Just a heads up…really cool bio piece on the Haut shop in Santa Cruz on Surfline…
I think it might be the last shop in California that still builds the boards in the back and sells them out the front…shaping, glassing etc all under one roof…
Not too many shaping/glassing/retail places left anywhere in the world… Understand how factories cant exist in most commercial/residential areas any more…Thats why when one is still around…its important to visit and support it…
20 /20 Hindsight…is the popout bad for the traditional shop…build them in the back…sell them in the front? most of them were gone already due to issues with environmental safety and inconsistent labor. I do think the glut of offshore boards has hurt the domestic board builders, but the good shapers , glassers, craftsmen are still full of work.
the Tradition of being able to shape, glass and retail in one place is going away for reasons beyond just popouts…We need a greater appreciation of the craft from the consumer end…one of the reasons Sacred Craft is such a good idea…and we need surfers willing to pay craftsmen for the work…and on and on…
In Byron Bay, there's 4 first class, old style establishments within about 200 yards- North Coast Surfboards - Brett Monroes - Town& Country and Mike Cundith just down the road.
i know it was an old post announcing the Haut story but i never actually got to see the article and pictures all finished, thanks for bringing it to our (my) attention.