china, mexico, usa , canda and whatever else woods

[plastic bench nerd]

im pretty sure that all the different places boards are made they all have something unique to them

pros: china:(dwindle,girl?,blitz?)  great flat concave that still sticks to your feet, some of the china boards seem to have "late tail" i like the late tailand some dont, the wood i quite responsive kind of like a fast snap

cons: china:  chips somewhat quick, the middle of the boards seem way to stiff at times,
"just a rumor" but some have said that a few a company's riders of china brand wood might actually ride a specified wood "end of rumor"

pros: usa: (chapman, abc, shcmitt?)tuff ass wood glue the board"s never seem to chip, usally have more of a deeper side and tail concave wich feels perfect when wearing a pair of vulcanized shoes, nice and grippy

cons: the boards are so sturdy that sometimes they wear out uneven, thus making you forget that the board actually ran out of pop but the tail isnt even worn down too much, when they start to lose pop they seem to get a little heavier feeling.

pros: mexico: (blackbox,syndrome and others?) like said above about the usa, steeper concave but it varies with the companies that use manufactured boards from mexico, imo syndrome's concave is more like china boards, smewhat flat, and some blackbox's having concave like usa manufactured boards,,the tail and nose seem very bright with snap, board seem to have a good vibirant feel,i feel that this wood is good for manual tricks for me....

cons: mexico: the boards seem to wear out and chip fast but can hold up somr decent snap even when they look tired and worn out,,i tend to break tail and nose on these boards  from time to time..heard the same rumor a china but who knows for sure,, not me


Canada? someone fill me in? i dont think ive rode many if any,,and i am now done nerding out on tree manufatures....

surry

[KoRnholio8]

i've been riding nothing but made in china blanks this year and can't tell you of any downsides...

[Matze]

i rode czech boards the last 2 or 3 years.

[G_Feeble]

Skate Deck Sales, 2.3 Billion US Dollars (with a B) ... Disinformation vs. Information ... what to believe ? 

Increase profit margin by manufacturing most in China, some in the USA, and be vocal about how Pro USA you are.  All the while improving sales (and profit margins) until your China manufatcuring is out-ted.  Just come clean, People who want Fords will always buy Fords.

There is abosultely nothing wrong with Chinese, Mexican, USA, Australian, European or Canadian made decks.  Subjective Preference.  Period.

[max power]

i never tried anything except US boards, i don't like change. the closest i got was a board from syndrome which, while still being US made was a complete piece of shit.

[Hastings]

I've only ridden a deck that has been manufactured in china a couple of times..

Great for the 1st week by the end of the second it was as responsive as wet masonite. Don't plan on trying another one anytime soon.

I don't want a board to last for ever, but I'm sure rather pay a small amount more and stick to traditional wood/glue/maufacturing process


Plus I'm not to stoked on the whole world rinsing china and the enviroment for a quick buck

[grimcity]

I'm on my way to becoming a protectionist... USA manufactured wood for me.

As long as ABC, DLX, Chapman are in the states, I'll be riding them.

[mikefork]

i have been riding mostly chapman and bareback boards this year, but i have had a few others. all of the chapman and bareback boards have felt amazing, and i only stopped skating them because they felt too worn out, not because they broke. i did have a couple boards that were made in china and the reason i stopped skating them was because they broke, and in a quarter of the time it would take a bareback or chapman board to break. the boards made in china did feel just as snappy at first, but after a few hours they started to flex like crazy. i had a blackbox board recently and that too felt snappy, but after about four days i noticed that it already cracked and then about an hour later the crack kept getting bigger and bigger. i will give them the benefit of the doubt though because a few other kids i know got boards from the same shipment and they all broke the same exact way, so i assume it could have  been a defect. i did have one black box board about two years ago that held up just as long as a bareback or chapman board and i stopped skating it for the same reasons i would stop skating one of their boards

[koots]

As far as Canada goes:  any decent board is going to be made with Canadian Hard Rock Maple....doesn't matter where it's manufactured. 
The only woodshop I know of is in Quebec:  Premium.  Premium (Max Dufour) runs their own woodshop, all the workers are skaters, and the boards are pressed like...only like 2 or 3 at a time to help ensure quality. 

Personally, I would take a Premium over any other board anytime.  Stiff, steep nose and tail, tons of concave.  That's what I like.

