Also... are you blowing it?
Earlier this morning you were treated to the high-water mark of surf journalism and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. But now, let us return to your regularly scheduled programing.
In theory, I could call, text, email a number of wonderful folk in the surfboard industry right now and ask this question then write a meaningful, well-researched piece that would actually matter.
But it is late-ish in the day, baseball’s World Series is about to launch game two, I’m writing a book and the most wonderful folk in the surfboard industry are here, commenting daily.
Therefore.
I have a question for you (wonderful folk in the surfboard industry).
Surfboards used to be a loss-leader for surf fashion with razor thin margins. And I understand that Pyzel, Merrick, Parker, future Prime Minister Maurice Cole, Wavestorm etc. have carved out fine livings carving fine foam but… billions of dollars were never there like they were t-shirts ‘n trunks.
Surf fashion is, at time of publication, dead. Surfboard sales are, on the other hand, dystopically too alive.
So are you bros getting rich?
Like, crushing it or forgetting to adjust those razor thin margins?
Inquiring surf journalistic minds want to know.
And if you’re not getting rich….
…. are you blowing it and being all poor and overworked?
Like surf journalists.
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My advice is simply go make your own board , take it from me even a half wit can make something functional on the first go , and lets face it the tricky bit was always the glassing , but the UV triggered resins have taken the horror out of that side of things , trust me kids if a bunch of stoners in the 70s can do it you can to.
Surfboard sales are out of control. Same applies to wetsuits. You can’t get certain models from the top brands with backorder times unknown (ie, CI mid). For months now one of the few activities available without restriction is surfing. Couple that with the current popularity of surfing amongst the VAL population and you get an exploding industry. The key is not to get sucked into the hype and realize this is a temporary and unsustainable boost to the industry. It will go back to a slower demand. All this applies to the electric bike industry as well. Off the charts at the moment but likely not sustainable.
Keep an eye out for a glut of “like new” “ridden once” “great board I just ordered the wrong volume” posts on craigslist
Noone I’ve ever known has ever given a shit about the stupid surf industry..
Australian surfboard industry is booming. Main issues are:
1. A crippling shortage of blanks. Mainly due to demand out stripping supply and many blank manufacturers sending containers to Hawaii, Europe and Japan where the exchange rate is very favourable.
2. A crippling shortage of skilled glassers and sanders. With the borders closed there are not many fish in the pond, currently I know of at least 5 factories chasing workers on the gold coast alone.
3. Our margins continue to be shithouse, the guys making money are the ones making retro boards at $1200 a pop, the rest of us are racing to the bottom.
I know of at least a couple of bigger brands that have a 6 – 12 week back log of orders and are not taking any more orders before Christmas.
While I wouldn’t call it crippling, there is a pretty significant shortage of skilled board builders in North County SD and South OC. I think the difference here is that there just really aren’t too many young people in Southern California’s workforce that see much of a future working full-time/no health benefits in a low-ceiling manufacturing position that requires the use of volatile chemicals.
Yep its the same over here.
The race to the bottom on a crap product built to fail with a stupid name , go figure its all your own faults anyway.
Who the hell is paying top dollar for boards off the rack?
Punters, covid locked down, suddenly taken up surfing again out of boredom…punters.
It’s nice to be in on the ground floor. Glad I have a few back ups.
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