Your choice?

If a highly respected surfing journal was to feature a detailed article on surfcraft design in an upcoming issue, what would you like it to be about, and why?

Some time ago I recall a mainstream surf magazine doing an issue devoted to surfboard design. Maybe the “Magic Carpet” series or something. Some editor had a quiver of boards he owned or had ridden over a reasonable period of time from various board builders. It was written from an end user’s point of view with no input from the designer/shaper. I’d rather see something with a wide and varied lineup of surfcraft and/or design elements. Maybe a cast to include but not limited to: Brom, Cooperfish, Liddle, Phillips, RedX, Solomonson, Spitzer. Perhaps an entire series on the state of the art today, materials, board design, and fin systems. Seems that you either have to comb the Internet today and compile your own almanac or rely on mainstream media to provide it for you (ha!, not likely to happen). It would be great to actually hear it straight from the designer, what their concept is all about and what was on their mind when the idea was born. Probably not much commercial value for a print media mogul but it’s that type of information that keeps us all coming back to Swaylock’s, right? Many thanks to all of you out there that are in the surfboard industry, day in a day out and still find time to share information here at Swaylock’s. Tom Sterne>>> If a highly respected surfing journal was to feature a detailed article on > surfcraft design in an upcoming issue, what would you like it to be about, > and why?

Or how about an article on the Underground Movement, with an interview with our very own host, Mr. Swaylock! They could also interview the industry biggies to get their perspectives on those of who choose do their own and aren’t buying into the limited designs presented by the mainstream surf media. I wonder how many would slam those that do their own and what impact, if any, there is on their market share (as if none of them started in the garage)? And what do they think about those professionals that choose to share the knowledge?

I love Tom’s idea! However, I don’t think there is such a thing as a “respected surf journal” (ok maybe The Surfer’s Journal). The mainstream media has to “dummy down” for their target readers (14-23 year olds). You start talking about the difference between rail rocker and stringer rocker and you’re going to lose the average grommit. I think Surfing Magazine has a total issue devoted to design every year and every year I am completely bummed after reading 6 articles about 1/4 inch changes in tail rocker and the advantages of a round-pin vs squash tails. Surfer Magazine recently had a article about a revolutionary new foam blank but spent the whole time talking about the inventor’s struggles with development and money. An good article like Tom’s is gonna need lots of drawings or diagrams to explain just the design basics. No one’s ever been able to describe to me in words what “spriral V” is! I’d love to see the article, I just think we’d all be disappointed by the results. Lastly, a single article will never completely satisfy most of the design nerds here. Its going to take a complete issue or two!

If a highly respected surfing journal was to feature a detailed article on > surfcraft design in an upcoming issue, what would you like it to be about, > and why? The future of surfboard design. Shapers that are pushing the envelope from a design and material perspective. -John

Dale: I would like to see an article that expands the thread you began below entitled “Possibilities”. I found in to be one of the more intriguing collection of ideas I have read lately. While it was not stated, the thread seemed to be heading towards some sort of new, flexible, hollow blends of surfcraft. Patrick

Remember when you use to laugh at M-TV ? An issue devoted to Swaylocks from each of the top 5 surf mags . …or there’ll be no mercy !!!Herb

I would read anything that was not abount 6’ 18" wide tri fins…

I would read anything that was not abount 6’ 18" wide tri fins… …now that’s funny! …I’m sure that in the eyes of the big 5 we are the terrorists.Herb

If a highly respected surfing journal was to feature a detailed article on > surfcraft design in an upcoming issue, what would you like it to be about, > and why? I’m thinking it could be at least a two parter. Part 1: Several pages of photos of every conceivable surfcraft design. Anyone remember that layout Surfer ran years (decades?) ago with a Malibu article, showing Malibu surfers with their boards? Run everything they can get. Part 2: Follow up on two tangents - what the reader feedback was most interested in, and what seemed the most radical/interesting for the industry people. Surfboard design and construction industry, that is… Nels

Nels: I’d settle for a really good in depth look at surfboard fins. Past to Present. No small task, but it would meet both the needs of the advertiser/supporters and the readership. My son subscribes to Surfer/Surfing? I don’t know which but an issue or two back they had an interesting look at quivers. Each had a rising star with his quiver and some commentary. Many of the molded epoxy boards were visible in each of the quivers, few if any made it into the commentary on favorites of each surfer and they seemed more likely placed due to sponsorship contracts. More recently whichever magazine that didn’t run the first quiver piece did their own version. It was more interesting in that they ran “historical” quivers of more obscure or controversial characters. They were all fun to look at but Tom Curren’s made on of the more profound statements in that most of his were raggedy, cast off surfcraft with wildly modified fin systems and patch jobs. Tom Sterne>>> I’m thinking it could be at least a two parter.>>> Part 1: Several pages of photos of every conceivable surfcraft design. > Anyone remember that layout Surfer ran years (decades?) ago with a Malibu > article, showing Malibu surfers with their boards? Run everything they can > get.>>> Part 2: Follow up on two tangents - what the reader feedback was most > interested in, and what seemed the most radical/interesting for the > industry people. Surfboard design and construction industry, that is…>>> Nels

