SURFBOARDS

I haven't been on the blogline much lately but now its time to renew my approach in my original purposes; presenting an semi accurate picture of what I build and my views on surfing, surfboards, and the industry.

First and formost your surfboard is the most import thing you own as a surfer: example: you can have all the surfing talent in the world but if you don't own a surfboard -you are limited in your fun and (or) growth as a surfer but if you are a talented surfer and you own any board it may or may not be the best but at least you can gain experiance and have fun at the very least.

The decal or logo on your board has little or no bearing on how good it rides --the only thing that matters is does this board fit your size, the waves you will ride ,and your ability level. This is why off the rack surfboards or mass produced surfboards requadless of name or quality only go so far in functional, practical , workability! Part of the reason is they are designed for surfers of upper level ability (which 90%of us are not--ouch that hurt!!) or for really cool exotic type surf spots (which once again -most of us aren't riding). So requardless of quality or even design these aren't made for the masses (Joe-normals)even if KS's name is on it. What KS rides when He is 50-60 yrs old will be much more appropriate for average surfers than what He is riding now!

This theroy is not work surf shops and surf teams sell ---I am not attacking them as people but as a whole , they push the be like KS to the hilt,ride what our team rides, and the big name labels requadless if it (the surfboards) were designed for average surfers riding average waves or not. You are buying image and psudo-cool over basic practial function and fun---HEY ! WAIT A MINUTE ISN'T THAT WHY WE SURF or at least started surfing What the heck happened???

Most shapers at least many of the newer breed (last 20+ yrs) while never being much better than you at surfing (many are much worse--ouch that hurt again!!!) think by acting cool and knowledgable (notice I said ACTING) you will think they know more than they do, when in fact all their so called knowledge came from reading the same big name surfboard profiles you read and surfboard design forums on the internet--whats wrong with this ? THERE IS NO PERSONAL TIME PROVEN EXPERIENCE! and the bottom line is there probably never will be-they are pretending (acting ) to be something they aren't. Sorry , thats called being a phony.

We live in a very self indulgance society and we rally around the haves and not the have nots-my standard example of this is : EXAMPLE- you have a choice --you have to cross the Atlantic Ocean but you have to go by sea and there is a huge hurricane you have to go through; now your choice : you can get on a brand new ship w/all the latest & greatest do-dads w/ a heavily trained in all the best sailing schools staight A graduate w/ no trips under his belt or you can get on a rusted out needs paint must be 40 yrs old ship w/ a battle worn captian who has crossed through 100+ hurricanes un harmed! What do you choose? You face that everytime you go to buy a surfboard whether your a begginner or seasoned surfer, are you going for image over experience?

In closing (more insights later) as far as I am concerned I'm the guy who paid the price whethered the storms learned to surf w/the best and came all the way back to SURFING IS ABOUT FUN & FUNCTION not image. The contest scene and the shop scene is ruining surfing -basic prositution only problem too many are failing for it. Me, I as politicailly uncorrect as they come, I don't worship surfing - I do it for fun and I build surfboards for income because I know what I am doing and I love doing it. I do have to keep it all in focus God, family,work, play(surfing) the tendacy is to get this all in reverse and then all kinds of problems arise---think about that in your life most surfers have problems w/this--My goal to work on this myself and help other as well .

You surfboard is the most important toy you own as a surfer make it practical and have fun -share a wave and a smile, leave the Joe cool aggro image at the shops--Next post on shaping!!!!

Not all NOSERIDERS are created equal

Just because a surfboard is long or has a nose concave doesn't make it a noserider or even a good longboard ,as a matter of fact most aren't! OUCH,that hurt -boy I can hear the mumblings now .!

But the truth is it takes much more than length and a concave , it takes proper tail and nose rocker with compatable rails and bottom contour and that all changes with each style of noserider and outline configuration. Its not rocket science but it does take some experience mixed with undertanding of how one aspect affects the other and that my friend means the one building the board must know how they work and what does what---laymans term--needs to be a skilled surfer that can feel the design in the water, how it functions. And thats why there are a ton of crappy longboards out there posing as noseriders. Every longboard shaper has at least one in their model selection --mostly copies of other famous 60's longboards not so with mine . I feature 7 modern longboard noseriders all proven over the last 10-15 years--in and out of the contest world on the east coast,west coast,Hawaii, and the Carribean. Pictured here are a few of them; but heres the list 1)-The Tipparillo--my baby and favorite 2) Weston Merkel Model --a slightly flatter version made for captian retro and his followers 3) Chris Lind Model-rockeredout wide nose performance noser co designed by Chris Lind 4) The DNN --yea its the former Nuuhiwa noser with my updates 5) The DRN-Down railed noserider come with or w/out rocker and either single or 2+1 set-up 6) PINTASTIC -old school with a few twists 7) The Classic -it is what the title says aClasssic in and out of the water. Which one suits you? Come in and I'll help you fiqure it out>

