That post is funny the surfer mag one. A little history for matt (for me to collect my brain):
Matt B posted earlier to stand against the import showdown and machine made boards / surftech cobra factory like surfboards. Then came out OC register articles about placebo . … then the surfermag forumites tore him a new one. Even better was a private email was posted defending his actions about placebo … And surfermag forumites proceeded to tear the hole bigger. They even got trolls and even dudes from the christian surfer forum to come in.
I think Matt B was hurt since many surfermag guys pimp his boards, and he lost alot of respect from surfermag. I haven’t ridden any of his boards, since Al merricks work for me.
One guy said he’s great at sales or marketing . … that seems about right. But his initial post seems to cater to commercialistic / consumerism attitude behind things. People I respect have said the coolness of Greg L’s resin. I liked that thread because you can see the contrast from guys like Greg, Bert, Blakestah vs the guys that only ride surfboards (and are probably good at it) and the guys that are clueless (guys I also include ladies but surfermag ladies half of them a trolls of the guy posters) about surfboard design. Then there’s some discussion about biz and marketing, and other things . …
You can even tell who uses what to construct: TFAD defending PU, someone said they love lost because of carbon fiber . . . Epoxy guys . . .
But Matt never dropped any technical info. Greg and Bert have and did in that post (and here). The thing about learning more in 6 hours than 20 years . . . details?
I think Matt was doing that just to stir the pot and guage how people feel / think about him and his products. Market strategy of phising using a forum. In old days they would run such things as a controversial editorial in trade publications . . .
If he’d do it here lots of us would go engineering and he wouldn’t get statistics on his goods.
Feraldave…the “tech” concept you talk about is one that has been thoroughly researched and a program designed to do that and more. It was concieved by an forward thinking surfing innovator some years ago, based on the “racer chaser guys” in the ski industry and discussed with the ASP, Kelly and several key manufacturers (maybe even Biolos)
I read the surfermag post last night when I ran across mention of it here. I don’t know Matt. I know Mike, his business partner, from college because our time there overlapped. On a historical, useless trivia note, Matt’s business partner probably rode a Loehr epoxy, and if he did ride one, he rode it well. He was another one of those Florida Gulf coast shredders. Many of us rode them, since Greg was nice enough to offer us these “new” epoxy boards at a discount before most people even knew what epoxy was. When you have next to no money in college, discounted boards are a good thing. I will always thank Greg for that. I haven’t ridden pu/pe since. Visualize…big guy, small waves, flotation and strength…epoxy is great! I now get my epoxies from Steve Forstall and Richie Buehn, two wonderful surfboard craftsmen next door to Greg’s place. Sam Barker also puts out a good product through Greg’s factory in his absence. This area has benefitted well from Greg’s work. So, yes, I suppose I am biased toward Greg.
I have met some extremely “entertaining” people in the surf industry since my days growing up on the East coast of Florida. I don’t fault Matt’s inexperience with the general business market and knowledge of supply and demand. He asks a question based on his current knowledge base to gain insight into his immediate future. He is faced with deadlines that he is struggling to meet. This may be something new to him. He is reaching out, and a forum seems like a good place to ask this question. Properly carrying on constructive conversation on a web forum is not the easiest thing. Apologies and “I’m sorry, mate” just don’t flow well on the written word. Computers have been my forte for a very long time, and I still struggle.
I thoroughly enjoyed my conversations with Greg at his factory. I wish he was still here, but I tell myself he is doing good things for the surfboard industry in his new endeavor. I don’t know what Matt is doing. I have read a few articles in the mags about his endeavors. He seems to be a knowledgeable shaper, and that is where I would leave his expertise. Maybe he is expanding that knowledge into other things, as his hand has been somewhat forced since the Clark foam thing. I wish him luck. Greg, I know will keep plugging, as his dogmatic desire to learn and apply that knowledge is refreshing.
I’m glad someone posted this link, for I would have never seen it otherwise.
MB… your basic retailer and the labeling of a brand which is what he’s selling and protecting.
he’s desperately looking for replacement product (and I wouldn’t blame him for doing so) to slap his label on and make a buck on it and because he can’t get his hands on enough of Bert’s future design stuff to make a buck off of it hence the anti new technology post. Funny that he’s pimping Bert’s Boards as is every PuPe bozo addict on the surfer mag forum that saw it like DK who’s no bozo and makes his own nice equipment. Which tells the world if you saw it in person you would understand… Just most people haven’t had the opportunity yet.
Pretty straight forward supply and create a demand problem.
At this stage of the game, it’s all about money nothing else. If they tell you any different it’s pure BS.
