Surftech rules!

I realize this subject has been tossed around here before, but I thought Travis Murdocks reply to "Surftech Rules" was excellent. Its from www.longboard.net bulletin board: Surftech Rules! Posted by Welcome to the future [smile] on April 22, 19103 at 17:52:05 “Lighter, stronger, more durable, more responsive, wake-up and smell the future!” Reply posted by Travis Murdock on April 23, 19103 at 02:30:39 “On the other hand, consider what youre missing: Subtle or widely differing dimensions, buoyancy and shapes that can be changed with a minimum of expense any time another new board is ordered, a different look, a different weight and feel, the satisfying knowledge that youre helping to support and encourage American manufacturers and craftsmen… an ongoing, evolving personal synergy between yourself and your shaper-builder which encourages the incredible freedom to have a board designed specifically for you and your waves- a win-win situation. Although many have forgotten, or perhaps have never learned the sublime experience of custom handcrafted boards, such things are still among the most important parts of surfings past, present and future.... its heart and soul. In truth, mass-produced pop-outs are just temporary, impersonal reflections of the dumbing-down of modern surf culture.”

I agree, but for those dumb surfers surf techs aren’t bad are they? Surfing has changes tremendously in the last ten years…oh well… I’ll never stop shaping…but am getting a bit frustrated with glassing!!!

Check out the latest Transworld Surf Business, Cobra is now making boards for Global industries (Dang Aussies). Global Industries is selling them to Core shops as price point boards. They include both thermoformed boards (Bic type) and standard surfboards. This will give the core retail stores a product to compete against the dreaded “backyard” industry. Cobra can currently make 500 boards per day for Global Industries. Transworld Surf Business is a free industry mag that covers the retail surf industry. Sluggo

global industries is an american co formed by marc kelly… he is or was the distibutor for nevs boards in the usa http://www.feraldave.com

If my memory serves me this was all set up by a couple of aussies. I think one of them came from FCS. Sluggo

http://www.surfindustries.com/index.html from Surfermag Forum: when these guys get to surfer heaven the gate keeper will say “sorry kook, can’t surf those things here.”

A local shop has a few of the “South Point” Longboards for sale. As an entry level longboard the shape appears totally functional and the pricing is at 300.00 - They have some sort of molded internal rib system and decent fins. “New Surf Project” is the shortboard equivalent - also functional designs at really cheap prices. For the average kid tired of the deck on his 450.00 Rob Machado/Kelly Slater look alike turning to mush, the nose (and/or fins) breaking off and the rest of the board turning brown fast, these may very well be the future. For the nay sayers that insist that the consumer will be stuck with a cookie cutter clone, I say look at the entire product line of Surf Tech and tell me you can’t find something close to what you’re riding now - and if not, does yours really ride any better?

the boards at costco now come with a “HAND MADE” label attached.

Until the surf industry as a whole starts to value its self as a lifestyle and not a sport that can be packaged and sold to the lowest bidder we are all going to get screwed. The only way to do R&D is out of our own pockets,or to create a CO-OP where R&D can be explored so that we can compete with the surf tech’s of the world. They now are producing Santa Cruz surfboards which are a pro line of surf tech’s what a joke but money talks. We need support from the surf industry, but we do not fuel enough capital for them to care. So it comes down to us the board building community to band together and fight these big companies or we will become endangered just like the mom and pop stores or the local hardware stores. So as I live and breathe today I post this challange to all of us in this community to pull together and stand up to the industry. Some ideas write the mags post letters to the editor,educate the people tell them they should not support these companies with valid reasons. Post on any and every chat room about surfing the reasons that they should support the board builders, form a union, talk to shop owners these are just a few ideas to start with I will work on this with anyone so long as they put for their maxium effort that what we can spare for I know that we are all busy. Contact me the time is now not tommorrw when it could be to late! Stay Soul, Rick http://www.ancientartsurfboards.com

Rick, The technology is here for the taking. 20 years of r&d is done. Take it and run. Start developing past what we have done. It’s not expensive. The main investment is a bit of time and creativity. Anyone who doesn’t move forward will be left behind. Cobra is merely testing our will and tenacity.