Spring 2011---Happennings

Spring is finally here and the water is warming up ( broke the 60 degree mark this week) so it is especially surftime--w/plenty of small glassy days --perfect for your favorite tool --whether thats a super clean resin decked out 10'6" or a wide max float fish or just your normal fatboy tri fin for small waves---the options are limitless > So NEW to the Bennett bds line-up are The Chris Lind Model 20 inch nose tight square tailed 2+1 mega rockered longbd, Reintroduced the Merkel Model Noserider & HP Fish--Weston's (CAptian Retro) favorite tools, and the all new Sandpipers(Piper Austin) these are everyday tri fins ,ultra light and created for the next step in small wave progressive surfing--to verify check out Piper's surfing and watch Her grow!
Whatever your tool choice I'm probably making them --check them out!

What Kind of Shapes Are You Looking For?

While I'm out and about people are constantly asking "What kind of board do you make?" I make all types from super short quads and twins to 11' glide monsters. AS a matter of a fact the only thing I don't make is SUP's-not that I can't or won't but I gotta see cash not BS first

So come see me for your hp tri fin or triple stringered 3-d resin tinted longbd ---I do it all and have been for the last 35-40 yrs!

2011--Price Increases

SHORTBOARD (under 19 1/2WIDE)
Up to--6'0"--single & twin fin =$375. tri fin =$385. quad fin =$399
Up to - 7'0"--single & twin fin=$399 tri fin= $410 quad fin=$425

Fish & Egg/Funshapes
Up to 6'0"--single & twin fins=$410 tri fins=$430 quad fins=$450
Up to 7'0"--single & twin fins=$435 tri fins=$460 quad fins= $480
Up to 8'0"--single & twin fins=$460 tri fins=$485 quad fins=$500

LONGBOARDS
Up to 8'6"--single fins======$510. tri fins=$540 quad fins=$560
Up to 9'6"--single fins======$550 tri fins=$580 quad fins=$600.
Up to 10'---single fins======$575 tri fins=$605 quad fins=$625

TIPPARILLOS==$850.
BANSHEES====$700.
OPTIMIZERS==$750
DOWN RAIL NOSERS=$750.
PINTASTICS==$800.
CLASSIC=====$900.

Handmade for You

Surfboards are what I make -all shapes all sizes -these are build specifically for our waves (or where you are traveling to) and made to obtain maximum speed and performance in those conditions while supporting your weight and size. THIS CAN NEVER BE MASS PRODUCED--only CUSTOM one off ers can do this ---I bring almost 50 yrs surfing experience to the table ,40+ years surfboard design experience (many companies-many big ones), over 40 yrs working coaching & designing boards for team riders, 40 plus years sales experience, and 35+ years shaping experience -wo-ah WHY BUY A SURFBOARD FROM SOMEONE or SOMEONE ELSE ?---Can't be quality and can't be pricing--even though I raised my pricing on 2/1/11---Iam still below surf shops and even most other board makers, as a matter of a fact I'm still below 2006 prices (pre recession)---so the question is why? I am told I slow and take too long --kinda weird cause year in and year out I put out as many or more than almost all the local guys--kinda snuffs that myth ---So it must be that I'm not in all the cool shops ---heck if I sell to shops I've gotta raise prices to you!! The bottom line is I stand behind my work if for any reason you don't like your bd bring back and I'll make you a new one -correcting any problem if its valid--So back to you --WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON?
935-11th ave south jax bch fla---904-226-7604

BEST $750-$850. Noserider on the market-------------------------

BEST PERIOD

NEW YEAR= NEW VISION

12-31-2010--lAST DAY OF A HORRIBLE YEAR -this year was a disaster for the most part --so that means things gotta change or it'll be kinda the same in 2011---so here are some early goalsfor the new year!----------BACK TO THE BASICS-----I love building really nice functional surfboards w/all kinds of crazy detail work ---this takes time and money---so I am effectively cutting down on all the stock work after January ---getting back to what I love---radical-but functional -high end -surfboards whether they are 5'2" or 12'2" my focus will be on detail and function!!! So what does that mean for custom orders? They will be accepted by former clients,friends , or through my salesmen and teamriders only ---in other words you gotta have an in or you can buy from my in house inventory . This change is not to limit my availability to the public but to rid myself of the pompous , microwave, instant gotta have and I 'm gonna ride your ass consumer---it only takes a few of these and your lifes a living hell----I'm going for a big zero count on this type----I want and will build boards for those who want and appreciate my skills and knowledge of surfing and surfboards and ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT! The days of being broke have to end ---so my prices will be going up as of FEBRUARY 1st not unreasonably but to normal pricing--so I can make a confortable living and enjoy surfing more. Pics of new directions in bd design and as always I will build the best longbds on the East Coast---keep checking in and be safe tonight--clay