Rocket Scientists and Surfboards

Interesting stuff, but I'm not sure 25% strong gets it done. Maybe it does.

I was a skier long before I started surfing too. Initially I had a hard time getting my head around the so-call "pressure marks" you get all over the deck. So standing on your board puts dents in it? Really? I hope these dudes make it work. Can't say for sure how much a 30% more expensive blank impacts the final cost of the board, but I doubt it's very much. Short board blanks are what, $70 tops? 30% on top of that means the shaper pays $90 for the blank.

 

I work in the outdoor industry, IE camp/ski/travel/cycle/outerwear etc, and I am curious to know about the longetvity your ski equipment. As an avid snowboarder, surfer, and whatever else I can do to stay active I have yet to find an activity where the equipment lasts more than a few seasons, forget forever...

this is interesting though, I wish they would make expensive stuff like cars and homes more withstanding to the elements and require minimal upkeep

 

I agree Ryan. Same thing here, my skis wore out, my rock climbing shoes, rope, etc wear out, my guitar strings get old and dirty and so too a surfboard will not last forever. Is there any piece of sporting equipment that can last forever?

 

Other than breaking boards not one of my boards have needed professional ding repair. Just some education and viola a 15 dollar repair kit goes a long way. My go to board turned 3 this summer, it looks like a pepperoni pizza that went through a meat grinder, but it goes like nothing else I have ever ridden. I think alot has to do with ability, I also found that once I progressed at surfing my deck started lasting longer, as for the bottom, I repair it every few weeks or so. I surf/paddle over boulders pretty regularly, but thats the way the cookie crumbles.

Surfboards are like shoes, they break in and feel great, then get floppy and turn to ****

Also, about your skis taking a beating, most people that take care of their skis that get them repaired with proper ptex and tune ups are dropping a couple hundo every season. How many days a year are/were you skiing vs. how many days a year your surf?

 

try firewires.
also, my softop (tm) longboard by surftech is well into its second decade of regular use and looks it but
its integrity is just fine. after the millenia i always wondered why guys bought technology from the '60's.

 

Salz,

You don't need a lot of room for most repairs. And unless you really effed your board up, a basic repair is easy and actually hard to mess up. Good idea on experimenting on an old board. We are attempting a total rework on a board found in a dumpster.

 

the shops will tell you their boards are tough when they only put 2oz glass on 'em.

if you want your board to be tough, get 6oz glass. it's slightly heavier but will extend the life of your board three fold. and unless you're a pro, it's not gona make a huge difference

I've had a custom shaped with 6oz glass for three years now and it's barely got a ding.
and I like the "heavier" feel because I surf it in the winter when there's hard offshores a lot.

 

Tank as in uber-durable or tank as in heavy, slow and hard to turn?

 

I'm with ya bro. The things I've done to my skis over the years is crazy. Skis are crazy durable. Surfboards are "handle with care" for sure. Those that last are handled carefully like works of art. You don't have to worry about that with skis or snowboards.

I'd love to have a surfboard that could take a drop on the pavement, or worse yet, a collision with a large single-fin (that happened) and come away unscathed.

 

My North Face Mountain jacket from 1999 is still my ski jacket. I gave it a another waterproofing coat maybe 3-4 years ago. Also, and from that same era, my pair of Vasque sundowners (made in Italy, not China) are looking a little ragged, but waterproof and comfortable none-the-less. Lastly, my original, first generation Patagonia retro x is now 22 years old and still warm and, if I don't say so myself, rather handsome.

 

Bic. Then you run into the typical "im too good for those boards" response

Theres a fine line between durability and performance when ot comes to surfing. A few extra factors come into play when boyancy is involved

 

Fake boobies!

 

I stand corrected! Very good work Surfdogg.

 

Yep, a super light tank at that, at least mine is, it's got the "kick" technology, some call it golf ball texture or dimples, which makes it lighter / stronger than the previous models. I've had mine for 1 1/2 years and it's been to PR and back twice now and in HH - nearly DOH waves, and handled by Jet Blue on both trips, and it's gotten tons of mileage here at home, but I can't find a scratch or ding on her. This thing exceeded my expectations and performs in almost all conditions.