So the debate goes on, local or foreign products? We bring
in longboards and other related stuff in to the frying pan. First let’s look at
the pros of each product. Mainstream foreign products are very reliable and
have an excellent construction and design build. The foreign manufacturers have
easy access to the latest trends and techniques in longboard construction like
shaping machines, hydraulic presses and new construction materials other than
the usual bamboo and maple construction such as carbon fibre, aluminium and
fibre glass to name a few. They also collaborate with different professional
skaters to create customized pro models
with exclusive design features
depending on the preference of the rider.They also produce a lot of different
accessories and gears since there are a bunch of companies that specialize in a
specific longboard item. Lastly, the common notion, at least for us Filipinos,
that anything foreign is synonymous to quality material.
Local products are not far behind foreign products in terms
of quality. They are cheaper than foreign made products but you still get that firm
and solid construction for half the price. Local shapers can also create a
custom board shape, giving you a pro model of your own. Buying local products
can help boost the popularity and reputation of our local shapers and it would
also help our economy because the profits circulate within the country. Another
pro is that local products have unique designs and construction, every deck is different
since most shapers hand craft each board. The emergence of local shapers would
mean that we have a lot more options to choose from. I have a friend who is a
local shaper and he makes excellent quality boards. Here are some of his finished
products:
 |
| The Wolverine (100% proudly local made) |
 |
| The X3 Carbonized Finish |
The downside to foreign products is that they are expensive
because of the extra tax and shipping fees. The lengths of some boards are
designed for taller dudes that are more or less six feet tall. That
is why some boards reach up to 42’’ that are way too big for our comfort, bad news
for us Filipinos who have an average height of 4 feet 11 inches. I have this
Nelson Stingray KT 39 and it was longer than I imagined it would be. I really
liked the shape and construction but it was just too long for my stance.
Stepping on it felt weird and I have to widen my stance to compensate for the
length since I have a compact stance when on my 35’’ Babykiller. This may not
be an issue for some because they adapt pretty quickly (damn them naturals),
but some would find it difficult to adjust to the length.
Meanwhile local boards lack the mass production capabilities
of their foreign counterparts, since most local boards are shaped and
constructed in a workshop that couldn't handle immense amount of orders. Maybe this
is one reason why local board shapers find it difficult to push their products
to mainstream status. Some local boards don’t undergo quality assurance tests
which puts its reliability into question. Most local products are limited to
decks only; they do not include other parts and accessories such as wheels and
trucks. Well, I understand that it takes a lot more effort and engineering
wizardry to produce such products but to be able to compete with the big
leagues they must be diverse and flexible in terms of their products.
There is no right choice; it all depends on your preference.
Next time you plan to buy a new set-up consider searching the internet for
detailed reviews and specs about the board, may it be local or foreign as long
as you enjoy it and your stoked with it then that board is probably the perfect
choice for you. Although supporting local brands will help our local shapers
and as well as our country to be recognized, considering the fact that we
Filipinos are considered to be pioneers of the longboarding scene in Southeast
Asia.
Here some links to the awesome handy works of Rex Lamis:
- https://www.facebook.com/baxtrex/media_set?set=a.690717777612258.1073741891.100000221258226&type=3
- https://www.facebook.com/baxtrex/media_set?set=a.690725890944780.1073741893.100000221258226&type=3
- https://www.facebook.com/baxtrex/media_set?set=a.768987236451978.1073741939.100000221258226&type=3
P.S. he also shapes surfboards too:
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