Check it out.

DJ

http://standuppaddlesurfing.ning.com/video/best-bang-for-your-buck

Well it seems he is also the guy who will sell you a board, paddle, leash, deckpad, fins & carry bag for US$800. Which is all fine & dandy & wonderful.
You would hope he's not ripping off other people's board designs though? Sounds like you give him the specs & he'll whack one out for you.

Hey Guys,

Just saw your post and thought I would clear a few things up! I am one of the partners of Jimmy Styks here in Canada. I have extensive experience with Asia importing. My co. www.asiatona.com
We started this company to bring the pricing of the SUP boards to where it should be. What people fail to realize is that most of all the big names in the biz are getting there boards from the same factory in Thailand (where labour pricing is even cheaper than China). We have 3 partners in Jimmy Styks. 1. Trading Co. 2. Designers and engineers 3. The Chinese factory. We do not copy boards we design our own. We are able to sell top quality boards cheaper than anyone because we are our own factory/design and engineering/and distribution company so there are no other companies profiting as many other companies have sales teams/distributors etc...etc... I can guarantee our boards are as good if not better than the top brands! As an experienced trading company for Asia I see many Big names manufactured in the same factory’s and in some cases for the same moulds as the "Wal-Mart" brands. All the consumers are doing is fooling them selves and lining the pockets of the big Corps! Put Jimmy to the test! I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

Best Regards,
Team Jimmy

Don't think there is anything evil or sneaky about what Jimmy Styks are doing. One of the retailers on Maui, Hawaiian Island, are selling their own brand boards. Interesting reaction from some of the local shapers and even the fans of the big brands that they are doing something wrong, selling all this "home brand" gear that is for some reason not right. Well maybe the boards aren't particularly high performance or cutting edge (they might be, I don't know), but does that matter to the average punter that just wants to paddle around, not a bit. The very fact that they have got into the sport may inspire them to buy a locally shaped or big name board as their second board once they understand the sport better.

Funny thing is that Hawaiian Island sell their own brand for $1200 retail and PSH sell in the shop 100 metres away for $1050 or $1150. I'm guessing the quality is very similar. So why can HI sell for more than PSH, because they are selling to people that may never have done any sort of watersport before and wouldn't know Robby or Blane if they tripped over them, they walk into a retail shop that has been selling
there for 20 years and walk out with a board.

I think it is up to the big brands to keep on top of the development curve and bring well thought out, tested and refined product range to the market year after year. Something that I believe both Starboard and Naish to name just two are doing very well.

Hear what you are saying. Have been the GSI route and for the most part was satisfied. However over the last thirty years I,ve been lucky enough to have custom surfboards from talented local shapers. Input has been essential and the end result has reflected my needs and ultimately my style of riding waves. CNC machines have been around for yonks. My last two SUPs have been envisaged via CAD programs and roughed out by CNC. But, and it is a big but, I want to know that the guy behind the program has salt water running through his veins. I need to know that should the technology fail he can hack out my shape the old fashioned way with a surform and planer. I also want to know that the guy behind the respirator is the same guy I see shredding out at the local or downing a frosty at the end of the day while discussing passionatly and incisively his days labour. Not as it where, a highly trained wage slave.
To each his own. I know where my hard earned is going.
CHEERS
Sparx

Hardly a pro, not by a longshot. Just your average punter who likes to support local. At the end of the day its about preference. The more choices out there the better it is. It,s all good.
CHEERS
Sparx

It was very interesting to see the video of the glassing and sanding workshops. There seemed to be plenty of masks to go around and fans and stuff so working conditions didn't look too bad.

There seemed to be the standard drifts of foam and stuff in the corners and stalactites of resin and dust around the walls. A fair bit cleaner than some of the Oz board factories I have seen but not the super clean, modern industrial environment we see elsewhere.

Contrast that with this video of a guy glassing a board. There is a bowl shaped section under the board to catch the drips.