eMpowered wrote:sean-- wrote:The imports are going to continue but most serious surfers will always go for the custom or local board.
That's all well and good Sean, But how many of the Surfing Population do you think are "Serious Surfer's".
At the end of the day Shapers are in business for whatever reason, Some have a family, mortgage etc. It would be great to get all romantic and say, I don't shape for punter's.
But the fact of the matter nowaday's is (especially in a city like Sydney) that the percentage of business you might gain from "Serious Surfers" might equate to around 15% of your business if your really lucky.
Not getting personal, Or saying that I know more than someone else, But if China/Thailand can make a board so much cheaper than average Aussie Joe, I would'nt be so narrow minded (For want of a better decription).
You reallly have to be thick skinned nowaday's to make a living out of shaping. Good marketing or not.
I'm really only going on what I see around here ( southern Illawarra ) that on the good days most are riding local boards. I havent surfed in Sydney for a long time so I cant really comment on what most people ride up there.
I think the pretty established shapers and local brands would still be doing OK.
I understand the argument against the imports but there are a number of reasons why surfers ride Surftech's ect. I'll put my hand up and say I rode Surftech longboards for a few years and in my experience I liked the durability factor because I wasn't getting the heel dents and the resale value as well. Many who also ride these boards would agree with that. I know the distributer and he used to let me swap boards around and try out different models but at the end of it all I came to the conclusion that these boards were inferior to glass because they wouldnt noseride as well, handle bumps , wind or run as well so I went back to glass. I must have tried out over 30 different models and there was really only one or two that I found to be pretty good.
I didnt like the shorter boards at all really for pretty much the same reason. The mark up on these boards was another thing as well which explains why a lot of shop owners try and push them.
Theres a store down this way that stocks nothing but imports which is pretty sad.
I think its always been tough for a shaper starting out or an established one because surfers are fickle and often want to try something new or get a board off a another shaper.
The biggest thing I missed while riding tufflites was the anticipation of waiting for a custom and the buzz you get when you get it out there and it works for you. I can live with heel dents.
I just picked up a custom 9 footer off Mark Rabbidge and its the best 9 I've had in years and cheaper than a Surftech. I like his "not made in China " sticker.
Whats happening with surfboards is no different to whats happening in every other industry. People are losing jobs in manufacturing beacause it can be done cheaper offshore.
I still reckon that with surfboards there will always be a market for the local product.