Thursday, September 25, 2008

Reconcile this...

One face...

Two face?

Enigmatic. I saw Tudor riding his bike with his kid on it today after work. He lives in the area so I see him occasionally. Compare/contrast. Draw your own conclusions. Is he trying to recapture credibility as a surf fundamentalist after the Surftech sell off? I don't know. Maybe he just has some nice ideas. Click here and then here.

Regardless, I love the nod to early surfing craft in the name.

7 comments:

jb said...

Yeah, this is a tough one. In the past he has been so outspoken against overseas boards. Maybe it's because he has to raise his son; I can only imagine it's a financial decision that is all about passive income. But the contrast between this and Kookbox is pretty stark. And trademark issues in Japan over his own name must be pretty weird.

I dig the vibe of his new gig, but I can't help but feel the Robin Kegel reference. I know he's been into the NYC art and surf scene for a while, and I'm all for creative. At least he isn't wearing skinny jeans. I think the guy's one of the greatest surfers of our time, really a complete wave rider if you ask me. Not sure if he has always been the most original thinker, but maybe I'm off base. And, in the end it's easy to armchair.

Still, I'm bummed about the popouts.

Surfsister said...

While I would never buy a pop-out, I don't think it's my place to judge him or any other shaper—yes, I know Joel's not a shaper but I have to lump him into that group for right now—for going the Surftech route. I think it's hard to be famous, semi-famous, well-known, etc. since everyone is a critic. Everyone changes, but most of us get to do it without the world watching and critiquing us. So if he was against pop-outs in the past but sees that they are the future of the industry or sees that they are a necessary evil, then so be it. We all live with our decisions, be they right or wrong.

Still, I wouldn't dare buy a pop-out. I think there's nothing better than a hand shaped fibreglass plank.

Anonymous said...

perhaps he'll be happy when his contractual obligation to SurfDreck ends, who knows if he sees real money out of it. Maybe they sell like hotcakes overseas? Can SurfDreck sell boards with his name on them in Japan now?

I say good for him to start a new label after someone in Japan ripped off his name. But I don't really dig Kookbox as a logo I'd want on my boards - because I'm too much of a kook myself.

Anonymous said...

What's with all this dagger and skull business? For a guy who surfs so amazing and has a quality of life that most can only dream of, it's disappointing that he has to keep on this tough guy/asshole vibe.

borntoloser said...

I see valid points in all of your comments. Quite enigmatic. Talented surfer, no doubt.

Anonymous said...

It's just surfing, don't take any of it too seriously.

Anonymous said...

the kookbox skull and dagger are not tough guy logos, they are icons from an old navy hand to hand combat book in which they used kookboxs to trian with. learn before you talk, aloha......