It seems like the designers who are selling out to French/Cobra/SurfDreck are former shapers who are getting on in years and perhaps sense an immediate need for a retirement fund. No problem there. French is offering an easy solution to an important personal problem. What if Grubby Clark had been paying these guys small royalities over the years for designing blanks? Rich Harbour, bless his knees, no longer wanted those cobra fangs poisoning his soul and ruining his name. And he’s very proud of the work he’s done for Clark’s 9’4"-H blank that he and Roger Hind profiled (“I am proud of many things that I have done over the past 44 years, but this is one of the best.”). If Clark had been paying these guys from the beginning we would have the pioneers being rewarded in respectable ways, Clark would not be part of the problem, and Surftech would have had to develop some other way, if at all. What happens when Clark’s gone? Is the entire US surfboard industry dependent on a small family(?) run monopoly? Rob Olliges
What if Clark Foam was gone? Thats a very good question... Might be a bit of drama for the production guys, but no biggie for the creative home builder. There are all kinds of fascinating, functional core/structural materials available to anyone with an inquisitive mind, enough money and a little extra time. Regarding polyurethane sheet foam, its made in a variety of densities, 4x 8' sheets of varying thicknesses. Really fun stuff to work with. Polyester and epoxy compatible, impervious to most any solvent. Hollow, solid or laminated to other things. Material and fabrication combinations are only limited by the users imagination. Bob Simmons would be going crazy with all of today`s possibilities. There never has been a better time than now to actively explore the spectrum of alternatives to traditional surfboard blanks. One source: http://www.precisionboard.com/portal.swf
What if Clark Foam was gone? Thats a very good question... Might be a bit of drama for the production guys, but no biggie for the creative home builder. There are all kinds of fascinating, functional core/structural materials available to anyone with an inquisitive mind, enough money and a little extra time. Regarding polyurethane sheet foam, its made in a variety of densities, 4x 8' sheets of varying thicknesses. Really fun stuff to work with. Polyester and epoxy compatible, impervious to most any solvent. Hollow, solid or laminated to other things. Material and fabrication combinations are only limited by the users imagination. Bob Simmons would be going crazy with all of today`s possibilities. There never has been a better time than now to actively explore the spectrum of alternatives to traditional surfboard blanks. One source: http://www.precisionboard.com/portal.swf
If Clark was gone, someone would fill the niche with a poorer product at half the cost and it would be blown outside the U.S. After they put Walker out of business they would raise the price by three times. I’m not sure you can compare the royalty thing with plugs vs. boards. Clark isn’t really marketing a plug by “x”. They just give credit where credit is due. I don’t buy a blank 'cause so and so shaped it, I buy it because it comes closest to what I am trying to finish shape.
If Clark was gone, someone would fill the niche with a poorer product at half the cost and it would be blown outside the U.S. After they put Walker out of business they would raise the price by three times. I’m not sure you can compare the royalty thing with plugs vs. boards. Clark isn’t really marketing a plug by “x”. They just give credit where credit is due. I don’t buy a blank 'cause so and so shaped it, I buy it because it comes closest to what I am trying to finish shape.
the designers who are selling out? former shapers? who are getting on in years? if Clark had been paying these guys from the beginning? those cobra fangs poisoning his soul and ruining his name? being rewarded in respectable ways? Clark would not be part of the problem, and Surftech would have had to develop some other way? what if? smells like the putrid odor of elitism-moralism-socialism. grubby c and randy f are proud capitalists.
the designers who are selling out? former shapers? who are getting on in years? if Clark had been paying these guys from the beginning? those cobra fangs poisoning his soul and ruining his name? being rewarded in respectable ways? Clark would not be part of the problem, and Surftech would have had to develop some other way? what if? smells like the putrid odor of elitism-moralism-socialism. grubby c and randy f are proud capitalists.
If Clark shut down the Chinese would be in the blank selling business in the blink of an eye. R.B.
If Clark shut down the Chinese would be in the blank selling business in the blink of an eye. R.B.
I thought the Chinese polyester boards used cheap Australian blanks. Hell, if blanks were manufactured in Asia they might just withhold them and force us to purchase “finished” boards. Then we’d see home-grown innovation by fiat. BTW, who blows blanks for the South Africans. Would any of object AS MUCH to cheap imported surfboards made in South Africa? Labor is cheap, people need work, long surfing history. Rob Olliges
I thought the Chinese polyester boards used cheap Australian blanks. Hell, if blanks were manufactured in Asia they might just withhold them and force us to purchase “finished” boards. Then we’d see home-grown innovation by fiat. BTW, who blows blanks for the South Africans. Would any of object AS MUCH to cheap imported surfboards made in South Africa? Labor is cheap, people need work, long surfing history. Rob Olliges
One example… “Bilt Surfboards are shaped by the very best local and international shapers to produce state-of-the-art boards for surfers at any level of skill. Using a variety of tools, blanks made from our own in-house foam blowing plant (consisting of 10 moulds), are handcrafted to suit the customer individual requirements, which can vary dramatically from surfer to surfer.” http://www.biltsurf.com/About.htm
One example… “Bilt Surfboards are shaped by the very best local and international shapers to produce state-of-the-art boards for surfers at any level of skill. Using a variety of tools, blanks made from our own in-house foam blowing plant (consisting of 10 moulds), are handcrafted to suit the customer individual requirements, which can vary dramatically from surfer to surfer.” http://www.biltsurf.com/About.htm
BTW, who blows blanks for the South Africans. Would any of object AS MUCH to >cheap imported surfboards made in South Africa? Labor is cheap, people need >work, long surfing history.>>>Rob Olliges Surblanks are made in South Africa http://www.surfblanks.co.za/ Most boards found in the local surfshop here in Norway are made in South Africa, the surfshop also orders customs from the same manufacturer. Good price, good boards. Not overly impressed with the finish tho. regards, Håvard
BTW, who blows blanks for the South Africans. Would any of object AS MUCH to >cheap imported surfboards made in South Africa? Labor is cheap, people need >work, long surfing history.>>>Rob Olliges Surblanks are made in South Africa http://www.surfblanks.co.za/ Most boards found in the local surfshop here in Norway are made in South Africa, the surfshop also orders customs from the same manufacturer. Good price, good boards. Not overly impressed with the finish tho. regards, Håvard