What do you think about Spider surfboards?

[ltiegs]

Garbarrage, thanks for taking the time for commenting so comprehensively. Since I took over management of Safari / Spider we have changed the blanks, began using Aerialite glass imported from the States, changed our resins, sanding machines, staff and management controls. I'll challenge you to find a better made board anywhere. As you have so correctly pointed out though, prejudices based on past performance are hard to shake. We've succeeded in recapturing our home market in South Africa, and are making inroads again where we used to have a strong presense around the world. We are achieving this by doing things the right way at the right time, everytime, and passionately standing behind our product.

So I'd like to make you happy again. In exchange for an objective review of the board posted on this topic I'll send you a new custom board from South Africa for EUR100. The cost is for the postage only, the board is FREE.

Just reply to my private message to arrange.

[donhoe]

With this final post I'm firmly across the line......

I don't believe you anymore

[ltiegs]

garbarrages latest post did a "Hard Reset". I will defend ourselves in every instance, now and in future.

[jaffa1949]

Simply the poetic irony of it all a long thread on the web about spider boards
As to the boards I've no experience of them

[donhoe]

garbarrages latest post did a "Hard Reset". I will defend ourselves in every instance, now and in future.

Please tell me your not starting over again.......

[garbarrage]

garbarrages latest post did a "Hard Reset". I will defend ourselves in every instance, now and in future.

Please tell me your not starting over again.......

I'm not just saying this because I'm getting a free board, I'm genuinely interested to see how it turns out, and will write a fair review of the board once it arrives.

This thread isn't really starting over. From what I gather from LTieg's PM. He has taken over operations at Safari and aknowledges that there have been indescretions in the production process in the past and that he has some ground to make up. I find this approach quite refreshing, and a far cry from the corporate cash machine that some companies become when the get too big. I can think of one shaper local to me who is guilty of just this. I won't name him as I have never bought a board from him.

[drowningbitbybit]

Ltieg can stop spamming this forum though. That will win him even more friends.

[ltiegs]

here we go some more. For a year I sat on my hands whilst taking abuse for my predecessors indescretions, but when isaluteyou took a personal shot at Spider I could stand on the sidelines no longer. Everyone one of my so-called "Spam" posts were pointed directly at isaluteyou, who hasn't even had the courage show his face here again.

[donhoe]

Everyone one of my so-called "Spam" posts were pointed directly at isaluteyou, who hasn't even had the courage show his face here again.

CLARK! WE NEED YOU!

Ahhh I hate to tell you but no one Shows their face here (I know what you mean j/k)

It sure seems that this all should be on a "Spider wed site" Not surfing waves.
I just can't help but feel that you are trying to Cram the boards down our throats. That , for me anyway will turn me off every time. Not that I matter but still.... It's like your trying way to hard to sell boards.
It's looks bad from where I sit. There is always someone that will take a poke at you, SO WHAT. All I am trying to say is I don't think I will ever try one now. Even if it was free haha. Just because you have already turned me off. I don't know who is who in surfing, nor do I give a damn. However some of the "pro's" can make just about any board look good, that is a fact. That means nothing to me.
I am not saying your a bad guy. I am just saying your turning me off. There is my face haha!
You do what you need to do but I think your going about this wrong. I am a nobody nor do I care to be somebody, I'm to old for that crap
Good luck with the bugs.

[ltiegs]

The Moderator is right, I've let my emotions get the better of me and behaved like a Twat. Oh how I wish I could make amends and have my status to returned to Sponger

[garbarrage]

Can I just interject again here. I am a tree surgeon by trade and belong to another forum in that area. Literally thousands of members some of which are manufacturers of products sold within the industry. They plug there products on the forum by paying for ad space in the side bar, then and only then are they allowed to sell products on the website.

However, if there is a product that has been slated in a review or thread the manufacturer is allowed to come on and defend themselves (they are not always successful). This thread is going years at this stage, and with good reason in my book. If you type Spider surfboards into google or "What do you think about Spider surfboards?" there is a good chance this thread will come up, and for that reason I think they should be allowed to defend themselves. There is a conflict here, and we started it. Not sure of the ins and outs of it or if the same legislation even applies as but to do otherwise could leave the owners of the site open to legal action or at least that's the story we're given on the Arborists forum.

Incidentally, the forum is called Arbtalk.co.uk for anyone with an interest in trees, or ecology, owned by a very fair and respectable guy called Steve Bullman. Would be worth a look around, even just from the standpoint of how the forum is set up.

[drowningbitbybit]

However, if there is a product that has been slated in a review or thread the manufacturer is allowed to come on and defend themselves (they are not always successful). This thread is going years at this stage, and with good reason in my book. If you type Spider surfboards into google or "What do you think about Spider surfboards?" there is a good chance this thread will come up, and for that reason I think they should be allowed to defend themselves. There is a conflict here, and we started it. Not sure of the ins and outs of it or if the same legislation even applies as but to do otherwise could leave the owners of the site open to legal action or at least that's the story we're given on the Arborists forum.