[bothersome]

Ive been noticing more and more alien/habitat boards with woodchuck stamps on top, they look almost exactly like a ps stix board. and it isn't just the nice price decks either.
ps stix china wood is god awful. Nasty shapes,concave and quality.
Element has also taken to using some of the old girl shapes and molds for some of there boards.

[KoRnholio8]

Plus I'm not to stoked on the whole world rinsing china and the enviroment for a quick buck

if so, then we should completely blacklist USA, no. 1. pollutant in the world and a fucking ignorant one at that too... (sorry to go offtopic)

[Prison Wallet]

Plus I'm not to stoked on the whole world rinsing china and the enviroment for a quick buck

if so, then we should completely blacklist USA, no. 1. pollutant in the world and a fucking ignorant one at that too... (sorry to go offtopic)

Thanks for adding insight to the conversation... Check your own ignorance with your "I hate America look at me" post. Obviously you've never been to China if you think the US is the #1 pollutant in the world. Not to let the US off the hook but I lived in China for a couple years and blew black snot out my nose every day from the air pollution. I swam in rivers and got hook worm because the eco-balance was thrown off by chemical pollutants and human waste (shit).

Why do you think it's cheap to press boards in China and expensive here Einstein? Because we have minimum wages, labor unions, and factories have to meet environmental standards. That shit costs money. China forgoes those little inconveniences to stimulate their economy which has historically been agricultural.

[KoRnholio8]

Plus I'm not to stoked on the whole world rinsing china and the enviroment for a quick buck

if so, then we should completely blacklist USA, no. 1. pollutant in the world and a fucking ignorant one at that too... (sorry to go offtopic)

Thanks for adding insight to the conversation... Check your own ignorance with your "I hate America look at me" post. Obviously you've never been to China if you think the US is the #1 pollutant in the world. Not to let the US off the hook but I lived in China for a couple years and blew black snot out my nose every day from the air pollution. I swam in rivers and got hook worm because the eco-balance was thrown off by chemical pollutants and human waste (shit).

Why do you think it's cheap to press boards in China and expensive here Einstein? Because we have minimum wages, labor unions, and factories have to meet environmental standards. That shit costs money. China forgoes those little inconveniences to stimulate their economy which has historically been agricultural.

you are right, of course, but the "industrial revolution" in china is not as old as in USA and should be toned down in the following decades, whereas in USA laws are still far less strict than in europe (all while ignoring Kyoto protocol to benefit you greedy asses) and to add to your industry, you have an overwhelming quantity of cars that drink up so much gas it makes any european sick just when thinking about it... (china has a huge amount of traffic too, but i'm sure gas isn't ass cheap there and there is not as many per household)

when there is such a pressing need for enviromental action, USA will never dissapoint it's industry and let it roam free since dubya made a huge fucking hole in your budget with his war for oil.

[bornindabay]

This China made crap is far beyond skating. It's hard not to be upset when you think of the moment when they decide to support their economy over our own. Money is a powerful thing but why can't people be happy with doing the right thing and making a little less???GREED!

I'm hoping soon there's a change in how we as a nation do business before my kid ends up with lead poisoning and we are owned by China.

[Prison Wallet]

This China made crap is far beyond skating. It's hard not to be upset when you think of the moment when they decide to support their economy over our own. Money is a powerful thing but why can't people be happy with doing the right thing and making a little less???GREED!

I'm hoping soon there's a change in how we as a nation do business before my kid ends up with lead poisoning and we are owned by China.

We'll never (not in our lifetimes) be owned by China. The infastructure's not there and corruption is deeply imbedded in their culture. The don't even have the resources to educate their working class let alone stage some global takeover.

Greed in the industry sucks but it's soooo complicated. Companies say higher profits allow them to pay their pros better and provide benefits. Filmers don't make enough and higher profits can help that too. Right? Overall do Dwindle pros make more than DLXSF pros? Do they have bennies?

And is that line about wanting to take better care of pros true or just a bullshit line so company owners can afford their coke habbits and trophy wives? Who are the dudes at the top making money off China wood?

Back to China; in my veiw they need to chill out a little set things up right for lasting development. Their economic growth is explosive but to the detriment of their people and environment. Which will come back to bite them in the ass. (Unfortunately because I love China).

And Kornholio you're right about the Kioto accord. It's bullshit we don't meet those standards. And it's bullshit American car makers aren't pioneering alternative fuel vehicles. The last 7 years of American history have been a debachle and I think history will reflect that. Hopefully we'll have tangible change in '08.

Kornholio where in Europe do you live?