Nels:>>> I’d settle for a really good in depth look at surfboard fins. Past to > Present. No small task, but it would meet both the needs of the > advertiser/supporters and the readership.>>> My son subscribes to Surfer/Surfing? I don’t know which but an issue or > two back they had an interesting look at quivers. Each had a rising star > with his quiver and some commentary. Many of the molded epoxy boards were > visible in each of the quivers, few if any made it into the commentary on > favorites of each surfer and they seemed more likely placed due to > sponsorship contracts. More recently whichever magazine that didn’t run > the first quiver piece did their own version. It was more interesting in > that they ran “historical” quivers of more obscure or > controversial characters. They were all fun to look at but Tom Curren’s > made on of the more profound statements in that most of his were raggedy, > cast off surfcraft with wildly modified fin systems and patch jobs.>>> Tom Sterne Make it either: A) a magazine like “Woodenboat”. Each issue has several professional-level discussions of designs, materials, supplies, techniques, history, readers projects, etc., etc. B) a coffee table book

Make it either: A) a magazine like “Woodenboat”. Each issue has > several professional-level discussions of designs, materials, supplies, > techniques, history, readers projects, etc., etc. B) a coffee table book Here we go again, as I`ve said previously to many others, Swaylocks is a phenomenon, online or otherwise… saturated with so much inquisitive, focused, positive intelligence… wow!

More recently whichever magazine that didn’t run > the first quiver piece did their own version. It was more interesting in > that they ran “historical” quivers of more obscure or > controversial characters. They were all fun to look at but Tom Curren’s > made on of the more profound statements in that most of his were raggedy, > cast off surfcraft with wildly modified fin systems and patch jobs.>>> Tom Sterne The surf media have covered Curren and his experiments for a number of years now. His modifications of regular boards into wild-a** things seemed like personal attempts to stave off boredom and keep interested. I thought at the time that press coverage like this would stimulate some across-the-board home-grown design experimentation, but I don’t think I’ve seen it. I have a workbook with one such article on him from some years ago showing mini trailing fins…spontaneous human inspiration?

I suppose it depends on what you “see” when you look at photo of a surfboard in a magazine etc. I sat with my son and had him pick which quiver he preferred out of the group. I then chose Tom Curren’s as my own, much to his dismay. “Why do you want those pieces of junk, Dad?” Then I pointed out a tiny, fin barely visible on an extreme edge on one of the boards…he lit up on the possibilities. I think you hit on it, probably boredom sets in for a lucky few with the resources in time, uncrowded surf conditions and an open mind. Tom S.>>> More recently whichever magazine that didn’t run>>> The surf media have covered Curren and his experiments for a number of > years now. His modifications of regular boards into wild-a** things seemed > like personal attempts to stave off boredom and keep interested. I thought > at the time that press coverage like this would stimulate some > across-the-board home-grown design experimentation, but I don’t think I’ve > seen it. I have a workbook with one such article on him from some years > ago showing mini trailing fins…spontaneous human inspiration?

Having been a “geek” a lot longer than I’ve been a “kook” and shaper wannabe, the worst thing in the world for this forum and the absolute magic that goes on here would be to be featured in an industry rag. I can’t count on my finger and toes how many times a truly working and enriching discussion board augered in because it became “too” famous. I hope that you’ll let me in on how to find the “new” swaylocks when you all bolt when this becomes maniplulated by industry wankers - they’ll be here in disguise and I’m sure that they are already watching but not interfering - yet because it hasn’t become worth their time to try to manipulate it - this just isn’t the right crowd and in spite of the dollars flying around the surf industry, this site shouldn’t catch a marketer’s eye. So many wonderful communities have simply been abandonded by their fonders because they became marketing platforms for the big boys - been there, done that… If someone is supposed to be here and participating (or in my case simply observing and paying dues), they will find it. It seems to me that swaylocks is growing in community anyway so there really isn’t anything to worry about. A pretty good analogy would be pointing a surfcam at your favorite secret break - whata you thinks gonna happen? So throw a little green at swaylock’s paypal account and keep this baby float’n. “build it and they will come” “Be careful what you wish for - it might come true” Fat Old Kook

I think the only way to approach it would be an article written by various shapers, and no, not the current crop of guys only. Brewer, Greenough, Terry Fitz, even sneak Michael Peterson in there. Let these guys go off on their own tangents on their theories. The problem is that 99.9999999999999 percent of the readers would not comprehend any of it OR appreciate it. When I pick up a surf mag and there aren’t any design articles, I just look at the pictures and file it away (half the time in the trash). There was a fricken GREAT Greenough article in Surfers Journal a few years back!!! There was a Brewer article last year I believe and I don’t think there was one usable bit in there about design, mostly about his personal life. So from the Greenough piece to the Brewer piece, we went from a great design article to a crappy design article. Maybe the Journal caught on that design theories are a bore to the general reader and reading about Dick and his dragster and his failed business ventures were more interesting. aloha, tom

…I’m sure that in the eyes of the big 5 we are the > terrorists.Herb This one reason why the “big 5” may not pass on information regarding Swaylocks. Could it be that a truly informed merchandising public be interested in all the junk that is force fed to them on a monthly basis? Magazine surfers gone astray with independant thoughts! If they photgragh it, they will do it? regrds peter