Black Diamond Surfboards...

[SoCal WaterSpout]

I see this brand posted all over eBay and am considering placing a bid. Does anybody know anything about them? I've tried to search for reviews on the internet, and I can't seem to find anything.

Also, I'm considering either an 8' or an 8'6". As a beginner, am I really going to notice the difference between the two sizes? I'm 5'9", 160 lbs. I really don't want to go with a 9' because that just brings storage issues, harder to carry, etc. I'm kind of leaning towards an 8' for this exact same reason. Any help would be appreciated!

[isaluteyou]

If you cant't find any info on then it means one of two things

1 - it's a locally built board, which i doubt.

2 - it's a popout of somesort.

either way as a beginer its not going to matter much. Id go for the 8fter. although the 8'6 will give added float and be easier to get going on the 8ft is a good size for transition board meaning you can then descide upon your experience on it to drop down size or go up. Either way 8ft is a good size for anyones quiver

[sal]

Black Diamond is a well-known and well-respected manufacturer of climbing equipment, but I've never heard of them making surfboards or anything to do with any watersports. There's no mention of it on their website either.

[SoCal WaterSpout]

Well, it says in the ad "hand shaped," so does that mean it can still be a pop out?

I only see them to be available in southern california.

[jethrodog]

Hey SoCal.

I went to the ebay site and looked at the board. Looks nice. Nice paint job, nice shape, looks good. Can be hand shaped and still be a popout, just means someone shaped one board and they use that board for the pattern for the rest. It looks to be a popout, but that isn't necessarily bad. I have 2 epoxy boards, one by Surftech and one by Cobalt. They are both produced overseas by machines, so they are popouts, but I love them. I've surfed customs, mass produced fiberglass, and epoxy popouts, I like the high end epoxys better. More float, more durable, very responsive. That's my opinion. So don't necessarily get scared off because it is made overseas.
BUT
I am a little apprehensive about buying anything that I haven't seen, touched, know everything about it, etc. What is the weight, how does it feel, what is the construction, who makes it, etc. Buying on eBay is great but if you have never heard of the brand and you can't find any info on it (which I couldn't after 5 minutes of Googling), and you can't see the actual board in person, I would be very careful. There are lots of good deals on boards if you keep your eyes open, be patient and watchful and I think you might be happier.

Just my opinion of course (and a lengthy one at that)
Good luck

[SoCal WaterSpout]

Contacted the seller, and they instructed that it is hand shaped and finished, and not a pop out, was although they did not say where it was made. I think I may hit it if the price doesn't go too high.

[essex sucks]

good old black diamond climbing gear

[SoCal WaterSpout]

Well, I did hit it after all. Talked to a few shops in the area today who are familiar with the brand, telling me Black Diamond is indeed a reputable company, and make great boards. $275, plus leash, bag and wax. Not bad for a brand new long board.

Getting on with it, here is a link to my new surfboard. Not sure if the link will work for the rest of ya'll since the auction has ended, but go ahead and try it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... &rd=1&rd=1

Can't wait to try him out!!! What should I name him? I was thinking something along of the lines of Gary or maybe Frank. Maybe Marcus.

[sal]

Can't wait to try him out!!! What should I name him? I was thinking something along of the lines of Gary or maybe Frank. Maybe Marcus.

Not Marcus (my ex's dad is called Marcus, and he's the biggest barsteward I've ever met!)

Frank would be cool!

[jethrodog]

Eugene.

[Wakka]

Stupid question but is 2.5" of thickness on a 8'+ board thick enough for a lighter person (140-160)?

[northswell]

If its an 8ft plus board your going to get that thickness and more.

[Driftingalong]

Wakka should have no problems with a 2.5" thickness, but what Northswell said was true.

[robboxedit]

hey socal, i was just looking at a very similar board from these guys(and few of their others too). im in a similar position as you in that i just picked up surfing recently and am shopping for my own board. please post up after you've taken "eugene" out for a day and let us ("us" really being "me") know what you think and how it feels.

im guessing you're going to go down and pick up in person since the $100 - $135 shipping suddenly makes that "deal" not quitre the same "deal". check out the shop and fill us in on that too...just curious about these guys.

thanks,
rob

[Wakka]

well i bought mine the other day. Went down to the shop and picked it up. Their shop is very easy to get to (right off I-5) and its basically a large garage with a room for business. The garage stores all of their boards, the black diamond and their own isle custom boards. They also have a blanks shop next door. I asked them if they had other offices, but that was it. They seem like good people. Doesn't look like they have much overhead, so they can afford to sell the boards cheap. Good business strategy to get their name out there.

