Since the element of CHANGE, frequent and sometimes unexpected, is at the heart of surfcraft design, and with an infinite variety of cool things on which to ride so many types of waves… WHY are an increasing number of surfers limiting themselves to mass-produced clones?
…Overt and subple peer pressure… http://www.hollowsurfboards.com
sex sells. I wanna look like him and I can be with her. ask the kid with the reefs carrying evolution.
surfers tend to be the smallest minded people around. maybe some people like those popout boards. some people might choose a different type of board because they are not effected by the peer pressure that they have to get a hand shaped baord becuase its soul dude, and thats the way its always been. why do we think that its so important to get a hand shaped board?? yep thats right, we have been pressured by our peers to think that the best boards are those that are shaped by hand not by machine. Although this wouldnt be the case Lets say skip frye took part in a little experiment and gave you a board oneday and told you he hand shaped it last week, but really he just got it done on a computer shaping machine would you be able to pick this up for yourself?? nope, because you cant tell the difference between a hand shape and a machine shape, its impossible. popouts have a different feel to other boards and they are not for everyone. i hate the things cause they are too corky and light. but there are plenty of people out there who remain uneffected by the old school ideals and marketing and are able to buy what they feel like buying rather than what is considered uncool. rather than pay $180 for a pair of nike running shoes i bought a pair of no brand $15 specials from a department store. nike would have me believe that they are inferior, however i know that they are damn comfortable and have lasted for 12 months so far. LONG LIVE THE INDIVIDUAL, UNEFFECTED BY MARKETING AND WHAT OTHER PEOPLE BELIEVE IS COOL…
oh well…they deserve it. there are so many diff. design ideas that make surfing endless. you can change the feeling of a ride with the simple switch of a rail contour, or a fin setup, or rocker, etc…a lot of people just don’t get it. the science and art in this sport is huge
Perhaps many are simply investigating claims of superior durability as well as having a chance to try a shape/design by a major name craftsman who might be located far away. Perhaps the bulk of the purchasers are surfers who by virtue of age, inclination, economics, or time constraints are no longer in servitude to usually misguided notions that they are still on a cutting edge of performance, but rather are in more of a recreational/maintinence/enjoyment mode. Lack of variety can kill the spice of life, but where’s the thrill in constantly replacing a 6’2" or 9’ whatever that falls apart in a year of average use?
I think the latest phase of hi-tech boardmaking was only made possible by the long and inexhaustible research and development done by virtually all traditional boardmakers worldwide. That’s why, as an example, the squash tail thruster is ridden by so many thousands of surfers, young and old. It’s the logical design progression that unifies almost all surfboard producers. There will always be traditional boardmakers, and they will try, and retry, new and old ideas over and over, until most new board buyers realise that the new hi-tech board goes better and last longer than anything else they have tried. A lot of these retried ideas are simply good marketing ploys for people to buy new boards and keep the industry afloat. That’s why so many traditional boardmakers feel threatened by the hi-tech surge. As the masses take up surfing on mass produced boards, good quality mass produced boards, don’t forget there will always be guys like you and me who are not completely happy with what is, and continue experimenting on what could be the next breakthrough design feature on those darn strong, light-weight pop-outs that just go so well. The future is here, now. Just go out and find it.
Since the “mass produced clones” are cheaper in price, such as the Gotcha funboards made in China and sold at Sam’s Club in so Cal., they catch the eye of the first time board buyer. The only reasons I can see a surfer buying one of those is to save $$ on their first new board, and they won’t have to wait several weeks for a custom order. The mass produced clones look real clean and shiney, but we all know they’re made with a minimal quality glass job that isn’t very durable. It would be cool if an experienced surfer (weighing 165-185 lbs.) could get his hands on one of those boards and ride it a dozen times in 3’to 7’ surf over a couple weeks. Then report back to Swaylocks. Kinda of a Consumer Reports test…Any takers?