Just to clarify things here (and correct me if Im wrong, SP) -
Gargarrage, you're exactly right - the manufacturer has every right to come on and defend themselves, and indeed is encouraged to do so. However, adding advertising photos is not acceptable. Particularly when they're are loads of them - that is simply spamming and will be removed, as indeed they were.

One final note - yes, this thread does come up very highly on google. It would be in the best interests of Spider surfboards to let this thread die (preferably with a happy outcome) and spend time making their web presence better felt.

[garbarrage]

edit

[garbarrage]

That's fair enough DBBB, thought he was a bit OTT myself. Obviously he was pretty annoyed. Would love to see more people from the industry involved in the forum, as currently it's the best regulated surf forum on the internet, and a far cry from MSW (where you'd have more luck asking a politician for a straight answer). Maybe even someone from the BSA who could offer advice to groms, or someone from Surfers Against Sewage etc.

I just feel there is a bit of a difference between your average spammer and this guy. In that he didn't start this thread, he simply replied to it (albeit a touch over-zealously).

Good to see things stirred up a bit though. Makes a change from all the "I've been suring 2 weeks and my 6' board doesn't float, do you think it has a leak?" threads. followed by:

[drowningbitbybit]

I just feel there is a bit of a difference between your average spammer and this guy. In that he didn't start this thread, he simply replied to it (albeit a touch over-zealously).

Yes, I agree, and that's why all the posts except advertising material have remained.

[mhbsurf]

I have surfed Spider Boards for over 5 years, from the A2 to the Shaun Tomson Tri Fin & Bomb and i haven't got a bad word to say about them.
I still surf an A2 (waves permitting) which i have had for 2 years and i haven't had any glass problems or any other problems with the board. I did have a Shaun Tomson Tri Fin which i have now sold after a good 8 months of surfing without a pressure mark or ding on the board, so i don't quite understand this glass issue? (The best bit of advise someone gave me was to put my board in a bag. I have only ever dinged my board on a door frame or car door)
I am now surfing a Spider Bomb and i can honestly say, hand on heart, that it's the best board i've ever ridden..
I think it's a great board for our UK surf. Since i bought my Bomb, i've seen so many other Bombs in the water from the NE to the SW. The guys i have spoke to about their Bombs have unsuprisingly been as stoked as myself about the board. So many people can't be wrong surely?...
In my opinion Spider Murphy and his boards are great and are a very reasonable price. I have bought all my boards from Emoceanl in Newquay and have found the guys who work there are very enthuasiastic and helpful. The few problems i have had with my boards, they have sorted without hassle..
Mr Murphy i thank you very much for doing what you do so well and for producing "The Bomb".......

[IB_Surfer]

Garbarrage, thanks for taking the time for commenting so comprehensively. Since I took over management of Safari / Spider we have changed the blanks, began using Aerialite glass imported from the States, changed our resins, sanding machines, staff and management controls. I'll challenge you to find a better made board anywhere. As you have so correctly pointed out though, prejudices based on past performance are hard to shake. We've succeeded in recapturing our home market in South Africa, and are making inroads again where we used to have a strong presense around the world. We are achieving this by doing things the right way at the right time, everytime, and passionately standing behind our product.

So I'd like to make you happy again. In exchange for an objective review of the board posted on this topic I'll send you a new custom board from South Africa for EUR100. The cost is for the postage only, the board is FREE.

Just reply to my private message to arrange.

Very interesting thread. As a prior owner of a spyder surfboard I am one of the skepticts. If you are still offering a board for review I would not mind sending you EUR100 to try the board out, just post to see if the offer is still available. The way I figure, if I like it I just got an awesome deal on one, if I don't I can sell it for at least that much.

Last time I owned one I think was 2004 or so (might be off by a year or two).

So, post up if you are still willing to offer this.

Mike

[esonscar]

Spider - on the Web - nice
Let's go surf.

[garbarrage]

Ok, time for an update. Board arrived today and to my surprise ticked the first box, arrived without a scratch on it. Heres some pics:

Its 6’1 x 19 3/8 x 2 9/16 and looks super sweet. Glassed pretty light 2x 4oz on top and 4oz on the bottom so may yet be a bit fragile but I was asked if I wanted it glassed heavier or with a higher density foam but for a 100 euro figured why not go for performance. If it holds up all well and good, if it doesn't I'll ride it till it dies.
Have to say the service from Lonnie was top notch even though I wasn't a priority as I wasn't a paying customer.
Decent swell hit this evening but only put the tailpad on today so should have it out for a spin on Thurs. Can't wait to see how it goes. Watch this space!!!

[donhoe]

Has it been a month? Someone call CLARK again .........