NSP Surfboards 2024 Preview
Retail Buyers Guide: 2024 Surfboards Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: NSP
Interviewee: Global Sales Manager
To a certain extent, the surfboard market relies on custom-made products and on demand manufacturing. Does this means the business is relatively spared from the poor sell-out and overstocks reported in other boardsport categories?
Both yes and no… Yes, much easier and faster to develop new shapes to stay fresh and relevant and ensure shops have something new to show… meanwhile everyone’s stock on hand from the 22/23 seasons will continue to sell in 2024 albeit with aggressive price promotions. Withsome truly remarkable deals, it’s a buyers market and there is truly no better time ever to buy a new surfboard!
While the board offer has never been so wide nowadays, which were the top trends of 2023?
Longboards continue as the dominant choice for many of our sports new comers and those looking to buy their first boards. Experienced surfers also drove the long category with nose riders and performance long boards while at the other end of the spectrum there is still a growing interest in the world of twin and midlengths
There is a noticeable step-back from competitive surfing: did this affect the sales of high-perf models?
With some very big names stepping back competitions for some very legitimate reasons, it’s definitely lowered the interest in some events. BUT, all politics aside, this excitingly also open the door for new comers. While NSP is traditionally not know for high-perf models, NSP’s celebrated it’s first ever board to be ridden and WSL Pro CT at Bells Beach in 2023. We have several other riders competing in eth QS events and we turning heads, but yes. It remains a tough selling category
There is no arguing: twins and midlengths still are crowd favorites. But which will be the trends within those two trends in 2024?
We are seeing this trend continue into different shapes and sizes to accommodate more riders into the twin and midlength categories. We also expect to see a greater use of different constructions and tech features
After the release of the Channel Islands Mid, the launch of the CI Log is a clear indicator of the appetite for classic longboards, outside the perimeter of niche hype brands. How is your longboard game for 2024?
Long boards are here to stay as our long board range continues to expand with new shapes and collaboration with different shapers, including Carl Schaper and Laguna Bay’s Tully St John. Our long boards sales grew 20% last year and makes up close to 40% of our total surf sales, driven by both existing and / emerging markets
There are two main paths when it comes to sustainable surfboards: the eco blanks & resins, or the low-waste vacuum-made EPS boards. What is your take on the matter?
As the pioneering brand in molded EPS construction since the early 2000’s, its exciting that all the major brands have now embrace EPS as the main and most sustainable construction with the lowest waste. There is always the challenge to make things better and we continue to explore new materials and construction methods… but, PU will always remain the traditionalists choice and no true surfer can deny the appeal of a PU foam core sparkling under a glossy glassed deck, it’s unique soul and personality.
Key Products:
SLEEP WALKER:
The Sleepwalker delivers continuous flow thanks to its long teardrop concave bottom that rolls off into a V towards the back, creating a big, flowy, fast bottom, turning easily out of the tail, The pinched rails delivers plenty of hold when on the nose without being to catchy. Highly stable and great paddling speed. It’s a real gem to ride.
PU_Sleep walker_White_Deck
DOUBLE VISION:
A highly capable twin fish, the concave finishes as a V in the tail allowing rider to go rail to rail with ease. Designed for speed this board will keep planted and in control 2-5’ swells and keep you going through the flat sections and straight into the next section. This board delivers above its class!
PU Double Vision Clear – Deck
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