Surfboard graphics

Out of context: Reply #9

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  • Scotch_Roman0

    loppa, there are two reasons for the plain white board. First, they're easier to fix. Surfboards aren't nearly as tough as skateboards or snowboards. If you patch a board with an all-over paint job, you'll have a glaring white chunk where you had to dig into the graphics.

    The second reason is a carryover from late 70s SoCal surf minimalism, when everyone wore all-black wetsuits, rode white boards, and localism was at its peak (or all-time low, depending on how you see things).

    For me, I prefer a simple resin tint, with perhaps some classic pinstriping. I think surfboards are more like sculpture than skateboards and snowboards, and so their shifting form, curves, and volume have more visual, 3-D interest.

    Maybe one day, boards that are pretty much ding-proof will become the norm. I think when that happens, surfboard graphics will go through the roof... but not until then.

    There are cool textural innovations like bamboo-glassed boards, which need no graphics.

    These are my personal favorite...lovely resin tints and simple graphics. I have one of their quad fishes:
    http://www.mandalacustomshapes.c…

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