He's definitely more consistent and maybe some of that could be attributed to Pyzel's designs, but there is also the added incentive/pressure of providing for his and Alana's new baby especially after her getting canned by Rip Curl.
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Footage of coffin on a JS
- Thread starter ULUSURFER
- Start date
Just a hunch it isn't about $$$, he's got that, but more about the shaper who he's working with. I'm sure JS has plenty of ghost shapers, but CI probably has 2x's as many and none of them are AM, even though many of them shape insane boards, they are all mostly still scrubbers, just not AM.
JS shaping his boards, in his room, talking it out, dialing boards in etc, That's where it's at at this point in his career, boards.
JS shaping his boards, in his room, talking it out, dialing boards in etc, That's where it's at at this point in his career, boards.
Ironic thing is most guys who left CI came back to CI. Bobby went to DHD along with nat and they both ride CI now. Adriano and jordy just ride whatever.
there is something magic about the rockers on CI’s the flyer and MBM rocker might be the best 2 ever performance shortboard rockers
You think? Unless JS is making a bigger push for the US market, Conner won't do anything for the brand, IMO.
doubt it, he comes from a wealthy family and has been getting paid good money since his teenage years.
I rewatched the video with the horrible soundtrack turned off and it improved the look of his surfing significantly.
CI is going all mid-lengths now and Conner didn’t fit that marketing model.
Bobby is all in though, launching a new mid-length world tour.
Bobby is all in though, launching a new mid-length world tour.
Connor, Kelly, ADS, Felipe... and a bunch of other pros have been surfing lowers a lot and the waves havent been that great and its been super crowded. I think that is a factor when seeing some of the recent footage of them. Connor didnt look that good on the waves i saw him get at Lowers, but i think it was the conditions and the crowd. He may need to get used to the boards a bit.
Also, Heath Walker was named president of JS USA last year and i think he's trying to ramp things up here in California. There is a new JS factory in Oceanside (i think its new?) and i noticed a few local guys (former pros) riding JS's. I wouldn't be surpised if they start making a push here in the USA.
Here's an article on Heath taking over.
shop-eat-surf.com
Also, Heath Walker was named president of JS USA last year and i think he's trying to ramp things up here in California. There is a new JS factory in Oceanside (i think its new?) and i noticed a few local guys (former pros) riding JS's. I wouldn't be surpised if they start making a push here in the USA.
Here's an article on Heath taking over.
JS Industries USA Names Heath Walker President of American Operations | Shop-Eat-Surf
Also joining the team is Brent Reilly, as SoCal sales rep.
shop-eat-surf.com
You'd think CI would do what it took to have a local guy on the CT level and the Stab post said CI was actually paying him more with board model royalties. Another post (maybe Beach grit?) said JS was ramping up their US presence and wanted a CA face of the brand. I'm sure they went down the list from Griffin and then Connor was the first one to say yes. So, he probably is just trying to give his surfing a spark. He's always had a pretty trad style compared to the more radical young guys and needs a long wall to draw out that signature carve. Certainly a gamble for a pro, but probably worth it if he's kinda stuck mid-rankings on the CT. Can always go back. I'm sure some of you may disagree but I can't imagine CI has the same mystique for the younger gen as when Curren & Slater were winning titles on Al's boards and half the top pros were riding them.
Not sure what Jackson Dorian on a Slater Designs' Sci-Fi 2.0 has to do with Conner now riding for JS Industries, but yes that kid can punt.
My questions and observations are:
I'm pretty sure Conner rode for Reef at one point. Nutty ran Reef USA for a long time.
Conner isn't hurting for cash, the family is wealthy, but he's going to want to make his own money and his agent needs to justify his position. I'm sure JS' expansion in the US market is the motivating factor for their side of the table. I'm curious to know if JS offered equity in the brand stateside. That's something that CI is not going to offer at this stage in the game.
Connor could benefit from some major shifts in his surfing. He's got great fundamentals, but he can come off a bit, well, fundamental (read: boring)...
I'm pretty sure Conner rode for Reef at one point. Nutty ran Reef USA for a long time.
Conner isn't hurting for cash, the family is wealthy, but he's going to want to make his own money and his agent needs to justify his position. I'm sure JS' expansion in the US market is the motivating factor for their side of the table. I'm curious to know if JS offered equity in the brand stateside. That's something that CI is not going to offer at this stage in the game.
Connor could benefit from some major shifts in his surfing. He's got great fundamentals, but he can come off a bit, well, fundamental (read: boring)...
Nobody on the CI team is trying to get boards from Al Merrick. Most of the team has their go to shapers. Mike Walter is one of the team builders that several of the CI team go to. I forget the dude's name in SoCal that is pretty popular too. It's not like CI has their team boards going through the same assembly line as their retail orders. They know who is shaping their board and they are world class shapers that are often far more skilled than the names on the label at that moment in time.
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No disrepect to Al or any of the new shapers working for CI but... who is the highest rated WCT surfer on CIs these days? I agree broadly that Kelly shld get back on CI or Simon Andersons ASAP but at the same time feel like some of the luster of the magic board is gone... I see this more as Conner needs to spice it up and he wld never go to Lost based on the implications of such a switch
Connor needs to hit the wave pool stat for some air practice on his news JS quiver. Call in Julian to coach. Next world champ. Boom shaka laka!
I think you're spot on.
If the Connor can step up the brand, and he has stake in the company, it could be a great deal for him.
It definitely seems possible. Conner just needs to put his head down and charge it on the new boards.