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I would imagine its the type of board that sits in people's garage and gets used once a year. Once you really get into surfing you then upgrade. People who ca
by mrharrison 11y ago
I would imagine its the type of board that sits in people's garage and gets used once a year. Once you really get into surfing you then upgrade. People who can really surf wouldn't use something like this. Sorry no data, but this what I see everytime I go out to a break. Beginners on these foam tops, intermediate and advanced on a $600 firewire, CI or vintage custom.
- forgetsusername 11y ago>People who can really surf wouldn't use something like this. I agree. And let me say, I know nothing about surfing, and am basing my discussion on this one article. I think it's inevitable that the lower barrier to entry will allow the sport to grow, and be good for the "high-end" in the long-run. That's good. But in the meantime, this sort of breakthrough puts pressure on the existing system. I have to assume that shops used to sell more $300 boards than $1000 boards. Now they might be selling zero $300 boards, which have been replaced by the Costco special. So, small shops close. Low-volume producers go out of business. That's exactly what technological disruption is.
- ryanackley 11y agoAgain, I have no data, but I imagine that new surfboards are a very low margin business already because the smaller shops seem to stay far away from it. I say this because my local mom and pop surfshop on the beach doesn't even offer in-stock brand-new surfboards. You can however custom order from a local shaper through them. They focus heavily on surf apparel and used surfboards.