Surfer Labor Strikes Back
In the lastest effort to secure the future of hand crafted surfboards, a San Clemente shaper Byrondesign has penned a well crafted response to the latest issue of Surfer Mag. In it, he calls out Al Merrick, Matt Biolas, Timmy Patterson, JC and others for giving the finger to the industry that gave them what they have.
The basic tenets of surfing: talent rules the lineup and revere thy shaper are failing due to the soccerification of surfing. Serious waves are clogged with beginners who think the lineup should be like any other rule enforced sporting field and boards should be bought at the Sports Authority. The only thing we have going for us is a small, but growing movement founded by guys like the Popout Bandit and The Godfather who reminds us that The Kids Are Alright and that Surfer Labor should be respected.
Update: Soccer is great, I play all the time. Beginners are great too. They just need to tap into the decades of culture (and magic within) vs. expecting it to fit their previous experiences, then everyone will be stoked!
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May 4th, 2007 at 7:53 am
Byron is my new hero. I am also penning a response to Chris Mauro’s propaganda piece.
May 5th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
XTR has been around since 1990.
EPS/Epoxy since 1980.
Joe Hendig is making a fortune repairing Surftechs.
South Coast surf shop in PB returned all their TL2s because they were splitting down the rail.
Firewire isn’t selling anything except in Japan.
S-core closed down.
Aviso, made in the USA, is hanging tough.
Danny Hess has more orders than he can make.
CI’s numbers are way down. Anacapa’s are selling on the east coast but not the west coast.
Mauro mentioned that Hobie has Surftechs but made no mention of their new Made in USA program.
The price of new poly blanks just dropped by $25 bucks.
New UV resins are coming out this summer that are stronger than epoxy and less yellow than previous UV resins.
Mauro said there are no shaping machines in China. There are many shaping machines in China.
Mauro said the glass shops have to step up. Moonlight Glassing stepped up a long time ago but Surfer mag pretends Moonlight doesn’t exist.
Mauro’s article was timely but one sided. Fox news!
Mauro made it sound like surfers would have no choice but to ride an outsourced board. Yeah right!
May 7th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
That is the last issue of surfer i will ever pick up..
July 29th, 2007 at 9:00 am
Hola faretaste
mekodinosad