Oneula has pointed out in another thread that Kelly Slater is now affiliated somehow with Surftech and has signed on with some signature models. It is suggested that this is most likely a contractual thing with Al Merrick.
Interstingly, there is no mention of Al Merrick or Channel Islands on the Surftech website but Channel Islands website lists Tuflite models.
Santa Cruz Surfboards has introduced a Tuflite Barney model. Even some experienced surfers I know have stated flatly that those aren’t “Surftech” but “Santa Cruz.” I wasn’t until I showed them the Tuflite label that they figured it out.
There are some interesting marketing strategies at work here and probably some interesting fine print in the contracts as well.
I wonder if Kelly Slater is getting paid some endorsement fees for all of this?
It would certainly make sense… in the real world of marketing, guys like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods have been paid huge sums for using certain product.
To the best of my understanding, it comes down to distribution…if you want your boards made out of Tuflite, then surftech will make them for you for a price; you distribute them on your own, or you use the Surftech distribution and get a smaller cut. I know this is the case for SC and CI; they have distribution through a skateboard distributor here in BC that carries the rest of their line as well. The Surftechs come up from a distributor in the states. Probably if Randy likes your stuff/market position, you get an offer, then sort out whether it would be best to do your own distribution or use his…these guys have to sell alot of boards from each mold to make it worth their while as far as recouping costs…
I’d reckon he draws commission on the models, just like the shapers do…probably cuts into the shaper royalty.
But Slater is not in a Tiger Woods realm market-wise. Lance Armstrong makes 28 million a year, Tiger makes something like 60. In an interview I saw with Kelly Slater, he claimed he has accumulated about 6 million over the years, MOST OF IT IN CONTEST WINNINGS.
Surftech is testing the shortboard product line in Santa Cruz, with Santa Cruz designed boards and Santa Cruz surf names labelling them. Ratboy, Barney, etc. Lots of guys in town riding them, lots of guys in town ripping on them. Don’t forget Randy French is old-school Santa Cruz. Not too many people are really confused as to what is a pop-out, and what is not. But, when you have a lot of pop-outs to choose from, they become just like other “off the shelf” surfboard purchases.
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I wonder if Kelly Slater is getting paid some endorsement fees for all of this?
Doesn’t Al Merrick pay his ‘salery’ as a pro? 'Nuff said. regards, Håvard
Kelly is of course being payed. So what’s gonna happen when the designs improve. What happens when someone actually tells Al that he could design polystyrene better in polystyrene?
Doen’t anyone else see what’s going on? They keep taking little pieces of our industry and everyone keeps saying, “OK, that’s just a little piece, we don’t care about that piece that much anyway.”
What happens when Kelly wins an event on a Surftech? Or Andy? Or Sonny? Doesn’t anyone see the dike beginning to fail? Sonny riding ST’s in comp?
Meanwhile the traditionalists keep saying, “stay the course.” Keep that domestic industry where it is so when change comes there’s no way we can compete. Meanwhile all around the world the surf industy feeling their presence.
Gentlemen start your lawnmowers!
Hi Greg -
The writing’s on the wall. I’ve even seen Craigslist classified LOOKING for Surftechs. WTF?
http://slo.craigslist.org/spo/85710482.html
They say pop-outs are money for this art…
…but that’s not the shape of my heart…Herb