Recent Posts

1

General Discussion / Re: GoPro $1 Million Challenge and Review

« Last post by Bulky on Today at 01:40:19 PM »

GoPro was one of my Forest Gump moments.  I nearly worked there in 2013 just 6 months before they went public.  Others included:

• Studying a business case on Amazon in 1997.  Raising my hand and saying "You'll never make money in books alone."  Jeff Bezos was in the class and said 'Thank you!'
• Writing the business plan for Skydeck View in 1998.  This was a website designed to host and share videos.  We built a working website with videos and Won the competition for the most eyeballs.  I dump that idea and join a software company.  Google acquired YouTube for $1.65B in 2006.
• Joining Siebel Systems in 1998 because it would be a good 'learning experience.'  It goes on to be the fastest growing software company in the history of the world.  It was profitable and run by bad-asses.  I end up the lone product marketing person for SiebelNet.  The hosted, SAAS version of customer relationship management CRM with $20M revenue and 15 customers.  I stay too long.  Siebel acquired by Larry - Oracle Deathstar - half the people quit and go to Salesforce.com . . . I become a consultant.

Life hasn't sucked but I still have a long way to go to achieving PonoBill status.

PS:  I am not sure how many more At-Bats I get 

From the looks of your family in the Heron Island video, you are a very rich man in the things that matter.  Awesome.

2

Random / Re: "wave heights around 45 feet west west of Ireland"

« Last post by Dusk Patrol on Today at 01:09:51 PM »

A 10 - the surfer looked to be in better circumstances than the rescue boat, but he probably didn't think so.

...and that Airbus, I wonder if the rudder alone was able to kick the tail around like that, in that wind. Impressive display of subtle control by the pilot for sure.   

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: wind wing industry is growing

« Last post by JEG on Today at 12:52:48 PM »

Looks like lots of brand wings and sizes are coming out and hopefully be competitive to gong prices.

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Gear Talk / Re: A Great Find: Gerry Lopez Futures GL2- 5 Fin Set

« Last post by exiled on Today at 12:22:35 PM »

The fcs adaptor does have 3 set screws, they come in 2 from the front and one from the rear. I don't think its the best design, but they are there.

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Random / Re: "wave heights around 45 feet west west of Ireland"

« Last post by Bean on Today at 08:53:26 AM »

Just like surfing (sort of), nice kick-out!

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Gear Talk / Re: A Great Find: Gerry Lopez Futures GL2- 5 Fin Set

« Last post by Night Wing on Today at 05:53:16 AM »

BTW, I'm also pretty happy with the Futures F6 Honeycomb and  F6 Alphas for performance SUP. But no US Box center if you want thruster.

There are adapters where a FCS fin can fit into a US Center Box if someone wants to use a thruster. The link to an adapter is below.

https://www.amazon.com/FCS-model-Longboard-Box-Adapter/dp/B003JCL5XW

But I'm sure you already know about an adapter. The adapter has one major drawback for me and for me, this is a deal breaker. The original FSC fins have two set screws that bite into the tabs to securely set them into the FCS fin boxes. With the adapter shown above in the link, there are no set screws so if the FSC fin in the adapter hits an underwater object, the FSC fin can pop out of the adapter thereby losing the FSC fin.

Speaking just for myself, I'm not a fan of FCS fins. Why? Because the original FSC fins had two tabs and those two tabs needed two set screws to bite into the tabs to securely hold the fins in the FSC fin boxes. Furtures fins only needed one set screw for a front and rear sidebite boxes.

Secondly, those tabs on the FCS fins are the weak spot in those fins. They can break off much easier if they hit something broadside to them because they do not have a long base. Futures fins have a long base with no tabs and this long base provides more protection from a broadside hit with the same force that would be most likely break off an FCS fin.

My two objections were confirmed by someone else who did a YouTube video on fins and this video is below.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Who would watch a 1 hour windwing video?

« Last post by Wetstuff on Today at 05:39:10 AM »

Ya, SK...  That's my only squawk - he needs a remote mike.

Jim

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General Discussion / Re: GoPro $1 Million Challenge and Review

« Last post by supsean on Today at 04:51:40 AM »

Thanks for sharing the videos. Boy what an adventurous family. My daughter, a tough high-school soccer defender, turns into a 3 year old at the prospect of touching seaweed.

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Gear Talk / Re: A Great Find: Gerry Lopez Futures GL2- 5 Fin Set

« Last post by OkiWild on February 17, 2020, 09:28:09 PM »

In Japan, the price was $25,800 yen which was equal to $234.68 USD .

This has been a major problem in Japan since...forever. In the past, distributors and retailers leaned on the little lie about "taxes" and "freight," and the language barrier between the average Japanese consumer and the foreign seller. They love to jack things up to north of 100% over RRP in the country of origin. The modern consumer has moved past this, and for the most part, prices have come down to reasonable, considering freight and tax. However, there are still the holdouts, and many times smaller manufacturers get sucked into this trap with the "sole distributor" racket. They either can't, or refuse to deal with the individual customer, so they rely on a single point to deal with their product in the country. That sole distributor will then jack the price way up, as they they wrongly believe they have a monopoly on the product, and everyone will have to go through them to get it.

For instance, Starboard is huge in Japan. Other than a good name they have an excellent distributor, and the retail price of a board is a few hundred over US RRP plus 10% Japanese consumption tax. That few hundred covers the freight and handling. Buying a single board from a US vendor at retail would cost the customer more, as freight on a single board is much more than Starboard Japan is paying with bulk shipment. On the other hand, I looked into a "popular" brand board a while back, and they want me to go through the distributor vs. buying direct from them. For the cost of one of their boards through the Japanese distributor,  I can buy a single board from a retail shop in the US, pay for the freight on that single board, pay the 10% tax, and come in way under the asking price here. I've seen a few of these boards around, and they were all brought in privately. As in the case of your fins, I spoke to the shop in question (same for the board manufacturer), explaining to them that everyone in Japan can go straight to Futures, or even a seller on Amazon.jp, and pay US RRP plus tax. With a few exceptions, you will never sell that product. No deal, and the fins have been sitting there...forever. Sometimes, they will move the product enough that the distributor makes some money, but the manufacturer gets screwed due to low sales volume. No one will ever buy those fins at that price, but they won't budge...LOL

A major appeal about Blue Planet was their willingness to deal with any single customer, and will ship to anywhere. This business model keeps local prices in check, and is better for the manufacturer in terms of sales volume and customer satisfaction.

Anyway... /rant. Glad to hear you got your fins. BTW, I'm also pretty happy with the Futures F6 Honeycomb and  F6 Alphas for performance SUP. But no US Box center if you want thruster...

10

Foil SUP / Re: New ultralight foil motor for catching unbreaking waves

« Last post by SUPdad on February 17, 2020, 09:02:06 PM »

I also wonder how well the remote works with the fin entirely under water.