There is a topic in shortboarding discussing the pros and cons of boards produced overseas as opposed to wholly Australian made. Topic is Liquid Lines Surfboards. Does this debate affect longboards as much as it seems to affect the
shortboard industry? I raise it here as I think it is an important issue. (or maybe I like sh1t stirring!)

What is your opinion on out Anthony?

Short and sweet,we have the best shapers on the planet living right in our backyard,so why bother going for second best overseas.

I posted 2 replies in the original topic. I am a bit of an idealist, but also a realist. Buying boards for your kids could get real expensive. Its easy to take the high moral ground if you have the $. I only have to buy boards for myself and probably buy every 2 years or so. I like the shaper who surfs giving me his feed back on what will work for me. I like that part of it and the actual energy he puts into the board. I don't like hearing of boards falling apart or breaking, or quick ca$h being made from a crap product. I think we have something of value in local shapers slogging away at something they love. It would be a shame to see them dissapear. I know now that most boards are machine cut and hand finished. People seem to be finding out the hard way that their board was produced overseas. I guess surfboards are a kind of throwaway product now. Do any of the Pro's get their hands dirty nowadays? It's a bit like footballers who nowadays don't have to work at a day job. That may seem off topic, but if the top pros were seen shaping boards and getting dusty, the kids would want to do the same. As I remember it you always saw guys like MP, Wayne Lynch, Simon A, etc in the shaping bay. But hey! What the hell would I know? hehe

Well you have read my opinion then. Goddard post something not long ado in response to a question not long ago. Here is a bloke who makes a brilliant product and is now looking at driving a school bus for coin. He has no young blokes to train with all the knowledge and skills he has. Very sad really. I will be long dead before the whole market has changed yet I do wonder how it will all end up.

I'm staying out of it this time.

I do want to say one thing quickly though. Many people extremely incorrectly put China and Thailand in the same basket, different countries, different quality, different ethics, different prices, different everything.

The irony of the domestic made vs OS made board debate is that many only apply it to surfboards while utilising OS made goods across the board in their daily life because they are cheaper.
I've currently got a 5 board quiver.
4'2" More, pu bellyboard machine cut and hand shaped at the GOld coast by Sunshine coast shaper.
6'8" Surftech scorpion, machine shaped and vac bagged in Thailand.
6'10" G&S magic fish, shaped in Byron (not sure if Nigel Perrow uses a machine) and colour work and glassed on Sunshine coast.
7'6" Diverse, computer cut and finished on the Gold coast.
8' Beachbeat, computer cut and finished on the Sunshine coast.
9' DVS, hand shaped and finished on the Gold coast.
I ride the Surftech the most.
Its definitely the strongest in regard to ding and heel dent resistance.
The board isn't corky and I know if I ding it the feps core won't suck water.
There' 5 in our family. The wife's Thai and the kids are all dual nationals so I reckon I get a pass in riding one Thai made board.
Seems like most don't care whether their boards are machine shaped or hand shaped.
Here's a random thought.
When you go into a Thai, Indian, Chinese or whatever takeaway to get food does it matter to you whether the person cooking the food is from the country or not?
Just curious about this.

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Cuttlefish said..


When you go into a Thai, Indian, Chinese or whatever takeaway to get food does it matter to you whether the person cooking the food is from the country or not?
Just curious about this.

I would prefer a thai cooking thai,indian cooking indian and so on.

I like to keep it authentic if possible.

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62mac said..

I like to keep it authentic if possible.

Except North Korean. North Korean making North Korean tends to be a fizzler. Chinese or Russian making North Korean tends to be a little better.

When I go out and eat I don't care who cooks it. I look at the people who are eating there first. If I see a heap of Chinese packing a Chinese restraint I will eat there. Plus I don't think the question is really relevant as they are putting the jobs and taxes in Australia

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chrispychru said...
When I go out and eat I don't care who cooks it. I look at the people who are eating there first. If I see a heap of Chinese packing a Chinese restraint I will eat there. Plus I don't think the question is really relevant as they are putting the jobs and taxes in Australia

zarb that was funny

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zarb said..

62mac said.. I like to keep it authentic if possible.

Except North Korean. North Korean making North Korean tends to be a fizzler. Chinese or Russian making North Korean tends to be a little better.

Should you nuke Nth Korean or just bbq it for best results?

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chrispychru said..
When I go out and eat I don't care who cooks it. I look at the people who are eating there first. If I see a heap of Chinese packing a Chinese restraint I will eat there. Plus I don't think the question is really relevant as they are putting the jobs and taxes in Australia

Not relevant.
Just curious.
While I'm on a roll derailing this topic.
The jobs and taxes are in Australia but you might be suprised how much money they send back to their country of origin.

No I would not. I know families who have been doing that since day dot. Yet they have to pay to live somewhere pay to eat etc

I've just ordered another Australian made board,keep it local and share your $ within and hopefully the money will come back around,no chance of this if your buying OS.

Well said Mac.

Newspaper article dated Jan 2012;

www.couriermail.com.au/nocookies?a=A.flavipes

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62mac said..
I've just ordered another Australian made board,keep it local and share your $ within and hopefully the money will come back around,no chance of this if your buying OS.

Then there's the argument....buy from the small time local shaper to further the grass roots.

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62mac said..

I've just ordered another Australian made board,keep it local and share your $ within and hopefully the money will come back around,no chance of this if your buying OS.

+1

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CMC said...
I'm staying out of it this time.

I do want to say one thing quickly though. Many people extremely incorrectly put China and Thailand in the same basket, different countries, different quality, different ethics, different prices, different everything.

I would like to know the difference in the following:
Quality
Materials
QC
Prices (on comparable materials)
Wages for staff
Hours staff work
Taxes

I'm also interested if you have ever had boards made in China?

By the way I'm not against OS boards (you can read mt comments in shortboard section) I'm just interested in your answers.

I think you have the best chance of getting a really good quality custom, is right here in OZ. Especially if you are thinking custom tint colours/designs.

As per CMC, Thailand is doing some great quality, and great advanced construction, strength, etc... But I think the business model is all about "boards for the masses", and in particular, spitting out 10-250 boards that are "all the same". Replication of a popular product. Although I think Firewire are branching into custom work(?). Not sure.

Keep in mind, the current Bob McTavish Handshapes have "fully handshaped by"... written into them. Those boards carrying that insignia will be worth a pretty penny in due course.