Just imagine if there were only one surfboard manufacturer available in the world, who only made one design of longboard such as a 9’8" traditional-shaped single fin. If you surfed, you all rode the same board. Would you agree that the cream of the crop (or foam of the sea), would float to the top? After all, everyone who competed would be in the same event, no short board, or aerial competitions. Would surfing improve in any way? Peace.
I think they have that system in Cuba.
Dude, I definitely hear you on this. It would be amazing for everyone to ride the same thing - even if to see how everyone surfed the same exact board (def. different ways to do it). But you’re probably offended the shortboarders/hybrid riders out there. Whos to say that “surfing” would improve by everyone getting better at traditional longboarding? Overall surfing talent would probably decrease. Granted, I wouldn’t miss the shortboarding contests that are on the pro tours today, but if all surfing was was noserides and drop knees for days, that would get a little monotonous too. Here’s another idea though: What if every surfer just got one board to ride (shortboard / hybrid / longboard whatever) and they had to ride that board forever in whatever conditions? What would most people choose?
Zen Master Grant- I had a crazy dream about making a surf movie with lots of exotic places and different famous surfers- but they’d all be riding the same board. My beautiful dream ended when I realized everyone was riding Bics!
I would start an underground black market, making custom boards for anyone. And I would make a killing, until other shapers (probably the people on this board) with more skill jumped in and took all my business. Then I would spend the rest of my days like so many washed up inovators, sitting in a bar, telling someone about how I led the crusade against conformity, and started it all. Until one day, when that person was secret police, and big brother’s ubiquitous reigns of control are thrown around my neck.
I think the CAT wanted to do just this. But only for one contest. Surf what you want and want what you surf. The waves are for those of us that know and love them. Keep surfing.
A friend once had a college biology class professor who gave the entire class the same term paper topic. I said that was a pointless exercise, and my friend said it was smart. The papers would be easy to grade - the good and the bad would really stand out. Same thing with surf contests. If everybody rode the same 9’8" longobard, the better surfers would be obvious. Fun, enlightenment, and personal enjoyment wouldn’t be part of the equation. If it’s all about winners and losers, that way of doing it makes the most sense and would allow non-technical spectators the best opportunity to know what the hell is going on. Of course, that’s pretty much what we’ve had for the last 20 years of surf contests (6’2" blah blah blah).