longwhitecloud wrote:Screw the custom board makers
Strong words.
This season proved that from major companies only North and RRD managed to satisfy riders with board’s supplying.
Cabrinha failed totally. Interesting thing is they tried to implement the limit of 100 boards a year ago. How many people have seen Cabrinha Race 69cm 2011 registered in April 2011?
That was a main reason the PKA submitted to lower the limit.
This is just beginning and it would be not wise to give rights only to big companies if they are not capable to comply with the market demands. Racing is booming and nobody knows how many boards should be produced for the next season. For instance North would make 300 boards. What if there are 3000 riders planning to buy it? What about if only 200 riders planning to buy it? Always somebody will lose. It is not so simple as you think.
Every board should be weighed in and dimension checked at event - it is that simple, regardless of who made it. What kind of people decide this kind of stuff? Think about it.....
Why all? Who is going to pay for it? Imagine that you have 70 boards and all of them have to be checked without fins and straps, dry! When and how??? Be realistic.
Remember that:
1. The best control is provided by riders from other brands. If they have any doubts they protest a suspicious board straight away. That’s reality.
2. Any manufacturer will do all to make his boards the same as much as possible to avoid point no.1.
3. IKA randomly will carry checks during competitions.
So far it works smoothly...