[KoRnholio8]

I live in Slovenia. (no local woodshop to support, I'm affraid)

Also I wanted to add that even China is partly an USA-made problem - all big USA companies outsource their production to China.

There will be change as soon as Chinese people get better living standards and stop working for next to nothing... Who will be next? India? Some African country?

After skateboarding (if) dies again, production quotas will get low enough not to interest China manufacturers...

[Sony MDR V2 headphones]

"Goodwood" blanks have great pop but don't last very long. Same with Natural Koncept.

"

[bornindabay]

I live in Slovenia. (no local woodshop to support, I'm affraid)

Also I wanted to add that even China is partly an USA-made problem - all big USA companies outsource their production to China.

There will be change as soon as Chinese people get better living standards and stop working for next to nothing... Who will be next? India? Some African country?

After skateboarding (if) dies again, production quotas will get low enough not to interest China manufacturers...

great post.

[bentmode]

Plus I'm not to stoked on the whole world rinsing china and the enviroment for a quick buck

if so, then we should completely blacklist USA, no. 1. pollutant in the world and a fucking ignorant one at that too... (sorry to go offtopic)

exactly, im totally scared of my board mutating and attacking my feet.

[Prison Wallet]

I live in Slovenia. (no local woodshop to support, I'm affraid)

Also I wanted to add that even China is partly an USA-made problem - all big USA companies outsource their production to China.

There will be change as soon as Chinese people get better living standards and stop working for next to nothing... Who will be next? India? Some African country?

After skateboarding (if) dies again, production quotas will get low enough not to interest China manufacturers...

Slovenia's a cool country--definately progressive amongst the smaller countries in Central Europe. I remember checking out photocopied skate zines from Slovenia with the locals when I lived in Bratislava Slovakia.

But to be fair inequitable globalization is a global problem, not just to be pinned on the back of the US. Because it's not just the US buying our Chinese made products. The rest of the world's right on our heels as far as consumption goes which fuels the fire equally. US coperations are a huge part of the Chinese problem but so are you if you've got a pair of Chinese shoes on your feet or clothes on your back.   

It's true economics will probably control what role exploitation plays in the skate industry but it'd be nice if industry heads would just step up and do what's right. And consumers would step up and do what's right. And pros for that matter too.

Somehow DLXSF finds a way to do it and so do a handful of other companies.

And your posts on this topics have gotten a lot smarter since the "boycott america" and "america's ignorant" post 'cause that shit's just not fair. It's complex and probably like you I have a lot of love for my country.

[KoRnholio8]

"boycott america" and "ignorant idiots" might sound harsh to you as a resident of USA, but (at least for me) USA is a source of many flustrations, if not the problems themselves, because even if china ever surpasses it by industry power, I don't believe any nation can take away USA's authority of being the "most important courty in the world" (i couldn't find better words for this) - it's political power is tremendous, yet, as I interpret it, they use it only to their own benefit, but for the cost of every other nation in the world.

This, I believe is the viewpoint of many people that "hate" USA and I think we cannot be blamed for that.

Of course, country's politics do not reflect it's people and there is no hate towards Amercians themsleves...

Maybe it's time to end this epic offtopic now 

Oh, and consumerism will never change: prices will always be the most important thing, we can just wait for china to become more expensive...

[crailtap fakie]

When I ride zero boards it smells like tacos when I tailslide. I like it but it always makes me hungry so my sessions are cut short.

[TEN.X.TRUTH]

Jesco, I respect that you lived in China but I will tell you this China is not the same place it was 3 months ago never mind a few years ago. 

China is being forced under MUCH international and US pressure to step up their act, environmentally, politically & overall manufacturing quality etc. 

The US, in any industry, has already resigned itself to having to use China for production purposes for the next 50+ years, so the pressure being placed on the PRC is extraordinary.

The countries biggest importer, the US, is quietly "fixing" China. They are using many tactics to help "fix" the manufatcuring quality. 

Things that used to be swept under the rug and dis-carded are now being brought to light and the sole reason is to make China lose face and force an act clean up.  It's working from a first hand perspective.

[john]

i'm riding a krown canadian blank right now, and it's pretty good so far

[j....soy.....]

thinking that china is and will continue on producing nothing but junk is naive.....

[Prison Wallet]

Jesco, I respect that you lived in China but I will tell you this China is not the same place it was 3 months ago never mind a few years ago. 

