The surf isn’t the only thing that is up. Apparently so are the tariffs that U.S. surf board makers are now facing when selling American made products aboard. However, the United States allows foreigners to sell in the United States duty-free. The question, as asked on PBS Newshour – which first reported on this story – whether a response could in turn create a trade war.
Surfing was supposed to be about catching waves and good vibrations, but nothing about this story sounds like it.
[Via PBS Newshour: High Foreign Tariffs on US Surfboards: Should We Retaliate?]
Move over long board, Faceplant’s new Boardriders are bodysurfing handboards that let wave riders hit the surf in any condition. Originally devised for use on days that weren’t too great for surfing, but would still be good for bodysurfing, the handboards, also known as handplanes, have reportedly even been gaining popularity with the tradition surfing crowd.
Some people like to garden, some people might also like a beer garden, but now comes a new type of garden – a Wavegarden. This allows for home-grown waves for surfing right in the backyard. This could be a godsend to those who want to hit the surf but live far from the beach.
While some camping gear has gone so high-tech that it might not feel like you’re actually getting back to nature, Portland’s Poler Camping Stuff brand, which launched last fall, is all about simple yet efficient. The company’s focus revolves around being “an outdoor brand that brings together surf/skate/snowboard culture and sensibilities into pragmatic gear,” and providing “simple, good looking, well designed gear.” The products offer a vintage look, such as the Napsack sleeping bag that will keep you warm at night and in the morning let you wear it while heading to the camp fire.