Cost of Surfing going up??

[croydebaysurfing]

This is a "heads-up" really. We all know that the price of just about everything is going up but... virtually everthing in a surf shop these days is made in the Far East and it's paid for in US dollars or Euro's.

We were already expecting significant price increases because of the cost of fuel and the fact that most surfing/bodyboarding equipment is petro-chemical based.

Now the £ has lost 25% against the dollar in the last 2 months. Unless it recovers by early Feb '09 surfing goods (and just about everything else) are going to rise considerably. Outlook for prices increases for next winter are even worse with one major UK wetsuit player predicting a rise of up to £100 on a winter suit.

Although there have already been slight price increases already, the credit crunch means that there are still plenty of good deals out there if you shop around as retailers vye for Christmas/Winter business with existing pre-incease stock.

Just so you know.. decent surf gear has never been cheaper than it is now but this is unlikely to last.

It's an ill wind as they say because the poor exchange rate means that it may well in the future be cheaper to make a product in the UK once again rather than import it. Good news for Board and Wetsuit makers still manufacturing in the UK!

Something else to watch out for next year.. If the price hasn't gone up make sure it's not because the spec or quality has been dropped to retain the pricepoint.

[brukuns]

gonna buy my wettie first thing when I arrive in LA... december 3rd.

[tree4]

As most of the cost of a custom board is the labour to shape it, buying from (and so supporting) your local shapers makes sense. They will only have a small increase caused by imported raw materials to pass on to you.

So support your local shaper.

[surfaMIKE]

Yup. SA is feeling it. Makes me wonder if just cutting down a tree and surfing that would be a better option. Actually put alot of thought into it...Just find a bluegum, cut top off to required length, but keep roots in, shape it, when done, cut off at base. You now have a surfboard! Its actually free, so the only thing you pay on is tools and linseed oil....REBEL SURFERS!!! REBEL AGAINST THE ECONOMY!!!