China is being forced under MUCH international and US pressure to step up their act, environmentally, politically & overall manufacturing quality etc. 

The US, in any industry, has already resigned itself to having to use China for production purposes for the next 50+ years, so the pressure being placed on the PRC is extraordinary.

The countries biggest importer, the US, is quietly "fixing" China. They are using many tactics to help "fix" the manufatcuring quality. 

Things that used to be swept under the rug and dis-carded are now being brought to light and the sole reason is to make China lose face and force an act clean up.  It's working from a first hand perspective.

Loose face huh, I like that. Diu mian zi true enough over all the recalls, bird flu, etc... I do agree the media hyping it all up would do a number on China's global face and would force a clean up. The 2008 Olympics in the minds of the Chinese is a change to get face from the rest of the world.

Yeah it's been a couple years but where did you disagree with what I said? Nowhere did I say they weren't cleaning up their act under global pressure. And that's true, on the coast. If you know China then you know there's two Chinas. The prosperous coast and the backwater rest, which makes up the vast majority. Development's not so quick inland because there's no infastructure set up and all of the educated (and uneducated for that matter) are migrating to the coast in search of work. Central and Western China is still a mess no matter how good Shanghai and Beijing look. And even with that said, even today Shanghai's no Hongkong.

You're pretty much on point and it's true China's developing at a break neck speed. They've got a cultural tradition that spans 5000 years of taking on huge projects at break neck speed. The grand canal, exploring the "west" by ship, the great wall, the cultural revolution, the great leap forward, the "open door" policy, and now the 2008 Olympics.

But it's time they slow down and set some things up right. Man man lai. And it's not totally fair for you to say the US is "fixing" China like some great pupet master. That doesn't give the Chinese enough credit. On their own their trying to shake the stereotype of cheap production and keep Chinese minds from leaving the country.

[isaac]

i'm skating a girl board right now, can only assume it's China made. good so far, stiff and snappy. I prefer to support companies based in the US because too much money is spent outside the country. in skating and in other aspects of our ecconomy.

if you like the board and it treats you well then who cares where it's made, skate it.

[koots]

thinking that china is and will continue on producing nothing but junk is naive.....

....

It wasn't 'THAT' long ago that North Americans/Europeans thought Japan only produced junk and always would produce junk.

Seriously, 30 years ago a "made in japan" stamp was not good.  Shit changes fast....

China is gearing up for some serious shit.  It's not gonna be that long before they're manufacturing all their homegrown products to sell to us.  They're already gearing up for moving their homegrown manufacturing to Africa...they're planning to use African labour the same way the West has used China.

As far as industrial pollution:  countries of the West got a free pass.  What's fair?  We were allowed to industrialize and pollute the shit out of the world but other countries aren't?  We live in the richest countries in the world (most of us).  If you're on welfare in the U.S. you're probably still within the top 10% bracket of wealth.  That's fucked.  Goddamn countries and people are so fucking rich but still can't be bothered to give two shits about the rest of the world around us.  And, I'm not just talking about U.S.  Canada, England, Western Europe are equally as bad. 

This made in the USA board shit...what a joke.  Nationalism used to push any product is pure propaghanda at it's worst.

[koots]

Ive been noticing more and more alien/habitat boards with woodchuck stamps on top, they look almost exactly like a ps stix board. and it isn't just the nice price decks either.
ps stix china wood is god awful. Nasty shapes,concave and quality.
Element has also taken to using some of the old girl shapes and molds for some of there boards.

Yup, I think almost all alien/habitat boards are woodchuck now, no? 
I like woodchuck/premium because they employ all skaters, they press boards in small numbers, boards are finished by hand.


Oh yeah....one thing that no one tells you about some of the "made in usa" brands. 
A lot of them are using Chinese maple instead of Canadian or American in order to cut down costs. 

[Prison Wallet]

Ive been noticing more and more alien/habitat boards with woodchuck stamps on top, they look almost exactly like a ps stix board. and it isn't just the nice price decks either.
ps stix china wood is god awful. Nasty shapes,concave and quality.
Element has also taken to using some of the old girl shapes and molds for some of there boards.

Yup, I think almost all alien/habitat boards are woodchuck now, no? 
I like woodchuck/premium because they employ all skaters, they press boards in small numbers, boards are finished by hand.


Oh yeah....one thing that no one tells you about some of the "made in usa" brands. 
A lot of them are using Chinese maple instead of Canadian or American in order to cut down costs. 

Do they even grow Maple in China?