmen have nothing to worry about as long as we continue to demand quality. m
Let’s be realistic. These are first time boards for 10 - 13 yr old groms. > How many of them have $500 clams to shell out for a custom or even off the > rack board. How many of their parents are foolish enough to do so. Okay so > I was one of those fools but only after failing to find a decent used > board. But, I wish I would have seen the Costco board before writing my > check to Mr. Becker(no disrespect or disatisfaction Phil) Now does that > mean I will buy my next board or my son’s next board from Costco? No! Our > local craftsmen have nothing to worry about as long as we continue to > demand quality.>>> m Thats a valid point, I was checkin the local shops used board racks last weekend, and to be honest, $200 would get you a real beat-up piece of crap. So in that regard, these might be a good deal for some. Ron Jons in Cocoa Bch sell the heck out of their label boards. Obviously these are from overseas, doesn’t seem to have hurt local board builders to much, Quiet Flight, Natural Art, Spectrum, RC all seem to be doing a good biz. I think once you reach a certain awareness in your surfing, you know what you need and where to get it. And it doesn’t come cheaply, or you learn to do it yourself, which is why SWAYLOCKS is so great.
Thats a valid point, I was checkin the local shops used board racks last > weekend, and to be honest, $200 would get you a real beat-up piece of > crap. So in that regard, these might be a good deal for some. Ron Jons in > Cocoa Bch sell the heck out of their label boards. Obviously these are > from overseas, doesn’t seem to have hurt local board builders to much, > Quiet Flight, Natural Art, Spectrum, RC all seem to be doing a good biz. I > think once you reach a certain awareness in your surfing, you know what > you need and where to get it. And it doesn’t come cheaply, or you learn to > do it yourself, which is why SWAYLOCKS is so great. Ed you hit that nail right on the head with your statement about Swaylocks.I started messing around with surfboards in 1964 with Jim Phillips.We were working in the wood shop at Hickam Air Force Base Hawaii.We wanted to learn more but all doors were closed,the best we could do was get foam scraps from the Island factories for ding repair. My main point is that this information that is shared on this Forum is priceless if you want to do your own work. It seems as if stuff gets off the subject of board building but I find it entertaining and not really that vicious. I guess that what I am saying is thanks Swaylocks it must take alot of work to handle this thing. Keep it up .
Thats a valid point, I was checkin the local shops used board racks last > weekend, and to be honest, $200 would get you a real beat-up piece of > crap. So in that regard, these might be a good deal for some. Ron Jons in > Cocoa Bch sell the heck out of their label boards. Obviously these are > from overseas, doesn’t seem to have hurt local board builders to much, > Quiet Flight, Natural Art, Spectrum, RC all seem to be doing a good biz. I > think once you reach a certain awareness in your surfing, you know what > you need and where to get it. And it doesn’t come cheaply, or you learn to > do it yourself, which is why SWAYLOCKS is so great. Ed you hit that nail right on the head with your statement about Swaylocks.I started messing around with surfboards in 1964 with Jim Phillips.We were working in the wood shop at Hickam Air Force Base Hawaii.We wanted to learn more but all doors were closed,the best we could do was get foam scraps from the Island factories for ding repair. My main point is that this information that is shared on this Forum is priceless if you want to do your own work. It seems as if stuff gets off the subject of board building but I find it entertaining and not really that vicious. I guess that what I am saying is thanks Swaylocks it must take alot of work to handle this thing. Keep it up guys .
Also, I dont see anyone bleating about those overpriced Surftech plastic > boards that are popped out of molds in Thailand. (Surf shops peel the > stickers off)>>> I didn’t realize the surf been that bad… You should be concerned about these China boards. Those boards are not shaped by surfers, but by political prisoners who have never surfed a day in their life. SLAVE LABOR. As for for idiotic Thailand moldy kook boxes there has been a huge backlash. Go to the beach and ask around.
Let’s be realistic. These are first time boards for 10 - 13 yr old groms. > How many of them have $500 clams to shell out for a custom or even off the > rack board. How many of their parents are foolish enough to do so. Okay so > I was one of those fools but only after failing to find a decent used > board. But, I wish I would have seen the Costco board before writing my > check to Mr. Becker(no disrespect or disatisfaction Phil) Now does that > mean I will buy my next board or my son’s next board from Costco? No! Our > local craftsmen have nothing to worry about as long as we continue to > demand quality.>>> m Back in the day Groms rode used boards. I grew up in the surfboard industry and I still had to learn on hand-me-downs. I trip out when I see kids learning on brand new boards.
You should be concerned about these China boards. Those boards are not > shaped by surfers, but by political prisoners who have never surfed a day > in their life. SLAVE LABOR. Been to China lately? No need for Formel 1 driver at assembly line to make good car. Surfboard any different? regards, Håvard
Back in the day Groms rode used boards. I grew up in the surfboard > industry and I still had to learn on hand-me-downs. I trip out when I see > kids learning on brand new boards. This is an interesting point. Some of my “best” purchased boards have been used - as a kid for the same reasons mentioned above, and then later to try out unfamilar shapes. These days I hardly see used boards in many local shops, especially contemporary shortboards ( at least ones that aren’t dimpled with delaminations like golf balls). Is it because so many fall apart so quick? That isn’t a ding on craftsmanship - I know that’s what the “pros” and “psuedo pros” are supposed to be riding. But I’ve picked boards off the street on trash day that at first glance have such minimal damage that ding repair is all that should be needed, only to find the decks absolutely wasted, and the foam under the “crust” too soft to salvage even for backyard “art” carving…
This is an interesting point. Some of my “best” purchased boards > have been used - as a kid for the same reasons mentioned above, and then > later to try out unfamilar shapes. These days I hardly see used boards in > many local shops, especially contemporary shortboards ( at least ones that > aren’t dimpled with delaminations like golf balls). Is it because so many > fall apart so quick? Ok, nothing like writing words down to make the world change right under your feet… I stopped by one of the better shops around here earlier this afternoon, and sure as hell there were probably 6 or 8 used short boards on the rack, almost all in good shape. The stock of long and mid-length boards was way down, however. When Costco starts contracting for them, then everybody ought to really start worrying (even the molded board guys). Oh well. I guess I’ll be seeing everybody at the Point this summer…