Until now I was a loyal fan of Joel Tudor and all his endeavors. Not anymore!
For some time I have been researching Joel Tudors HPNR board. On Joel’s website he claims this board is a 9.0 high performance noserider. I also looked at Surftech’s website who also advertises the HPNR as a 9.0 performance noserider. I ordered on and was totally excited about receiving it. I waxed it up, put fins on it and for some reason, brought out my tape measurer. The board measured at 9’4". I immediately notified the local surf shop and they called the Surftech distributor. Surftech said “that’s how they make em” How @#$$# lame!! The board comes out of a machine which means Surftech and Tudor Surfboards have know about this but never did anything to correct their advertising. The Tudor HPNR even said it was a 9.0 right on the board. Anyways thought I’d share the experience. If you deal with Tudor Surfboards or Surftech buyer beware!!!
I agree with you that it is my own fault. The local shapers here are awesome, I was just after the light weight of an epoxy. I’ll know better next time.
I got my new epoxy longboard custom shaped and glassed with S cloth for $200 less then a Surftech would have cost me. it is exactly what I ordered, rides like a dream, and helps keep the custom surfboard business fed and clothed.
When you’re “over” your pop-out, throw it on the used board rack and go custom!!
Maybe the rocker is so important that when measuring along the bottom it’s 9’4" and when measuring on the deck-side (i.e. a straight line from nose to tail) it’s only 9’00"?
The Surftech website advertises a “Joel Tudor HPNR 9’4"”, but when you look at the specifications, you find length to be 9’0’ (with metric equivalent: 274,32 cm)
What makes you think anyone on Swaylock’s really gives a dam?
We are a group of people that build our own boards. If you would like a custom surfboard there’s hundreds of people here that can help you build one or make one for you. Crying and complaining about Joel and Surftech will get you no where.
We do traditional boards ,EPS/Epoxy boards and Composite Sandwich boards.
How come you ordered a board from them in the first place? Surftech is not a Scam. They are copies of custom boards made in Thiland. I’ve had several great surf sessions on Surftech Surfboards. I believe that custom surfboards are better but Surftech is not a SCAM.
Who would have thought the Iconic soul surfer would produce souless boards?
The first mistake here is thinking Joel is a soul surfer ( whatever that is supposed to mean ) I have nothing against the guy, he is a good surfer…but he has been about " creating " an image of himself since " On Safari to stay "
The guy can surf and part of his Schtick is riding old boards being Joel Tudor. He is no less a pro surfer than Rob Machado and no less Image. Nothing wrong with that…but thats reality.
On his boards…they are nothing more than the folks he copied them from have been making for decades. From the noserider Bing shape to the Keyo longboard shape he calls something else. They are all there still made by the original labels or shapers and about $300.00 less. Joel just figured out a way to get that surfing back into the limelight again and look good doing it. He is a brand. Like Ben Sherman or Fred Perry…only in surfboards.
Having his boards copied for profit was a natural progression for him. I see no reason to be suprised or bummed. Just helping his brand along. Thats business.
Ditto to Otay’s remark about a saw. And…can’t you tell a 9’0’’ from a 9’4’’ without having to measure it? Before you buy it?
I like Tudor’s boards… and I like his style. He’s an artist. It’s good to see somebody do something well, no matter what it is.
What’s going on here, I believe, is that there was an error that was never corrected. If I was him, I’d be embarrassed, and get right on it to fix it. Somebody would be looking for a new job tomorrow.
But the fact that that has not happened yet says something… Maybe he’s “out of the loop.” Maybe he just doesn’t care. Maybe he isn’t aware. But as the owner of a business, it’s your job to be aware. And if you don’t care, shame on you.
He who has not sinned let him throw the first stone?
Are you yourself sinless? Are you perfect?
You claim that you were a loyal fan?
Over a board you bought 9’0 vs 9’4?
Now you want to write Joel off?
Straight line measurement is tail to nose from the deck.
Joel is still one of the best longboarders on the planet.
Another thing he’s not a scam artist. He’s a brand.
Have you even rode the board?
It may work well?
9’0 - 10’0 what’s the difference? Forget the numbers just surf it.
If you like it say your sorry for dising Joel. If you don’t like it sell it and move on.
It’s not too cool to talk smack on someone. Especially to post negative comments about
someone in the sport that is way cool?
Get a quiver: Shortboard - Fish - Quad - Retro Egg -Semigun - Real Gun - Towboard - SUP - High Performance Long Board - Classic Noserider - Wake Surfer
Support your local shapers - One Surf Tech in your quiver is not going to hurt anybody, just have a quiver and enjoy the water.
