Has it really been 10 years ???

General Discussion
1

Hey guys … i know ive been talking about this for years , but ive committed this time to making a Sway’s comeback … 

i see a lot of the regulars are still here , so howdy to everyone and the new crew …

i pretty much just blew half a work day , reading posts and answering a few and totally enjoyed it … 

just out of curiousity , i searched for that original thread i did on Vacuum forming and Sandwich Construction back in 2004, wondering if it was still even on here, read the Intro… …

FFAAARRRRKKK , talk about making some prophetic comments in the intro…

anyway , the come back BERT , brings another 10 years of sacrifices , highs and lows ,industry  scum , stoke and adventure back to the forum…

so im looking forward to sharing again …

you wouldnt believe me even if i spelt it out, which may happen if you ask me the right questions …

from now on  business is good enough for me to blow a little time here each week and get back to my roots…

got sent a cool pic last year which i will attach …

one of my team guys was at a longboard contest where he took the pic , he wrote me an email saying " the guy riding this board claims it over 20 years old and was one of the first Balsa Sandwich boards you ever made" 

anyway , turns out it was number 1 , built just 1 month shy of 24 years ago … the first one built to a sucessfull formula that didnt fail , as all former incarnations died miserably in one way or another or just didnt perform , ( im talking about attempts with different materials , not Balsa) …

anyway , turns out it was ridden to a 4th place in the contest, the guy borrowed it from the owner , whom i did sell it to over 20 years ago , on the condition that he never on sold it…

this board is still as light and goes as good as the ones we build today … ( ok , maybe the shape isnt as good ??) but the flex , spring back , smoothe ride and magic is still there after 24 years… 

these days , the magic has turned to science ,   and im sure a lot of you will enjoy whats coming … especially you tech loving guys who need an answer for everything…

stoked to be back …

regards

BERT

 

 

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2

Very cool ! Welcome back Bert

Jimi

3

hello bert’’

 24 yrs jeez

 

cheers huie

4

Aloha and welcome back Bert !

so in the end after all you went through since 2004, was it worth it?

or just a learning experience about what not to do in the future…

Blaine (Carvenalu) went through his whole learning experience as well with Paddlesurf Hawaii

saw your videos from germany, you should so the same here…

good stuff

its getting to be interesting here again

5

Hey huie … i think i may need some interpretation with your last comment …

either i was preparing to bomb some major ground or its a reference to Fat Ray ???

other than that i cant figure it ???

 

regards

BERT

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cheers huie

7

thats a really tough question oneula …

lets say , ive really seen some extremes of the human character , including my own …

the last 10 years without a doubt has been a character building excercise and a massive learning experience…

lost a lot , gained a lot , but most of all , really lived a roller coaster life…

have regrets , but if i trade the experience, excitement , all the new things and growth , for a few regrets …

then my answer is , it was worth it , to me , as an individual on this planet…

maybe my ex wife and kids would give you a different answer…

but then others in my life would give you the opposite answer again…

so after the mental ping pong … yes it was worth it …

for the experience and not the money …

regards

BERT

 

8

Spot on huie …was barely 6 months out of that relationship when these boards started to take shape…

i think , i would rate that whole saga with Ray , Surf Industry lesson number 5 …

regards

BERT

ok, im out now … just finished my shift … and got the weekend to write off … i get the best shift to look after , 8pm to 6 am , factory runs 24/6 these days …

9

Bert,

Back when I first found this site your epic vaccum thread was what drew me in.  Even though I’ve never built a sandwich board that epic thread was largely responsible for getting me back into board building.  Must have read that thread 20 times.

10

Who the hell is Burt Burger?  Kidding.  Welcome back.  You left a huge impression and a whole spin off of vacume bagging converts, fin foilers, etc.  Mike

11

Welcome back. I never left but mainly lurk as do many of the originals.

12

Welcome back.  Have wondered about you.  You sound good. I always think of the thread you did on fin layups.  Met an Ex-Pat over here who says he knows you.  A mate named Starbros.  Much respect.  Glad to have you back. Lowel

13

And thanks again for giving us a collective kick in the ass!  I’ve seen some of your newer boards around and it’s obvious to me that the goals to which you’ve aspired are being met… strength, lightweight, and finely tuned/high performance designs.  

I’m glad you’re still in the game and doing things your way…

14

Bert,

Welcome back…and thanks for the talks on the other side!!!

herb

15

Fantastic to see you back, Bert. Your thread on vac building and helpful emails got me to eventually build a whole bunch of tools including hot wire, vac, rocker beds and a shaping machine, and tangentally had a big influence on Stump’s stuff http://www.stumpsurf.com/

Nice that you have stimulated huie into **posting **again

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thanks guys … red_boards!!! not sure who huie is right now , until he introduces himself to me … but from his comment , it obvious he has been associated with the surf biz for a long time and probably Western Australia at some point… 

Mcding … im not sure about Starbros??? are you in California ?? got an expat  mate called Stavros in Santa Monica/Venice…

for now , just a courtesy visit … as unfortunately i still need to do real world work to keep the ball rolling…

 ive pretty much committed to spending at least half a day a week back here, but i will reserve it for fridays or if im not so snowed under as i am right now with team and custom boards…

main reason for coming back , is the feeling that life and business is back on track…

for  a while there , was teamed up with people working in the opposite or different directions, even within my own business, so when things arent meeting your ideals and goals its hard to be positive about what your doing , so i wasnt interested or motivated to do anything online… 

about a 18 months  back , started managing my own Facebook page again , ( shock horror??? it wasnt actually Bert posting as Bert ) one of my former Biz partners, but he did a good job none the less …

got a lot of reminders on Facebook from former and current Swaylockers about the good old days … 

also , this forum is way more applicable to  where my passion is … 

lastly , some amazing things are actually happening with Sunova and stuff im really proud of… stuff that will create some industry waves, so it also felt like i could raise my head again,  with a certain amount of honor…

regards

BERT

 

17

Bert,

Your vac-bag/veneer thread is one of the old Sways spirits most frequently summoned.

Regardless of one’s experience level, Sways is a good place for gleaning perspective and a few technical pearls…

I suspect you have a few more technological jewels remaining that we would all benefit from.

I believe Huie is Trevor Hewston of Noosa, Oz.

18

Might be Mike Stavros of San Pedro Surf and Sport on Pacific Ave. in San Pedro

EDIT: I know Mike has a son that surfs…might be in his 40’s or so…Mike in his 60’s

19

Yeah I think that’s the guy.  Said he worked with or for you.  Over stayed his visa, can’t go home.  Good bloke. Lowel

20

jeez stony you can use google      amazing

cheers huie