Surfboard Company Demands Day in Court

OH, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! I've been surfing since 1968, surfed variable consditions & different sized/shaped waves, had tons of wipeouts, been slashed by my fin & NEVER ONCE have I EVER considered a lawsuit for my choice of risk taking activity.

Let me relate a story to all of you here from back in 1986 when I used to skateboard for Santa Monica Airlines, Thunder trucks, Santa Cruz Wheels, JimmyZ Clothing & Rip City Skates (in anta Monica):

A dad & his later-teen (17-18) son came into Rip City, the dad wanted to return the skateboard (A SMA Natas Kaupas model, Thunder 169mm trucks, Santa Cruz OJ Wheels) he bought for his son because the board is "defective."
The reason the board was "defective" was because his son keeps falling off of it.
Bill, 1 of the shop owners, asked me to take the board for a spin & put it through it's paces, which I proudly did.
An ollie or 2, a kickflip, a shovit, a 360 slide, g-turn & a grind later I happily informed all parties the board was fine, except for maybe the trucks were too tight.
The dad persisted the board was "defective" so I asked his son to take it for a spin.
Not to sound like a jerk, but the kid was a HUGE doofus, could barely ride the board, much less stay on it.
That's when I informed the dad that It's not the board that's "defective." It was his son.
Pops got mad, threatened to sue Rip City & call the BBB. Just another day in "you can buy what you're not" land, have a nice day :) henry

Hank old buddy, we do not always see eye to eye on this blog, but I am 100% with you on this one. I started surfing in 1969 and the second time I when out I went over the falls and the rail of my surfboard put a fairly good gash in my head. Neither my parents nor I even considered suing anybody and I certainly did not even consider giving up surfing. By the way, the board was not defective, my little brother went on rip like a pro on that board. What gets into people? Many aspects of surfing are dangerous and we all accept the risks. I suggest that the litigant take up video games from the safety of his couch. One more guy out of the line up would be good.

Rediculous! At 52 I now have 40+years of surfing behind me, and many more ahead. I've recieved numerous cuts and bruises,bumped my head,broke my nose,and been held underwater until I blacked out.Like any other sport Surfing has risks. If you are not able or willing to manage those risks take responsibilty for yourself and stay out of the water.

I've gotten sliced up by fins before, once flayed on my shin. Whop did I blame? No one except maybe myself for surfing in crap. I'm curious to know how long the litigant had been surfing? One day? Maybe a week? Couldn't possibly be his fault or even the wave's if someone or thing had to be blamed. Ridiculous.
I'm no fan of Al Merrick but I'm even less of a fan of kooks who get hurt and blame their board.

First I thought it a surprise that you regular, obviously bored, weirdo everyday posters have a surfing background. Just interesting that CI/Al Merrick got sued 25 or so years ago in a similar scenario. In that incident a local lady had her eye put out at Hammonds. Al was the surfer but the legal theory at trial that prevailed, was that the design of the board was "defective." The pointed nose, that up until then vitually every shortboard ever built had, was determined to be unreasonalby dangerous. Since then all CI shortboards are made with a squared off nose. With CI now owned by Burton, I am surpirsed they don't just settle this one. That may still be the result. Insurance companies hate trying these kind of unusal cases. Today CIs are so ubiquitous that the potential liability of a negative jury verdict is not worth the risk.