I have tried repeatedly to convince him to go to a local shaper and get a custom board but he still wants to buy not one but two mass produced CI surfboards.
He says they are better quality boards and that he loves his k board and his biscuit. I gotta give him some points because the two boards ride awesome for him but he can get a better quality board suited for the conditions he will be surfing by going to a local shaper. Furthermore, I told him he could also spend the extra money in having the board epoxy vaccum bagged and laminated with inegra and he would get a board that will outlast any of his Channel Islands 4 oz soda crackers.
He travels every now and then to Indonesia and home to PR (he is a puerto rican living in NYC) so in my opinion an impact resistant board would be good for his traveling needs. He usually surfs Long Beach and ocassionally goes to NJ, anyone of you guys shaping boards around his area who has experience shaping for NY beach breaks?
Can anyone give me some advice on how to convince him to get a better board? I believe he wants a 5’11" all around thruster and a 6’7" for travel and for the bigger NY swells.
Why don’t you tell him that he should compare prices and show him that he could get 4 boards for the price of two.
or he could get one ci and one from the local guy and see if he likes the local guy’s boards at all.
if all else fails then screw it…you’ll have more boards that last longer than his, and he’ll have to borrow yours when his are messed up and he doesn’t have any money
C.I. is no.1 for many reasons, but they do refine their shapes, and have relative consistency better than industry standards as a whole. My advice is study their boards and learn what you can, because quite frankly, Al and Kelly know better than the rest of us. I know Al isn’t there all the time now, and his stuff is shaped by machines, and finished by different shops, but his signature outlines, rockers, bottoms, and rails really do work. Trust me on this, his voice is still stuck in my head from our many mornings together. And you guys think I am hard on you…
Thanks for the advice ghettorat, you seem like a nice guy and are one of the guys who gives some of the best advice here and I totally get you, even when you use sarcasm and get on some peoples’ nerves, brings a smile to my face. I hear you on the consistency and proven shapes, maybe he (my buddy) should get the CI’s but order a custom glass job to get them stronger than the stock boards. CI boards are expensive and I guess the quality (shapes and research and experience put into them) are worth it. I guess if he has the money he should do whatever he wants. Me, I would go with a local quality shaper, someone who builds good boards for the waves I ride and someone who I can talk to and build a shaper/surfer relationship. Didn’t mean to put down CI, although I guess I did. Sorry for that ghettorat… Are you Al??? Gues we will never know… Much respect!
What an odd comment G rat. If someone like me posted a pic of a lam with dryspots, or terribly dimpled after 3 surfs, sandthroughs etc, you would slaughter them, but when someone mentions CI boards ( of which there are plenty with the mentioned issues ) its all good. Better not upset your "bro" Haha classic.
I agree with pridmore, let them buy them, and learn for themselves.
People have been chasing CI for over 25 years now, and that says it right there. They make great boards, and have a consistency level that is expected for being the best. Sadly their boards don’t last forever, and surfboards materials have been at times inconsistent over the last few years; furthermore, over here, there was so much bad foam, with the abrupt closing of Clark Foam that everyone had to deal with, so it should not come as a surprise that we see a few funny ones. I would imagine some places knocking them off, and counterfeits certainly not passing the test. Still a real CI is not a bad way to go if you have the dough, and don’t suffer from a styrene addiction.
Beerfan, have fun doing what you do. As I have said before so many times making surfboards is a comedy of errors, and while I sometimes point out errors, I applaud the effort. Still I do my best to provide a way to alleviate some of the pitfalls associated with board construction, and like my stuff, its never perfect, and often misunderstood. But it makes it more interesting around here when there’s a healthy discourse, so keep giving me crap, and I’ll tell you in my own way…
Hey chrisp. CI is more than a one hit wonder, they have produced more world champions on their boards than probably all the others combined. Is it a corporate machine nowadays, yeah, in my opinion, but Merrick really has a better understanding than you, or about anyone else; I would also say he’s a great teacher, and now his stuff is all on file, so it can be better replicated. I can still here his voice in my head when I’m trying to feel my way through a board, way too often. And as he often told me: “You gotta look at the big picture.” My friend Tommy Lewis who new Al before he started shaping and who used to shape for “Surfboards Hawaii” used to tell me he new Al was going to be a great shaper even before he shaped his first boards because of his approach to life; and Tommy Lewis was the real deal, not some wannabe someone whom I totally respected, and was glad to call my friend.
No, not a one hit wonder. They did everything right to become a huge business BUT, they wouldn’t be where they are without the 2 most popular surfers of all time. And, they wouldn’t have gotten the 2nd guy without the first. What if Curren had gone with Rusty? Or Matt Moore? Or WRV? or Simon Anderson? or any of the dozens of other guys who are top notch shortboard shapers??? Hot surfers sell surfboards.
“Merrick really has a better understanding than you” Regarding surfboards? hahaha, I can guarantee you that. =D
But, “produced”? Seems like, at least in the last few years, that CI doesn’t really produce them, it just dangles a carrot in front of them and takes them from their current shapers that can’t offer the same cash. Like I said, “huge business”…
Although, I will agree with you, many contest winners have been riding CI boards. They’ve been so huge for so long, there is nothing of theirs that hasn’t been copied or borrowed. Outlines, rockers, rails, entire boards,… And, it’s pretty obvious that they’ve been copying / borrowing other people’s ideas… Which brings me back to my statement: “Their boards aren’t any better or worse than anyone elses using the same construction.”
Wow, I’m impressed a by a guy who quotes himself… Which brings me back to my statement: “Their boards aren’t any better or worse than anyone elses using the same construction.” I’m calling this beyond ignorance.
Surfboards are personal preference though. You cannot say "this guys boards are better than the other guys", unless you mean for you presonally. Just because the guy who made it is a board building legend, doesn't mean it'll go great for everyone. Some blokes love X brand of beer, some guys love Y brand of beer. Doesnt matter which one is the "best" produced, the flavour is all that counts.
Channel Islands are the mark by which all boards are measured. That’s not to say there are not many great shapers in the world, because there are. I have lost people to CI many times, and its never felt good. People are influenced by many things, and success is the measure that discretionary spenders choose over all, if they have to put out their own money. What bothers me are people who have no idea how hard Al and Terry worked to get where they are, and take shots when they haven’t done anything even close, nor ever will.
......"Channel Islands are the mark by which all boards are measured."
...No....You forgot about the Longboard revolution.....and Al and friends forgot about all us old guy kooks that can't or won't ride surfboards made for skinny young people. The fun board and the fish and eggs ect....All passed over by CI. Or reworked at a later date. If my friend wanted to buy a CI quiver I would be very happy.....because the glass jobs are light and the shapes are great....if you ride that type of board I will be more than happy to be your repair guy......
I am not CI’s apologist. And I ride what I want, which is my own. CI’s are great, and all of you would love to have a couple of AM’s for you quiver. Envy and jealousy are bad. I wish you all the success of CI. All of you have a modicum of truth to your arguments. May you find joy in the work of your hands.