In an effort to help alleviate some of the pains felt as a result of the recent foam shortage, Reef has arranged for a 40’ container of South African blanks to arrive at their San Diego headquarters sometime during late March.

“Since the fish concept was born here, in our own backyard, we decided to only import blanks that can be used to make that type of a board”, said Reef’s Strategic Marketing Manager, Bob Tanner. “We’ve ordered five sizes of fish blanks from Safari Foam, which will allow shapers to produce finished boards between 5’10 and 6’6”, Tanner added.

Reef is subsidizing the purchasing and importing of the blanks at current market value, but will be offering local shapers a one-time opportunity to purchase them at pre- “Black Monday” prices. Safari Foam has graciously agreed to support this grass-roots pricing decision, which is aimed at helping the San Diego board-building community.

While specific details of the foam distribution will be published in the February 2006 issue of Surfshot, San Diego’s local surf magazine, here are some initial guidelines:

  • The blanks will only be sold to shapers doing business in San Diego County, and a California Resale Certificate and business card must be presented as proof.
  • All interested shapers who meet the above criteria will have their names drawn from a hat, and will be able to purchase up to twenty blanks, which will be sold in pre-packs of five (which will allow them to create a 5’10, 6’0, 6’2, 6’4, and 6’6 fish).
  • We will keep drawing names out of the hat, until all 600 blanks have been sold.
  • All blanks must be picked up at Reef Headquarters in San Diego, and the terms are C.O.D.

Mark Price, Reef’s V.P. of marketing, concluded “We felt very strongly about doing SOMETHING to help the San Diego grassroots surfboard community. While it’s by no means a long term solution, every blank helps. Hopefully others will see a similar opportunity in their own backyards.”