Global production has always been Bert’s problem he knew it going in but when the sh*t hit the fan I’m sure it threw a monkey wrench in his timetable. And although the ships full of foreign PuPe are arriving enmass as we speak Bert and Greg will be setting the new baseline once the masses get edumacated as to what’s truly possible versus what someone wants to force down there throat. A couple more bad Mondays on the horizon to really wake up the crew, but things are much better than anyone can imagine regarding acceptance.
It’s all just a matter of time but things will never be the same when all the old materials eventually get taken away from us not just the core. I bet most big production shops haven’t even converted to UV yet like here in Hawaii. Greg and Berts gentle nudges have more behind them than just the present loss of foam. The procratinators just need to ask themselves what’s next and then look up the upcoming regs going into law…
Then maybe alot of it will make sense…
In the end it all about how many dollars you put in your pocket versus have taken out.
Not to be an idealist, but yeah, after reading those posts over at surfermag, it’s pretty obvious who really cares about surfing, and who’s in it just for the money.
Not to be an idealist, but yeah, after reading those posts over at surfermag, it’s pretty obvious who really cares about surfing, and who’s in it just for the money.
I have no problem with someone being in it for the money, I just want them to admit it and not try and come off like some Savior of the surfboard and it’s poor helpless shapers. I think one of his first campaigns was the send a dollar to Simon thing…what a joke that was. Once promoters are found out to be nothing but promoters does it change anything. Nope…people go where promoters tell them to go…espcecially in surfing. This is why a toothpick remains made from 60 year old glassing remains the so called state of the art. Nothing changes until those promoters in control of the media at the time can figure out a way to benefit from it by themselves and get all the credit for it as well. Even if it was someone else’s hard work and idea. Matt is quite simply one of the better promoters of surfing in todays fickle surf market. I hate to say it, because he probably loves people talking about him like many self promoters do, but many times tech retires promoters as well as other that produce products and as I have said before surfer’s taste change like the wind.
Matt is quite simply one of the better promoters of surfing in todays fickle surf market. I hate to say it, because he probably loves people talking about him like many self promoters do,
Yep! Almost 2000 views on this thread and nearly 4000 on the one at surfermag.
Not to be an idealist, but yeah, after reading those posts over at surfermag, it’s pretty obvious who really cares about surfing, and who’s in it just for the money.
I have no problem with someone being in it for the money, I just want them to admit it and not try and come off like some Savior of the surfboard and it’s poor helpless shapers. I think one of his first campaigns was the send a dollar to Simon thing…what a joke that was. Once promoters are found out to be nothing but promoters does it change anything. Nope…people go where promoters tell them to go…espcecially in surfing. This is why a toothpick remains made from 60 year old glassing remains the so called state of the art. Nothing changes until those promoters in control of the media at the time can figure out a way to benefit from it by themselves and get all the credit for it as well. Even if it was someone else’s hard work and idea. Matt is quite simply one of the better promoters of surfing in todays fickle surf market. I hate to say it, because he probably loves people talking about him like many self promoters do, but many times tech retires promoters as well as other that produce products and as I have said before surfer’s taste change like the wind.
solo,
MB is clear as a cloudless day what his role is in the industry. He says in one of his posts responding to B Burger…"I dont see my self and you in any compition whatsoever. Your a technology…Lost is a brand. " I have never ridden one of MB’s boards. I have no interest in doing so and probably never will. [I prefer the McCoys I have ordered through you, including that awesome Geoff-shaped longboard I just rec’d! I’ll order another when Geoff goes epoxy.] But marketing is a reality of today’s surfing ‘industry’ and MB is a leader in this area - whether you you like the fact or not. I both admire the fact MB engages the customer base on surfermag.com and also cringe at how bad he comes accross given how successful a guy he is.
After reading the very interesting thread on Surfermag, I have to say that some of the better, more articulate and thoughtful posts are from Swaylockians - sbfive and speedneedle, in particular. A rarity on surfermag - an intersting read.
Glad to see back here on swaylocks. Glad you like your boards. Hope it’s not still cold up there for you and the little ones.
I agree he admitted his intentions on that thread, but he has made so many past post and interviews where he tries to come off as surfings and surfboard building savior. I admire anyone thats good at what they do and old Matt is good at self promoting. I know a few more the same way. If not for their giant egos and complete lack of discernment for truth, it wouldn’t be much of an issue with me. His comments about Greg. L were simply uncalled …Buckwheat?
I have no problem at all with him challenging some of Greg’s thinking or post, thats what this is all about…an exchange of ideas. Greg and I have had a few mild exchanges, but it in no way diminishes my respect for him. The times I have spoken with him in person he is a hoot and what a truely gifted surfer. The guy rips.