A tsunami of pain.
Real world economic problems have finally but finally found their way into our idyllic surfing lifestyle. Hawaii’s ABC News affiliate, KITV4, is reporting that hard good prices have shot up so dramatically that surf shop owners are having trouble maintaining any margin for profit.
Alex Utal, owner of Used Surfboards Hawaii in Honolulu, told the station, “A board that was $350- $450 is now seeing a base at $500- $600,” and blamed the rise in oil prices, first and foremost…
“Everything with a surfboard starts with petroleum or oil based product. The polyurethane foam at the core of the board is petroleum based. The resin coating the board is petroleum based. Even the sandpaper used to sand the board is composed of petroleum in some way.”
…but also Covid VALs.
“You’re distanced from somebody. It’s an individual sport. So, folks that were normally playing tennis, canoe club, and high school athletes that were on the baseball team, they got into surfing.”
Prices are up 40% for resin, foam blanks 15% to 20% and on down the line all the way to shipping costs.
“It’s hit us, it’s hit us hard. I’ve seen prices in the industry creep up. I think prices are the highest prices I’ve seen for a surfboard,” Utal sighed.
But who is to blame?
Do you know?
Will Smith maybe?
More as the story develops.
Agreed! I learned a long time ago there is alwasy someone, bigger, stronger and with more money than me so it is best to walk quietly and carry a big stick.
SHHHIIITTT, I forgot about this gem of an exchange! BRAVO!!!
Punching up is truly your best skill
This has been fun!
I never once spoke of money but I’d consider shoving the markets up my ass if it felt good. Why so hurt? Show us where he touched you? BTW, guys who talk about money rarely have it
I refuse to fuck off today(maybe tomorrow) but I am a tard with a few decades of professional macro and micro exposure tied to the capital markets…which as I learned enhances my tard aura. What’s your excuse?
You’re absolutely correct as I misspoke as it is his administration not Biden who is the problem! I am happy to debate the Biden administration’s macro or micro economic destruction with you all day and how it will force more citizens into poverty and in need of government assistance. From a high level the Biden administration has thrown $1.9 trillion on an overheated economy thereby accelerating inflation. Their energy policy is crippling the US and has obvious global ramifications that you are surely observing. Now I could go on and offer a factual, non-political War and Peace length book on the economic destruction of the administration but I’d rather talk about Surfline Man as this is BG
Oh, as for Biden himself, he should be in a memory care facility with my mother in law where they can take good care of him…
If they can find a CD player
That’s right
Gave it all away
Last time I checked an EPS cored, balsa skinned, epoxy glassed surfboard cost 1/3 that of a regular board to make with major reductions in petroleum based products used for manufacture ..with cleanups using white vinegar.. Time for the industry to make a real meaningful change.. Surfers are environmentalists?? Yet refuse to give up a perceived? performance advantage to reduce environmental impact.. What a bunch of two faced, hypocritical, self rightous wankers…wake up! or fade away.
Drop it like it’s hot bro.
Building back better😝😝😝
Inflation is a lie an to many people having babies means supply an demand an tht means greasy humans putting the price up because supply is high an there gready
And free on youtube for the others
This is nothing new in the surfboard industry, it’s just been exacerbated by the current inflation that has been created by the out of control money creation. And of course it’s a real problem in Hawaii with the high cost of living.
Looks like the Surfboard Factory out in Kapolei is holding the line on prices for now. Their poly boards, both long and short, are nice, but lack durability with their sanded finishes. Surfboards are mostly a low margin item with the price of labor, materials, shipping, retail overhead etc.
I had a small factory back in the ’70s and was selling customs for $150, same as Rich Parr on Queen St. And that was for a gloss and polish. Now that shows the inflation from then to now, i.e., the loss of value in the dollar.
oh brah, Rich Parr Surfboards. What a classic shop. It was a tragic shame what happened that one fateful night. I think he had to leave Hawaii after that. If I remember right it was Iggy who worked with him then took over the shop under a new name.
Right, Harold took over. Rich had to leave for over a year before it cooled off. He came back and stayed a my house and made a surfboard in my shop.
Faggots and sailors buy surfboards, real men shape.
Word is we will actually feel the effects of war in 20-40 days. This is nothing compared with what is coming.
Hope this word that’s going around ends up being wrong.
More as the story…
Good reason for people to quit surfing.
What did you do to piss him off?
But who is to blame?
Kelly Slater.
From the moment business people realise there’s big $$.
They dumped the drugged and put a clean cut American up on the posters
30 years later his still making them $$$$🤑