surfPioneer Speaks

Transworld Business recently surveyed 185 leading surfboard retailers from around the county in order to present an accurate report on the state of the surf hardgoods market. They broke down what the leading surfboard retailers in the U.S. are stocking their boardrooms with by category, and how those categories are trending in their stores.

While the Pacific Northwest only represented 4% of the total stores surveyed, the results are interesting. An overwhelming number of riders prefer longboards, followed by thrusters and funboards at a close third.

-Thruster (Tri fin): 25.3%
-Quad (Four Fin): 4.0%
-Twin Fin/ Fish: 4.8%
-Funboards: 20.2%
-Longboards: 44.8%
-Stand-Up: 0.7%
-Other: 0.2%

When compared to the rest of the country (excluding Texas & Midwest), the Pacific Northwest had the highest number of longboards - more than 20% than the next region. Additionally, it had the 2nd highest percentage of funboards, second only to Texas. Is this large number of funboards foreshadowing a crowded future for NW waters?

Here’s what the rest of the country looks like:

CALIFORNIA (represents 38% of total stores surveyed)

-Thruster (Tri fin): 47.9%
-Quad (Four Fin): 2.1%
-Twin Fin/ Fish: 3.1%
-Funboards: 14.5%
-Longboards: 27.4%
-Stand-Up: 2.7%
-Other: 2.3%

MID-ATLANTIC (represents 21% of total stores surveyed)

-Thruster (Tri fin): 50.5%
-Quad (Four Fin): 3.0%
-Twin Fin/ Fish: 1.0%
-Funboards: 19.7%
-Longboards: 23.3%
-Stand-Up: 2.6%

FLORIDA (represents 17% of total stores surveyed)

-Thruster (Tri fin): 56.7%
-Quad (Four Fin): 1.7%
-Twin Fin/ Fish: 1.0%
-Funboards: 17.1%
-Longboards: 14.3%
-Stand-Up: 5.7%

NORTH EAST (represents 15% of total stores surveyed)

-Thruster (Tri fin): 44.5%
-Quad (Four Fin): 5.8%
-Twin Fin/ Fish: 4.8%
-Funboards: 18.5%
-Longboards: 20.9%
-Stand-Up: 5.6%

HAWAII (represents 3% of total stores surveyed)

-Thruster (Tri fin): 54.4%
-Quad (Four Fin): 13.4%
-Twin Fin/ Fish: 0.4%
-Funboards: 10.9%
-Longboards: 21.4%
-Stand-Up: 1.4%
-Other: 0.4%

MID WEST (represents 1% of total stores surveyed)

-Thruster (Tri fin): 20%
-Quad (Four Fin): 0%
-Twin Fin/ Fish: )%
-Funboards: 5%
-Longboards: 70%
-Stand-Up: 5%

TEXAS (represents 1% of total stores surveyed)

-Thruster (Tri fin): 25%
-Quad (Four Fin): 0%
-Twin Fin/ Fish: 25%
-Funboards: 25%
-Longboards: 25%
-Stand-Up: 0%