It is hard to discuss this topic if your point of reference is your backyard as of today in a prosperous nation called the USA. Some nations we do business with are centuries behind the U.S. socially but enjoy us as economic partners for obvious reasons. You can squawk all you want but the TRUTH you proclaim seems twisted to make a weak point for an awfully unimportant industry of surfboards and bikinis. I wonder if there is a wedsite for autoparts manufacturers complaining about you for having a “popout” alternator made in Mexico in your car versus a hand wrapped custom local made alternator?
Here are words of wisdom from you 3 years and a few days ago regarding surftech.
Solosurfer says…“I don’t like any of the surftechs period. I don’t like what they stand for, how they look, how they ride, most of who rides them, or the shops that sell them, but I am not going to cut down the shapers who designed the boards because most of those guys have paid their share of dues and deserve a payout.”
On behalf of Randy French and the surftech crew, I extend an apology to you for any wrong that was done to you, actual or perceived, by the worlds most successful composite surfboard manufacturer. Let your anger go and get on with life.
I was able to do this also when visiting the National Zoo and admiring the panda exhibit from China. A great nation saving a great creature and sharing this beautiful animal with the world to make us all just that much more aware.
I will be off line after 27 March for a few months, so if I don’t respond in a timely manner, I apologize in advance.
Shaper of the year should be able to pick up the phone and get 3 models on board at ST with YOUR new tech. Why spin your wheels at home with work when you can just build for your own pleasure and let the well paid COBRA staff get it done for you? If you think it can be done YOUR way on a production level at the high quality standards of COBRA…? What are you waiting for?
It is hard to discuss this topic if your point of reference is your backyard as of today in a prosperous nation called the USA. Some nations we do business with are centuries behind the U.S. socially but enjoy us as economic partners for obvious reasons. You can squawk all you want but the TRUTH you proclaim seems twisted to make a weak point for an awfully unimportant industry of surfboards and bikinis. I wonder if there is a wedsite for autoparts manufacturers complaining about you for having a “popout” alternator made in Mexico in your car versus a hand wrapped custom local made alternator?
Here are words of wisdom from you 3 years and a few days ago regarding surftech.
Solosurfer says…“I don’t like any of the surftechs period. I don’t like what they stand for, how they look, how they ride, most of who rides them, or the shops that sell them, but I am not going to cut down the shapers who designed the boards because most of those guys have paid their share of dues and deserve a payout.”
On behalf of Randy French and the surftech crew, I extend an apology to you for any wrong that was done to you, actual or perceived, by the worlds most successful composite surfboard manufacturer. Let your anger go and get on with life.
I was able to do this also when visiting the National Zoo and admiring the panda exhibit from China. A great nation saving a great creature and sharing this beautiful animal with the world to make us all just that much more aware.
I will be off line after 27 March for a few months, so if I don’t respond in a timely manner, I apologize in advance.
I am glad you mentioned my quote was three years ago. Thats when every cut off novice on my beach bought one from the local department store surf shop and invaded our local break with them. I stand by most of what I said then with the exeption of those who ride them. I know many good folks who ride them. What does it have to do with this conversation?
If the whinning bugs you so much …don’t read it and quit following me around on swaylocks trying to bait into conversations about Surftech. Their sucess does not bug me. China…a great nation saving a great creature? I think you should look where they stand with pollution and human rights Otay. Keep dreaming though…one day it may come true. Also …just so you know…China had a civilization while our ancestors where eating grubs under rotten trees.
if surftech are willing to pay me more for further developing the tech , than what Firewire is willing to pay me for keeping quiet ,then by all means make an offer …
but to be honest , i still dont see it as the best long term career move …
unless the tech and label stood alone … then if that was the case i might as well just go knock on Cobras door along side Randy …
my issue with Cobra all along was no guarantee that my tech wouldnt disolve into other products over time …
i know a few guys who had other new high tech products produced there and within 18 months there competitors had stepped up with similar stuff because it was all getting done under the same roof …
my goal is for a high tech facility keeping all the good stuff under our own roof …
might take a little longer , but i got plenty of time left in this industry …
but you never know what the next development will be , so i wont write that one off that quickly…
On behalf of Randy French and the surftech crew, I extend an apology to you for any wrong that was done to you, actual or perceived, by the worlds most successful composite surfboard manufacturer. Let your anger go and get on with life.
Otay, now it’s become a mindf*ck… you told me a while back you didn’t work for ST… now you speak on behalf of them???
