Photo: Ty Wright/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Gone are the days of rolling up to your local surf shop, consulting the in-house, salty old shaper, ordering a board, then anxiously waiting a month or two for something that may or may not be what was discussed. Sure, this still happens; but with mass production of surfboards, new technologies, et cetera, buying boards looks a little different today.
In other words, the surfboard market is getting bigger. Exploding, even.
According to a new study from Technavio – a research organization, which “focuses on emerging market trends to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions” – the global surfboard industry is projected to reach $4.8 billion between 2024 and 2028.
Related: These Women Are Reshaping the Surfboard Industry
Particularly, the researchers anticipate substantial growth in the shortboard department. According to the study:
“The market share growth by the shortboards segment will be significant during the forecast period…The shortboards segment showed a gradual increase in market share from USD 3.15 billion in 2018.”
Another key market driver, which the study looked at, will be increased numbers of surfers. Because more surfers equals more surfboards bought. Remember the pandemic boom? When everyone was working from home? And lineups began filling up with adult learners, equipped with disproportionately top-of-the-line gear? That ain’t over.
“Surf schools have been established along coastlines to encourage and train new surfers,” the study states. “These courses are designed to enhance the knowledge, abilities, and skills of surfers, adopting a scientific approach to surfing coaching… Such efforts to encourage surfing globally will boost the market during the forecast period by attracting more people.”
Related: Are Serrated Surfboards the Future? Koa Smith Thinks So.
Lastly, the continued innovation in surfboard design, and alternative materials, will also be a contributing factor to the boom. It’s not just foam and fiberglass and longboards and shortboards these days – epoxy, carbon fiber, soft-tops, balsa wood, asymms, mid-lengths, and other iterations of surf craft are dotting lineups more and more.
Good time to be a shaper? Maybe so.
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