Bing Surfboards - What's left to say?

Few Surfboard shapers in the world can lean on history as much as Bing, I will not go into the history of it as I am sure you have already heard countless times how Bing and Greg Noll started surfing together and pioneered the big wave scene on the North Shore. I could ramble for hours about the names, places, historical surfing facts.

What I want to talk about is Bing Surfboards, and how, really they are still at the top of the pile. How does a surfboard manufacturer remain so good for so long? Well let us not digress but remain true to the point. Matt Calvani, owner and head shaper at Bing Surfboards, and Stone Crandall, Marketing Director, have very kindly agreed to spare Surf Bunker some time to answer a few questions:

SB: How much does the heritage of Bing mean to you and to the local community?

Stone: The Bing Surfboards heritage means so much to us. It really is an honor to be associated with a brand that has such deep roots planted in surf history and culture. Helping to carry on the legacy that Bing Copeland established by building incredible boards that not only look beautiful also perform is truly wonderful.

SB: It's Incredible that Bing boards have remained so good for so long, what is the biggest reason for this?

Matt: It is interesting how the Bing name carries a sort of folklore around the globe from the aesthetic and functionality of the boards, world class team rider, and cutting edge ad campaign. This far proceeds my acquisition of the brand in the year 2000. By following the template that was established I added my own identity to the brand, and with the business savvy of my wife Margaret we brought the brand back to a thriving domestic manufacturer that it once was.

SB: Bing Surfboards are available in shops all over the surfing world, are they all still made in California?

Stone: Yep! Bing Surfboards are made start to finish right here in Encinitas, California just a few miles from our Surf Shop and within view of the waves we surf everyday.

SB: I really like the look of the Dharma 2.0, how much would it cost to get Matt to shape me one and get it shipped to Europe?

Stone: The Dharma 2.0 really is an incredible board that surfs in nearly every condition and wave. Prices vary based on the specifics of each board (color, finish, etc) but range from $725 - $880 USD.

SB: What do you think about the sustainable surfboard movement, switching over to cork or wood?

Matt: I can't say that I've used all of the sustainable products on the market, but I have shaped a fair share of Balsa wood surfboards. There's no way that the time and skill that goes into making a wood board could fill the demand. Most wood surfboards are way too heavy and expensive to produce In quantity. Ironically the surfboard revolution started in the late '50's once there was a alternative to wood as a construction material. Oil based polyurethane blanks and polyester resin are cheap and easy to use, and if taken care of, can last a lifetime.

Cork has a very small application for surfboards. Mostly used on epoxy boards to "dampen the stiffness inherent with epoxy". Mostly used on the deck to accomplish this. There are other products that I've used such as Super Sap resin that claims 20 to 30 percent sustainable. Due to the extreme cost there hasn't been a consumer demand for Bing's made from these products. There are definitely board builders that have instituted sustainable materials into there business model.

SB: It is worth saying that at the time of interview I caught these guys at the height of busy season and they still found time for us, a massive thanks and I guess we should let them get back to it.

Bing are undoubtedly at the top of the game if you want a classic board steeped in history, shaped extremely well and has a huge variety models to choose from going back in time. It's not an easy decision deciding which board to buy next but board builders like Bing certainly make it simpler. I want one.