ROFL!!! What gives…
@Solo: LOL!! John Lydon… lemme guess “this is not a love song”…
"Also …just so you know…China had a civilization while our ancestors where eating grubs under rotten trees. "
But remember China blew it when they started buying impoted pop out bricks for the great wall project.
I don’t know how to start to reply but egypt once was the center of all and now go there and get caught with an english dictionary and a bar of soap and get prepared to be called a terrorist.
How about rome solosuferacus? The roads may all lead there still but no one cares and they need repair.
Things change everywhere and in the short history of the USA we have advanced fast and continue to do so. Just because I could marry a 13 year old girl in 1907 didn’t make me Jerry Lee Lewis. The reason why the USA is properous in every way in so short of time is easy for me to understand. But those who hate the USA are commies, socialist and terrorists.
I am just trying to understand the hate well documented for surftechs on this site and the chief cheerleader has a very gound down axe.
Breathe in and out. just put it in a bubble and blow it away.
"Also …just so you know…China had a civilization while our ancestors where eating grubs under rotten trees. "
But remember China blew it when they started buying impoted pop out bricks for the great wall project.
I don’t know how to start to reply but egypt once was the center of all and now go there and get caught with an english dictionary and a bar of soap and get prepared to be called a terrorist.
How about rome solosuferacus? The roads may all lead there still but no one cares and they need repair.
Things change everywhere and in the short history of the USA we have advanced fast and continue to do so. Just because I could marry a 13 year old girl in 1907 didn’t make me Jerry Lee Lewis. The reason why the USA is properous in every way in so short of time is easy for me to understand. But those who hate the USA are commies, socialist and terrorists.
I am just trying to understand the hate well documented for surftechs on this site and the chief cheerleader has a very gound down axe.
Breathe in and out. just put it in a bubble and blow it away.
Ok…you love China (the country) but all those who hate the U.S. are commies, Terrorist, Socialist? I don’t think china does lag too far behind us Otay since they own a chunk our our country and in case you hadn’t noticed…the country is run by commies. I won’t deal with your faulty politics here. Surfermag.com is the better forum for that one.
It’s funny you only see things in terms of hate or support. I don’t hate surftech. How can one hate a corporation. I don’t hate Randy French. I call B.S. where I see it and try and give credit where it’s due. If there happens to be more B.S. than credit…hey they can always change their claims or renounce being the most important man in surfing. Seems like the only mention I made about Surftech on this thread was to compliment them on having a good website and effective marketing. Hey…who am I to argue with the company who is the future of surfboards.
Speaking of axes…yours it getting a might bit dull as well laddie.
If they ever tell my story let them say that I walked with giants. Men rise and fall like the winter wheat, but these names will never die. Let them say I lived in the time of Solo, tamer of industry. Let them say I lived in the time of Bill Barnfield.
rrremix:
If they ever tell my story let them say that I walked with giants. Men rise and fall like the winter wheat, but these names will never die. Let them say I lived in the time of Berger, tamer of composites. Let them say I lived in the time of Spitzer.
#2
If they ever tell my story let them say that I walked with giants. Men rise and fall like the winter wheat, but these names will never die. Let them say I lived in the time of Loehr, tamer of epoxy. Let them say I lived in the time of Jim Phillips.
It’s funny you only see things in terms of hate or support. I don’t hate surftech. How can one hate a corporation
This today on Surfline…from a SIMA release…
"March 26, 2007
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is proud to announce the list of nominees for the fifth annual SIMA Image Awards, the only awards program that gives the surf industry the opportunity to recognize fellow surf industry companies for their outstanding contributions to the industry.
The goal of the SIMA Image Awards is to identify the surf industry’s most influential companies and recognize them for their efforts to advance and grow the industry over the past year. This year, companies will be recognized in 12 categories: Accessory Product of the Year, Footwear Product of the Year, Surfboard Model of the Year, Wetsuit of the Year, Men’s Ad Campaign of the Year, Men’s Apparel Brand of the Year, Men’s Boardshort of the Year, Women’s Ad Campaign of the Year, Women’s Apparel Brand of the Year, Women’s Swim Brand of the Year, Breakthrough Brand of the Year and Company of the Year.
…Breakthrough Brand of the Year
Recognizing the small- to mid-size men’s or women’s brand that experienced growth in 2006. Consider surfboard, apparel, footwear, wetsuit and accessory brands that had a breakthrough year through product development and/or increased brand recognition and appeal. Nominated companies can be new or established brands, but must have gross global wholesale annual revenues of $25 million or less.
