can you please take my quick survey?

I am asking for a little hello from the forum. I do not represent any commercial interests. Just doing a survey to better understand how people buy surfboards. The long-term goal is to improve the process so that buyers, sellers and shapers all mutually benefit.


Please take a look:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZEIkztl7d0WqBC-htwGxl_8nBlhJxuwVKQH66gkvI_I/viewform?usp=send_form


Thanks for helping out,

Jay

 

thanks to everyone who has taken the survey. got a really good response so far. please take minute if you wouldn't mind to fill it out. thx

 

Yes

Talon Happy Pill 6'10 (great shaper)
Talon Custom 7'6
Rawson Matador 7'10

No

Crescent Head/Point Plomer, Australia

Green olivine sand


thanks

 

Not a folly beach shaper. Talon surfboards is out of San Diego. http://www.talonsurfboards.com/gallery.shtml

Awesome boards.

 

7'6 Talon
7'6 Walker M-16 (sold it)
Pic of Bruce's Beauties when I was in South Africa.

Hopefully that gives me some street cred. I can't find photos of other boards and they are in my storage unit.

 

That is the spot from Endless Summer.

I am trying to see if there is a cost effective way for surfers to buy boards from quality shapers using modern day technology. Meaning the internet, data analysis, etc. Not crappy materials, machine made board from Taiwan, pop outs or junk. High quality, custom shaped boards from great shapers.

I stopped buying boards years ago from surf shops because they always ended up being too small. Buying from online shops was tough as well. Began doing my own research and figuring out what I needed before speaking to a shaper. Not everyone has the time to do that and not all shapers really know what works for the individual and the break they are surfing. The outcome was 50/50. So you never really know what you are getting. Surfboards are pretty unique in that you can't return them. I can ride a bike before I buy it, hit golf clubs, etc. With surfboards (skis, snowboards in many cases), its rare that you are ever going to get any guarantee that it will work after you purchase it. Finding the right surfboard is particularly difficult when you are a big guy. I am 6'5 and 240. Then add in the 5/4 wetsuit for winter. It makes it hard to know exactly what will work without spending a lot of $$ and being frustrated.

Using modern day tech, volume calcs and other data can help in this process. The key is first understanding from surfers what their experience has been to see if there is any reason to pursue this. Hence the reason for the survey.

 

Yes, I would say that not everyone has time to speak directly with a shaper or find one that is good. Second, if you are going to shell out >$600 for a board don't you want some guarantee that it will be the right one when you get it? No shaper has ever done that for me.
Middleman isn't correct. If you are providing a service that adds value to someone then you should be compensated for that. If you don't add value then you shouldn't get paid. The main goal is to be cost effective. Let's say you paid $750 for a board and it doesn't work for you. You are probably going to sell it for $500 max. Then go buy another board for $700. You just paid $950 for a board that works for you and probably spent 2 months. Tack on another $100 per board for shipping if you couldn't pick it up.
Omaha isn't exactly the target audience until Kelly gets his wave pool built. You are probably not the target either since you are an expert and understand surfboards. It's for the people who are going to be out there anyway, but aren't riding the right equipment for their needs.