I assumed that the original question had to do with the Surftechs and that caliber of mass produced surfboard, and not the Costco pop-outs (which I think are far closer to the 60’s “pop-out” standard). The Surftech style boards are legitimate surfboards; the Asian knockoffs are, well, on the verge of being inconceivable to any experienced surfer. In reality, a concept foreign to the surfing world at large, the Surftech style boards will probably rise and fall in popularity in relation to the influx of new surfers. The past 3 years have seen a massive invasion of new surfers. I think it’s fair to assume most will stay for 3-5 years, like any new “generation” of surfers, and in that time virtually all will progress into better equipment than they started on. I personally feel starting on a custom board is a waste, but then I’m the Devil’s Advocate, right? Under that scenario I could envision something like the following: Softboard/“rental”/beginner Real handcrafted surfboard Surftech if it’s a passing passion More custom boards if the fever builds Figuring that surfing flat can’t handle continued increases in populations like we’ve seen in modern urban temperate surfing climates and locales, over the next decade the crowd pressures will dictate the inroads the Surftech style boards make into the general hardcore surfing population. The only thing that will kill the Surftech style boards is their own business practices and their own competition - likely they are here to stay. That isn’t a bad thing for the sport and for surfers. I don’t even think it will be all that bad for custom shapers. Say a 30/40/50 year old surfer gets a name-shaper longboard from a Surftech style company - brand new, to be used like the water-equivilent of a beater car. It’s the default board for any time when the surfer isn’t trying to set the world on fire, or when the surf isn’t good, or when he or she just wants to longboard. That board is going to last for years. The surfer is going to get bored before the board wears out (with any luck). So for variety, it’s off to experiment with the cutting edge designs via the custom shaper. These Surftech style boards are probably going to wind up being the “stock” boards of the future.
On that surftech note: I think that the custom board builder may be in trouble if surftech-type board companies can increase the weight of their longboards to simulate a classic feel, and keep its super hard shell durability, along with a very competitive price. Now that’s a lot for them to do…but if it ever happens??? On the other hand, there are improvements in fiber glass / resins that will improve durability in the near future for the traditional board builder. (Please destroy this posting within 60 seconds after reading to prevent the big companies from getting ideas)
There are tons of small manufacturers all up and down both coasts…you never hear about them but go to local break and check out the vast numbers of handmade custom boards out there.Its not rocket science and a lot of people build boards for the fun of it.This is whats cutting into the big guys numbers.Another thing is the “Snap Decision” type thing.When the waves go off or you get some extra cash etc. you want a board and you want it now…not a month from now.The shops are stocking popouts and name brand boards (those with advertising bucks)…this generates sales.But all in all I would say peer pressure is the main factor in the biggest section of the market…18 years old and under.
I offer myself as an example of a beginner who has bought a poput. I moved to LA last year and started going surfing with friends a few months ago using a borrowed board. Not having my own personal money tree, I wanted to get my own board ASAP with minimum financial pain. I figured that I can get a fairly generic shape cause I stink right now, and as I get better I’ll have more of an idea what I want in a board. I intend to try building my own someday in the next few years, hence my interest in the postings on Swaylock’s, but for now I bought a used Surftech 10’ Yeater for $300 and I’m happy with it so far. Maybe once I know better my opinion will change. If I could have gotten a custom epoxy board for so cheap I would have nabbed it. I’m a bit of a klutz and already have done some nasty damage to my friend’s polyester board. The purported toughness of the Surftech was a big deal to me because I don’t want to blow $600+ every year on a new longboard. Anyway, if anyone thinks I made a big mistake, I’d be interested to hear why… And as far as soul goes, it’s here in me. -Chad
The movement toward assembly line clones is definitely out there. But looking out in the line up theyre still a minority. From what Ive seen, its still more of a curiousity thing. A guy I know has improved quite a bit since converting to a SurfTech. Who can say what will really happen down the road. I do feel for those that make surfboards for a living, the threat is surely there. As to why theyre limiting themselves to mass produced clones? The boards must be riding at least half way decent, as clueless as some may think, most surfers wont ride anything that they dont like.
As the Surftech, Boardworks and NSP beginners move up they will begin to demand the same things in custom boards they have become accustomed to in their molded models, i.e. lightweight and durability. This is available in custom epoxy boards and a large segment of the surfboard industry will have to move this way or watch the imports walk away with the sport.
I have a surftech and i think it is the best board i have owned in 30 years of surfing. Am I no longer considered hardcore among the swaylocks bretheren.
As far as Surtech type boards go I think that they are a huge step forward in the strength thing.Yep they may be popouts…they may be made offshore…but they are light and strong.I think that a lot of the conversations that have been going around on the site are trying to adress these factors.How can we build a hand made board with the strength of a Surftech?This is where Greg Loeher is trying to take us.Maybe we will get there, maybe not…but its worth a shot. R. Brucker
Greg Loehr certainly deserves much credit for taking us where we want to be. I searched the archives and finally found a board that was posted some time back (10/30/01) by a guy we never hear from. Check board #286 by Thomas Hast…not epoxy but certainly a creditable step forward using exotic fabrics.