Golly , Heck, there , mister chickenplucker. I read your post over and over and just can’t make any more sense of it !! Still says the same thing to me !! But then I"m just a dumb shit who don’t know nothing about any thing. I guess there will allways be stupid americans to buy made in china stuff !! Old Ogre is just to stupid to Know what quality ,handmade in USA is ! As far as Verbage goes I am going to have some of that for dinner tonight to go with a slice of good old American Pie !! Oh and while your here chickenplucker , you wouldn’t know which came first, the chicken or the egg ?? We all know that good old Chiner has been here a long time afore America ! But damn we still haven’t figured out that chicken and egg thing !!
this is pointless thread. the www is the WORLD wide web, as in not just americans use this site it may have been started in america but the nature of web2 means that its kinda international
I live in Japan, Shonan of all places…Supposed to be the surf meca of Japan… Shit surf every day.
But Ill say a few words, I think majority of Japanese people doesnt care about surfing Its just a part of fashion or like a trend.. If some one says look to your left they will do exactly that. Having a big shapers surfboard is like having a big status, you can lift your chest up.. Its like driving a Lexus when you got a Toyota…
just how many professional surfer come out of Japan that actually rips>? Not talking about CT and all that, wheres a soul surfer? wheres a big waver? Where`s a free surfer that get payed becasue they are so good?
I shape in Japan, but the cost is fricken stupid.
The surf is inconsistent so testing ground is poor unless you move around up and down the cost like crazy…
So so so True. Couldn`t explain this situation any better… And they blame that dude from The Cheap SUP steal thread… I always wondered, what glassers and what shapers actually whent and sold out for the cheap labour…
ive met a few travelling japanese surfers in NZ and had a one as a guest and one in my employ. the guys ive met are into the lifestyle and fully hungry for quality waves. they were chargers. i had this japanese chick work for me and she was riding this big red gun. and was charging this 4 to 5 foot wedgey peak one morning all the local guys were a bit surprised. she wasnt like a hot dog surfer but wasnt afraid to take off late on a set. my experience with japanese surfer in New Zealand has always been really cool
It feel that way in the US too…or at least in california(can’t speak for the rest of the country). That is why the overwhelming majority of “surf” shops make more in t-shirt sales than with boards. It is also why ads for sunglasses, hats, and other crap can be seen on every other page in the top US surf magazines…It’s BS but it sells.
As a polisher who is directly affected by the Japanese market (roughly 20 boards in the last couple weeks headed to Japan alone) I’m grateful for the work, money, and spot on craftsmanship I’m able to accomplish. For an idea how it has affected our shop, I’ve been hitting summer season numbers in January, the historically slowest month at our factory.
It is interesting reading all of the posts and perspectives that have been shared as a result of my initial post. Thank each of you for the reading and responding. To clarify, the post was not intended to offend anyone. It was not “anti” any culture or country, and was certainly not meant to minimalize shapers, glassers or anyone associated with the craft. I realize that it is important sell domestically as well as overseas, and to do business internationally, so again, no offense was meant regarding that. it was simply a post specifically regarding a statement I’ve heard more than once already. Not necessarily by anyone within this site, but made nonetheless about the subject of: “get it before it’s gone”. That’s it. Thanks.
Thanks Gene. It was probably a pointless thread, but just a general statement. Not related to shapers, but as you mentioned a gripe with the wording that some people have used to sell used boards. I guess I could have worded it a bit more judiciously. It wasn’t however, intended to offend, so please accept my apologies if I did do that. Anyhow, I appreciate your feedback, and again, please accept my apologies…
If shapers are making a good return for selling their surfboards to Japan, then good for them. From what I know of Japan, the people there are very fussy when it comes to quality, and anything less than very good will have a very difficult time being sold there.