Editor’s Note: Have a question for Dibi Fletcher? She’s definitely got answers. Or at least a perspective. Don’t hold back, shoot her a DM on Instagram and ask away. Here’s this week’s dispatch from the Matriarch of Radical…
Hey Dibi… I’ve been surfing really well lately and I’m making a list of brands to reach out to. I still live with my folks, so I’m not desperate, but I want to know if you think all brands offer the same value in building my career. – True Value SC
Hey True Value SC… No, not all brands are created equal in the opportunities they are able to offer riders in the beginning. You’re fortunate to have your parents’ support so you don’t have to accept something that may not be the best long-term option. First, I suggest you take a look at your top ten favorite surfers, spend some time studying each of their profiles. Check out their social media accounts and You Tube channels; see what podcasts they’ve been on and how they speak about themselves, their competitors and the industry in general. By now you should have a pretty good idea of who their different sponsors are and how they promote them and are promoted by them. You’re lucky to be coming up when there are so many great examples for you to use as role models and so much of your success is dependent on your own ability to do the Job. I wish you great success.
Hey Dibi… My 17-year-old son has really gotten his surfing together after the last couple of winters surfing some monster swells, but in smaller surf his style is a bit jerky. I’ve shown him a few videos of himself so he can work on it, any suggestions? – Style Matters
Hey Style Matters… I totally agree that style is everything. I remember when my boys were young, they were so amped in small surf trying “to milk it” their styles were over aggressive for the small slop breaking in front of my parents’ house. Herb brought out a couple of high-performance longboards for them to ride, knowing the extra weight and volume would help smooth out their styles. Perhaps after a couple of winters charging your son is “over surfing” his short board and needs a little more volume to smooth his lines and clean up his style.
Related: Hey Dibi: What Does It Mean To Pay Dues In Surfing Today?
Hey Dibi…Back in my day we skated ditches and surfed without fancy gear and now kids use smart surf skates “to ride waves on land.” With brands hyping tech constantly, is this crossover magic, or just a high-tech way to look like a Kook? – OG from HI
Hey OG from HI…I had to laugh at “high-tech way to look like a Kook” as if we need new ways to look like a kook in an already crowded field. But my thoughts after watching a few YouTube videos from different manufacturers, I believe it’s a trend that may find a niche in the longboard market but one of the significant draws about skateboarding is the relatively doable price of entry into one of the greatest ways a kid can have fun and learn a lot of valuable life lessons. I’m sure as the overall skate market grows there will be pockets of surf skate enthusiasts, but the majority of skaters will always ride traditional boards, trucks and wheels.
Hey Dibi…Back when urethane wheels sparked the skate boom, surfers skated to train, now I’m bombing hills for TikTok fame. Am I honoring that gritty crossover or just chasing “going viral”? – Santa Cruz TT
Hey Santa Cruz TT… Times have changed since Herb was skating “The Pool” in the early 60s’. Surfers and skaters were lucky if they had a camera man in tow to get a few shots, now it seems Andy Warhol’s statement “In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes” has never seemed more on point then it does with social media. Your Tik Tok hill bombing comes with extraordinary risk, I hope it’s part of your overall marketing plan and not just chasing an algorithm, but only you know what your long-term skate goals are and if you don’t, I seriously suggest you get a pen and paper, at the top of the page write “Where I’d like to be in Five Years” and start putting down the steps it will take to get you there. I’m sure you use Google Maps to get you to new skate locations; your list is your personal map on the road to success. Use it, update it, check off what you’ve accomplished, you’ll be amazed at how much more focused on the goal you’ll become.
Related: Hey Dibi: A Surf Mom’s Perspective on Homeschool
Hey Dibi… I’ve built a career selling surfboards and t-shirts but sometimes I wonder if we’ve hollowed out the very culture we profit from. How do you live with that paradox? – Surf industry Insider
Hey Surf Industry Insider… If you’re asking me personally, Herb and I needed to support ourselves and we did our best to create a legacy of high-performance products and films that shared our stoke and love of surfing with a huge audience. We got to work with all the greatest surfers, skaters and snowboarders while creating products that enhanced their riding experience. I hope Herb and I leave something of value to the culture in our years of working in the industry. I’m sure in the years it’s taken you to build a career around surfing you’ve cultivated great relationships and a lifetime of fond memories that make your contribution meaningful and I’m sure it was more fulfilling than a million other career paths you might have chosen. So stay the course and be grateful you got to be a small part of something so Cool…