My Last Rusty..

General Discussion
1

Wanted a change of pace from the quiver I’ve accumulated from my usual shapers, so ordered a custom to be shaped by Russo at Rusty, who’s crafted a few nice ones in the past for me.

It took a few months, the board finally arrived, and it came out exactly as ordered.

BUT IT HAS A FRIGGIN LARGE RUSTY BAR CODE GLASSED IN ON THE BOTTOM!

So I’m standing in the garage, gape mouthed, staring transfixed at the board, sitting bottom up on the repair rack, when my wife arrives home, pulls into the garage, sees me staring at the board, comes over to my side.

This is a woman who has seen dozens and dozens of new boards cycle thru over the decades, and knows all too well the ‘new board ritual’ of checking out the new ride, and always has a “looks really nice, honey, hope it rides well.”

So she checks out the board, sees it, and says “A bar code? On a custom surfboard? Why?” before she goes into the house.

exactly…

2

…sorry fella,

hopes that at least works good

for me the bar code is the opposite to surfing spirit

but I only see that in pop outs…

3

Take it to the store and see if it will scan!

4

The bar-cod would help track the board through stages of production…

It would help the night shift lam guy know that you wanted a stomp patch, say…or, the eventual stockist to know that its cured…It would help you if you want to claim a problem with the board…

I know there is ol’ fashioned order forms, but heck, I never worked at Rusty…maybe they have mountains of boards and get chronic mix-ups?

But, yeah, welcome to Blade Runner surfboard world.

Josh

5

mmm barcode. one step up from a … serial number! heaven forbid, gone are the dog hairs and suicide bugs that make your board personal… this is swaylocks… dont complain, just make it yourself…

but seriously does it affect how it rides? thats what you purchased it for… to surf. i make 30 or so a week and i have considered making barcodes for my boards. it would make my invoicing/payment of contractors/ workflow tracking & control so much easier… and (taking the piss again) as well as scare of the shallow customers who think performance comes from handtools only!

.

6

Maybe board number 49

7

…they should at least make it small and inconspicuous… or disguise it in art…

I say this about a lot of things… fin plugs, glue, leash cups…garbage cans…why do they have to be ugly? Why not make fin plugs and boxes attractive…like made out of wood, or resin swirly, or at least colorful.

That’s why I love stickers and artwork on stuff like garbage cans and light posts. Decorate them… be creative. You have to look at it anyway, so why not make it beautiful, or at least interesting to look at.

8

I’ve had the idea for years to put barcodes in boards, still might, but more for anti-theft. Like those chips they put in the boards. Also for the details of the board in a database - dims, who it was made for etc. I don’t think it is too bad, unless it is huge. A serial number on the stringer does the same I guess. I can understand that some would not like the look of it on a custom though.

I’ve decided you are right barcodes don’t belong on boards – I am going to put a giant barcode art on my next board, about 4 feet by 2 feet in protest.

9

Why not sand down over the bar code, lay down a “Duke” postage stamp, then gloss over it. If you need a stamp, let me know & I’ll send you one.

Doug

10

Big Brother is watching. The bar code allows the thought police to feel your stoke while surfing. After your first session, they will invade your home, take you away, and torchure you until you submit all things fun.

11

with some of the customer service i’ve experienced from individuals/companies in the surf industry, the fact that you are able to type this:

Quote:
It took a few months, the board finally arrived, and it came out exactly as ordered.

should have you thanking your lucky stars.

if you don’t like it, sell it and shape your own. or put a sticker over it. i’d just surf it and be thankful i got the exact board i ordered.

jp

12

On page 14 there’s a thread titled…“Too many Surftechs”.

The bitter irony of it all.

Put a Rusty sticker on the bar code and enjoy riding it.

Went to see Tom Wegener yesterday. Now there’s the opposite end of the board building spectrum.

13
Quote:

…sorry fella,

hopes that at least works good

for me the bar code is the opposite to surfing spirit

but I only see that in pop outs…

IMO Rusty himself is actually the best shaper of what used to be the big three. Unfortunately…the guy sold out a long time ago with his company. I still think he is a surfer and a shaper at heart…but being big has not had the best effect on that brand.

Having said that: You got what you ordered exactly. If it rides good…who cares about the bar code. Maybe there is a secret message in it or something…ha ha.

14

Probably just a gimmick, got us talking

15
Quote:

Probably just a gimmick, got us talking

One of my best boards was a Rusty Twinzer hybrid.

16

Put a large sticker over it.That way it’s covered up,but the sticker can be removed later for ID-ing.

I believe the code is to keep track of the board post production,so it doesn’t get back-doored.

H

17

…Rusty barely can surf…

Im not here to be against the mainstream shapers

but reality is that, reality

and to name a mainstream one that likes to surf and do surfing and still shapes: Linden

18
Quote:

…Rusty barely can surf…

Im not here to be against the mainstream shapers

but reality is that, reality

and to name a mainstream one that likes to surf and do surfing and still shapes: Linden

So what? What does surfing ability and shaping ability have to do with each other. I bet Bruce Irons can barely shape…like Joel Tudor.

19

…my answer was in response to this sentence: “I still think he is a surfer and a shaper at heart…but being big has not had the best effect on that brand.”

20

I used to surf with Rusty all the time. He is a very competant surfer. He’s just big and rides larger than conventional performance boards. He always has been. The thing Rusty is really good at is listening and interpreting into his shapes what his riders are telling him.

I’m not a small guy at 6’5". But, I only weigh in at 185 and have since highschool. When Rusty used to shape my boards, he’d make me stand behind him in the shaping room. He said he had a hard time taking that much volume out of my boards when he was looking at me. But, we developed some great shapes due to our understanding and communication.