The Surfboard Version of Netflix
SportsKnack is rolling out a surfboard demo program that lets people in LA try a lot of boards without buying. Most of the boards look like epoxy popouts from China, but there are a few enticing Firewires and some locally shaped boards in the mix. The crazy thing is that the setup only costs $10 per month, and you can keep each demo board as long as you want. SportsKnack sends out each board with a bag and leash, and they say they won’t even charge you to fix minor dings. It’s a great deal for surfers looking to try new shapes, and the system is nice for local shapers since it’ll help them connect with new clientele.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens when SportsKnack applies the same concept to snowboards and bikes.
via 70percent
By- rockythompson
This entry was posted on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2008 - 7:52 A.M. and is filed under Gear, Surf. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Meh and yeah, they’re down here in Santa Monica or Marina Del Rey. The thing is, that they don’t really have a big selection or I should say that they’re selection isn’t that impressive, at least to me. And yes, the vast majority of boards are Asian made epoxy boards which is another subject we could have an entire debate on. If you’ve ever ridden an epoxy board it feels like your on a floating ice-chest.
Also, I don’t know how you figure that renting an Asian import epoxy board will help surfers and shapers connect with each other since the likelyhood of a surfer renting an epoxy board and then having that board made for him or her by a “local” shaper out of PU and fiberglass will only confuse the crap out of the surfer since epoxy boards don’t behave the same way in the water as conventional boards but really, who gives an eff? I don’t.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:52 am
good point WTF, although this idea helps inland surfers at least get started surfing, not that the water needs more surfers. Some college kid could share a subscription, get a carload of roommates and make a day out of it. What is the percentage of surfers that have ridden a fine shape from a Dick Brewer or better? How man surfers have driven home a fresh shaped blank and tried to glass it themselves? Makes you appreciate what craftsmen create, odds are that new blank will just not make it.
Ice chests are what half the surfing population will settle for.
I see this company evolving if they could get the boards closer to the beach, as in on the sand, but land is too pricey in Calif for that. SUP boards might be next.
Mtn bikes if they were high end ones might work, but that doesn’t seem to be the present business model.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Surfing, even in SoCal is seasonal. Yes, there is a big population of die hard surfers who go out 12 months out of the year but these guys (Sportsnack) are depending on newbies of which there are many but the newbies are fair weather types who will probably not be renting boards and going out as often as they get movies from NetFlix.