Quality is some what of a confusing word. It can be that something has a distinguishing element or characteristic like the quality of oak lumber compared to ash lumber. The two pieces of wood are similar but do have distinct differences or different qualities.

Quality can also be the degree of excellence. Like one cut of diamond is better than another there for of better quality, or higher grade.

Sometimes in the surfboard related discussion forums dialog gets going about the quality of different surfboards like the over seas boards being better quality than ones made in the US etc. I recently read a comment by the head guy from GSI… sorry couldn’t find a link or remember his name… saying that the factory that his boards are made at is the only surfboard factory with an ISO certification.

Of course that sounds impressive but it should be qualified. First, having an ISO certification doesn’t mean that your product is of higher quality than any or everybody else. But it does mean that you have a quality standard. That standard is documented and it is what you follow… everyone follows that standard in your organization. Most of that standard is in management. In reality it is for large companies. The GSI surfboards are built in the Cobra factory which is a large factory in Thailand. Large enough that they would benefit from an ISO certification and it makes perfect sense. A surfboard company that has a dozen or less workers would not go after an ISO certification however they may have a quality standard.

When my son started working for Point Blanks he was trained in the procedures of that shop. They make a good surfboard and their process is well thought out and followed. You could definitely say Point Blanks has a quality standard. When the time comes that we put on someone at my shop they will be expected to follow our procedures as well. They may not be written down but they are followed and any new person that would start working with us would need to follow our procedures. I have a quality standard too.

To say that a product is better… in this case a surfboard, because it is made in a facility that has an ISO certification is misleading. It’s good for the GSI guy because he knows that his product is being made following a specific standard… or in a certain manner. It doesn’t mean that the product is built to a higher standard but to a specific standard.

I know my boards are built to a specific standard too, and I’ve got it set high.

D.R.

If you don’t think fins make a difference in how a board rides try making a significant fin change in your board and see what happens…

While looking at the surf this morning I got into a conversation with one of the locals guys here about surfboard design, single fins, multi fins…. I may have a post somewhere in the archives about fins and placement etc. but it’s all worth repeating.

I got the chance to take my twin fin hull out for a ride yesterday afternoon, now there’s a real change up, two small “ D “ shaped fins on a hull instead of one nicely foiled flex fin. So how do the two fins change the way the board would ride than with a single flex? The simple answer is the two fin set up give the board a delicate response. If you played keyboards I’d say it’s like the difference in playing a grand piano and electronic keyboard or organ. If you were a guitar player like the difference in action between an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar.

I’ve had guys ask what fin would be good in my retro long board the Imperial. I always say it depends on how you’d like the board to respond for you…. If you want to extend your tip time then put a fin in with plenty area and set it at the back of the box. If you’d like quick snap turns then go with a cut away around 8” or so.

When I changed my 8’0 two plus one to a quad I lost some stability in white water but the smooth driving turn backs and speed holding a high line.... something I never felt from the two plus one set up.

When Travis Riley changed the back fins on the perimeter stringer quad long board from 3” to 4 5/8... Actually the same fins as the front fins, he gained a whole new out look on how that board performed.

Of course when a board has glassed in fins there is nothing you can do but, most boards have removable fins so it’s easy to change them out. If you like what you have that’s fine but on days that you’ve got some time and the surf is the fun casual kind, try a small fin change and see what happens.

D.R.

DR pic by Nathan Dorn

Believe it or not, I'm still working one my new or upgraded web page. Ok, sometimes I loose some steam, as well as have cumputer problems. But I am working on it. What I'm up to now is the gallery page. Coming up with ideas for pictures got me looking through some of the archives.

So what the heck... here are some pictures I came across... click to enlarge.

I was told a guy came buy Wave Front a few weeks ago and said if I made my Retro Hulls with color he'd buy one. I don't do Retro Hulls with color but, I do my Retro Long Boards in color, as seen above.

D.R.

For the most part surf flics are boring. But Bustin’ Down the door is a different kind of surf flic…. It has a story.

I was told about the film a couple weeks ago but had forgotten about it. Then yesterday it caught my attention again and I found it showing at a theater here in Ventura so my wife and I went and saw it last night. I’d say it’s definitely worth the price of admission.

There are some great old clips of seventies single fin surfing, all in Hawaii, and an excellent piece of surfing history that most everyone won’t know… until now. Depending on your view point you may come away with some pluses or minuses but all in all the film was well done.

What I liked was the throw back, as I mentioned in my bottom turn post about how surfing was advanced by guys that surfed to surf, the movie goes back to before there were pro surfers. The story of Mark Richards getting a seat in the big Hawaii surf meet and not having the fifty buck entry fee. As well, MR telling how petrified he was when he had to go out in giant Waimea for the Smirmoff Contest. But to his credit went out caught some wave then after his heat being relieved that he finished forth because if he finished third or better would advance and have to go out again.

That particular surf meet is one of the stories in the book “ Surf Is Where You Find It “ by Gerry Lopez by the way. Having read the story, hearing another real time view and seeing footage of the day was a treat.

There is some real emotion in the interviews. Getting that on film and putting it in the film I’d say took some guts. It’s not all pretty, there are some serious moments as well as some clips of bone crushing wipeouts. If you get the chance… go see it.

D.R.

MR Photo nicked from http://www.bustindownthedoor.com/