Surfing Waves

"Our board designs are direct results of team feedback, so when Dane showed up at the factory in early 2010 requesting a short wide epoxy with single concave and a huge square tail to make the summer bearable, the Dumpster Diver was born. When he came back a week later and wanted one with a narrower nose and a Rookie tail template for the Trestles contest in 3 days, the 2nd Generation Dumpster Diver was created and remained under his feet all the way through to his first final at the WCT Trestles 2009. Voted SIMA board of the year for 2010.

The Dumpster has a ton of curve in a short package, so stick to the pocket and keep it on rail."

Can someone explain this to me? How close does this board (Channel Islands Surfboards) compare with custom-shaped dumpster divers? Is it the same idea - basically a short board hidden in a fish? What exactly does "a shortboard hidden in a fish" even MEAN?

And lastly, would you recommend stock boards or custom boards in general? I don't get it - custom are cheaper?? Is that because all Al Merricks are shaped by Al Merrick, or what? I'm getting a 5'8''' custom dumpster diver - again, I was told it was like a shortboard hidden in a fish and would help me ride certain sections easier. I've only ever had a 6'7" shortboard. The guy shaper stole and ran off with it and sold it for drug money so we're starting from scratch, but that's another story. Two boards were stolen and I need to replace both. I want one to be a regular shortboard - this is the one I'm thinking of getting non-custom. I know I'm getting the other dumpster diver one either through court or through finding another shaper w/ the money I get through court. What do you guys think I should do, and if you could try to answer my disjointed post I'd greatly appreciate it. Sorry for the inconsistency of this post, I'm not well physically right now - ehhh bummer need some surf

Don't worry about the consistency of your post, advertising blurb does that to you.
I mean nobody is going to say their board is crap, so they drivel on with pseudo terms and confuse thepoor buyer who in a well meaning attempt to show he understand, buys one, best option always is see if can get that fish hidden inside a shortboard under your feet and see how it goes. Talk is very cheap. I have written sales copy to sell to the uninformed, for about a week ,,dirty dirty job, if you surf OK the meaning will be how the board responds, go and try some boards in the range you are thinking of and get away from the I've been done over blues.
Use the time before your case is settled, to settle yourself and get some enjoyment back.

Dumpster diving is the practice of sifting through commercial or residential trash to find items that have been discarded by their owners, but that may prove useful to the dumpster diver. Dumpster Diving is also viewed as an effective urban foraging technique. Dumpster divers will forage dumpsters for items such as clothing, furniture, food, and other items of the like deemed in good working conditions. When I was growing up, there was a household in our town that went on dumpster diving adventures every weekend. The mother of the family would often say, “One man’s trash is another man’s prize.” Although we often made fun of them behind their backs, all of us liked playing in their yard, which became a playground of weird toys culled from their weekly excursions. In the economic downturn, it is hard to judge anybody for doing anything that decreases expenditures and doesn't harm another person. has become so common and nearly trendy.

8ballinthepocket wrote: What exactly does "a shortboard hidden in a fish" even MEAN?

A fish is a fatter wider template with less rocker that has been around for a while, intended for summer surfing. The new trend is to take a normal shortboard and widen and fatten like a fish but keep the shortboard outline, so in essence you are getting a shortboad for summer surfing. Many aren't just using them for small waves though, if you see most of Rob Machado's waves he uses mostly those type of blends. The "dumpster diver" is just what they call that outline with the square back, it has nothing to do with dumpsters or divers, just a name.

8ballinthepocket wrote: And lastly, would you recommend stock boards or custom boards in general?

Yes, definitely, I haven't bought a board off the rack in the last 10 years. Sorry you had a problem with that shaper, not sure if you found him on craigslist or what. What area do you live in? Maybe we can recommend a local that shapes around there that won't flake out on you

8ballinthepocket wrote: I don't get it - custom are cheaper?? Is that because all Al Merricks are shaped by Al Merrick, or what?

No, he shapes for pro's, then markets to the public what the pro's are riding, which appeals to many. If you buy one off the rack it won't be one he shaped, just one he designed. Custom is cheaper becausen local shapers don't have the marketing overhead and name recognition that Al Merrick does. Some local shapers are cheaper, by a lot, some are not, depending of who you go with, but thier boards cost the same to make. One local shaper here charges more than Al Merrick, and people pay for it, he earned it through years of quality products. My shaper is cheaper and I buy a board from him every year.

Lastly, ordering from a local shaper you put half down, then half a month later when finished, so it's easier on the wallet than forking over all the money at once LOL