Can't beat the prices they have on their epoxy boards, especially for us beginners

[SoCal WaterSpout]

The board is excellent! I think I've decided I'm going to exchange it however. See, the board I bid on was marked 8'6", but when I got it home, I noticed it was 8'. I took it out to try it anyways, and not only is it a beautiful board, but it catches waves like no tomorrow. Still, as a beginner, I think I could use that bit of extra length, so I called them today, explained that I had used it just once on Sunday, and asked if I could exchange it for an 8'6".

The guy said no problem, bring it back, and they'll exchange it for an epoxy 8'6" although he might not have my specific color. Still, he said he would look to see if he had one. So on top of a good board, I say they have good customer service as well!

I'll let you all know what board I come home with tomorrow! (hoping it's a black diamond, so if that answers your questions, they are great boards!)

[SoCal WaterSpout]

Exchanged it today, no problems, no hassles. Was even able to get the same color, which is what I was hoping for, although they told me I could have my choice of other colors if I wanted to do so.

Awesome guys to do business with. If I'm ever in the market for another board, I know where to go...

[blueseashellz]

I have a 6'2 shortboard from Black Diamond and a couple of my friends also own a hybrid (7'6) and longboard (9'0). They're awesome!!! They work like any other boards. Epoxy boards are great for beginners as they don't break! Good luck!

[SEADOG]

woolf: I thought someone would ask and falcon I have an opinion, but no expertise:

From a 2006 post post about this company:

"Allright, checked out these boards on ebay and they are the same clowns who used dragonflys as their logo last month. Same board, different logos. Almost always longboards, post from numerous different cities in California, overpost on all the for-sale forums, ebay, craigslist, surfingsandiego, sandiegoreader.com, etc....probably pop-outs, probably from China. See this:sales@surf-boardz.com. and keep looking. Two thumbs down.

Current information about this company:
Their website: http://www.dragonflysport.com/ Also sell TDF brand
Corporate website http://www.tradekey.com/profile_view/ui ... -Sport.htm )

Also under Tradekey: PU boards
http://www.tradekey.com/selloffer_view/id/381749.htm

From a current 2007 post:
"...improve their quality and flood the U.S. market. They'll set up a shop next to Icons, Stewerts, Weber's etc... and sell at one quarter of the price..."

Well, here's that store:
http://stores.ebay.com/DISCOUNT-SURFBOARDS-WETSUITS
Notice the TDF boards.
Located in:
http://cgi.ebay.com/54-NEW-Shortboard-S ... dZViewItem

and then look at what a parent company also distributes!
http://stores.ebay.com/Imports-Auctions
You will notice that any item you click on has the same contact number.

And a new one to me: (note "Sellers Store")
http://cgi.ebay.com/76-Epoxy-New-Surfbo ... dZViewItem

On Swaylocks own site:
More boards made in China:
http://www.swaylocks.com/surfshop/Detailed/1354.html

So now we have boards in the $350 price range, brand spanking new. I'm sure the foreigh countries in question have allready backwards engineered every board dimension, in each "flavor", shortboard longbord, fish etc... You'll get the 20 "hottest" sellers for the season and next year it'll be a new logo and a different length/width/thickness. The marginal surfshops will go under because they can't compete with the economy's of scale. The more established shops, will add Epoxy and Surftech's, oops...allready have, and charge more for the handcrafted poly boards, if poly boards are even still around in ten years. The "big box" shops, Hansens, Surfride and others will survive on the diversity of their stock. Maybe Clark saw some handwritting on the wall?

Finally, what bothered me about Dragonflysport was their almost unethical approach to business. Numerous selling posts, changing logo's, and "hiding" their business connections (took a far amount of effort to find out what little I did.) Try contacting customer service in China! So I'll stick with poly until it's gone, patronize my local and established surfshops, and stay away from the imports.

Lastly: When you click on http://www.dragonflysport.com/ , "Company" and "Facotry pics" (sic) you'll notice there not wearing respirators, and the got fans to blow the foam around. Wonder how long the'll be doing that for a living, before they start coughing up chunks of foam?

Misc. links:
EPS
http://www.fusreps.com/blanks.htm
summery
http://www.surfrider.org/a-z/surfboards.asp
pop outs
http://www.mckevlins.com/nopopstory.htm
_________________
"Out of the water, I am nothing." - Duke Kahanamoku