Firewire Surfboards
Insight
Mada
Sanuk
Vestal Watch
…Surfboard Model of the Year
Awarded to the surfboard model at retail in 2006 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
It’s funny you only see things in terms of hate or support. I don’t hate surftech. How can one hate a corporation
This today on Surfline…from a SIMA release…
"March 26, 2007
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is proud to announce the list of nominees for the fifth annual SIMA Image Awards, the only awards program that gives the surf industry the opportunity to recognize fellow surf industry companies for their outstanding contributions to the industry.
The goal of the SIMA Image Awards is to identify the surf industry’s most influential companies and recognize them for their efforts to advance and grow the industry over the past year. This year, companies will be recognized in 12 categories: Accessory Product of the Year, Footwear Product of the Year, Surfboard Model of the Year, Wetsuit of the Year, Men’s Ad Campaign of the Year, Men’s Apparel Brand of the Year, Men’s Boardshort of the Year, Women’s Ad Campaign of the Year, Women’s Apparel Brand of the Year, Women’s Swim Brand of the Year, Breakthrough Brand of the Year and Company of the Year.
…Breakthrough Brand of the Year
Recognizing the small- to mid-size men’s or women’s brand that experienced growth in 2006. Consider surfboard, apparel, footwear, wetsuit and accessory brands that had a breakthrough year through product development and/or increased brand recognition and appeal. Nominated companies can be new or established brands, but must have gross global wholesale annual revenues of $25 million or less.
Firewire Surfboards
Insight
Mada
Sanuk
Vestal Watch
…Surfboard Model of the Year
Awarded to the surfboard model at retail in 2006 that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Channel Island Flyer 2
Firewire Flexfire
Merrick K-Small Quad Fin
Rusty EPS Range
Surftech Tuflite Stretch Fletcher Four"
If there is an enemy, it’s probably us…
Good one Nels…exellent example of how not much changes. Institutions telling each other how great each other is. I nominate Jim Philips as shaper of the year for being an all around good guy and great craftsman (100% serious on this note and many more can be added). Please send money to the solosurfer Institution for shaper appreciation fund or SISAF. Can take credit cards, Paypal, or cash preferred. I will even send you a sticker and if you wish you can meet me in Hawaii for the annual meeting of one (your expense of course). You will also get your name put in the updated shapers family tree. Ha Ha.
the daggers are flying!!!and if you duck you might get one in the back ouch? lots of you guys here posted in another area wishing a person the best with his real life struggle lest we all forgot?the whole topic began about BB being let go. i believe that there are many people globally working with composites that will never get the time of day i will bet money that even a guy at the cobra factory has a vision of something different maybe even better?do we disregard him because of his life circumstance?God forbid if you got children of mixed race where does your hate begin or end?the world is a small place if men/women had never dreamed than where would we be living in caves with the geico guy and i dont think he showers!i hope to one day own a handshaped BB had a few handshaped BB let you guess which BB.One BB said it best that the best board fits in your time and space at a given moment in your life, no one repeat no one has made the grail of surfboards yet think closely the grail is in your mind peace to all aloha…
my goal is for a high tech facility keeping all the good stuff under our own roof …
might take a little longer , but i got plenty of time left in this industry …my goal is for a high tech facility keeping all the good stuff under our own roof …
might take a little longer , but i got plenty of time left in this industry …
Most innovation in sports hardware does not come from large manufacturers but from lead users. Creative, technically minded people who take the equipment they use to a new level. When Randy outsourced his production - innovation pretty much stopped. It was only when Bert came on the scene, and it looked like a superior sandwich surfboard was going to get the nessecary marketing push to gain market share, did Surftech actually produce a new product. And what is TL2 really?swapping D-cell for Rohacell? A better fused eps? that’s a step forward I guess (if the skin isn’t made of a tough enough material)
I think it’d be good if some of the people lucky enough to own one of Bert’s boards write a little about them.
Or better yet, if anyone knows how to get a hold of one. I bet they’re worth the same or more than what someone paid for it brand new.
There were some interesting things in the BB shaper of the year interview regarding the firewire technology and shapes. Seems like you need to really understand the what is in the board to make shapes that will take advantage of the technology.
The only one who had that intimate knowledge is no longer on the team. So making a big deal about someone who may be noted for being a good shaper may not necessarily mean that person can make boards that take advantage of the technology.
Another thing that I wonder is whether a pro rider is getting an off the shelf board, or a custom. I’d like to see a pro borrow a regular joe’s version and see how well he rides that. Or better yet, let the regular joe ride the pro’s board and see if they are the same.