Don't dream It's over

(versão em Português abaixo)

Just over 3 years ago I started Magic Quiver with a simple idea in mind; bring to Portugal some of the best surfboards from California. Surfboards that I wanted to ride and weren’t available here. The lack of financial resources to open a real shop or import a lot of boards forced me to keep it small and only online but profit was never the objective because Magic Quiver was more like a hobby and I would keep my day job to pay bills!

Because our market is very small and most of the surfers didn’t knew anything about the shapers I was working with, most of the first 2 years were about promotion and getting the names out there. It was hard, with a lot of work and not enough sales to support it. But along the way I was lucky to meet/talk/exchange e-mails with some very talented people that thought me almost everything I know about surfboards and shape. That for itself paid all the work!

In 2009 my boards range expanded to European labels and I started doing some collaborations on shaping trips from US shapers to Europe. Just before the end of the year I had Josh Hall here working for me. For a first experience it worked out very well.
At the time I was already working with Wavegliders, a Portuguese label and with their support, in 2010 I went for another shaping trip, this time with Ryan Lovelace. The work paid off and the trip was a success with amazing feedback coming from all over Europe.
The business was going great with good sales both at MQ and Wavegliders and finally I had the attention of some websites and surf mags.

But not all is good. During this last year I’ve spent much more time working than with my family or surfing. When you don’t surf for a month and only see your kids for a few minutes a day, you realize that you’re working too much, way too much.

MQ or WG aren’t able to support me financially so I had to choose between them and my personal life and went for the obvious. My family and my free time are more important than any business, no matter how much I love it.

So, starting today, Magic Quiver stops all commercial activities. The blog will remain here but just for talk, without any intent to sell anything.
It’s not an easy decision, I came a long way to get here and it’s never easy to give up on dreams but I’m sure we will catch up again in the future. In the meantime we never know what opportunities might show up! I’m always open to proposals.

To end this long post, I just want to thank all of you that supported me and made Magic Quiver possible.

THANK YOU


This 1986 song by Crowded House fit’s well here!




Há pouco mais de 3 anos iniciei a Magic Quiver com um único objectivo - trazer para Portugal algumas das melhores marcas de pranchas da Califórnia. Pranchas que eu adorava experimentar e não estavam disponíveis no nosso País (algumas nem no resto da Europa). Como não dispunha de recursos financeiros para abrir uma loja ou importar grandes quantidades, dediquei-me ao comércio online e encomendas. Na altura, o volume de vendas e os lucros não eram importantes. A Magic Quiver seria apenas um hobby, uma vez que mantinha um emprego “normal”.

Durante os dois primeiros anos o meu trabalho prendeu-se mais com a promoção das marcas/shapers com quem trabalhava. Algumas delas eram desconhecidas da maioria dos surfistas nacionais e o nosso mercado demasiado pequeno para pensar em grandes vendas. Foram tempos difíceis com muito trabalho e pouca recompensa. Mas esse trabalho levou-me a conhecer muitas pessoas que me ensinaram praticamente tudo o que sei hoje sobre shape e pranchas de surf. Isso por si só compensou todo o trabalho!

Em 2009 expandi o meu catálogo para algumas marcas Europeias e iniciei algumas colaborações com fábricas que traziam à Europa shapers da Califórnia. Nomes como Jeff Mccallum, DJ Kane, Malcolm Campbell ou Chris Christenson.. Em Novembro desse ano arrisquei na minha primeira experiência e trouxe a Portugal Josh Hall. O resultado foi muito positivo e abria assim muitas portas para o futuro.

Nessa altura eu já colaborava também com a Wavegliders, uma marca Portuguesa que eu também ajudava a desenvolver. Com o apoio da Wavegliders, em Junho de 2010 trouxe a Portugal o shaper Ryan Lovelace, numa viagem que se revelou um enorme sucesso com bom número de vendas e um feedback incrível vindo de toda a Europa.
Os negócios corriam bem, tanto na MQ e na WG e finalmente tinha captado a atenção de revistas de surf e websites.

Mas independentemente da experiência que estava a adquirir, nem tudo era perfeito.
O hobby que tinha iniciado estava a deixar de fazer o seu papel para se impor perante o pouco tempo que tinha. Durante este ultimo ano, passei muito mais tempo a trabalhar do que com a minha família ou a surfar e, quando estamos um mês sem ir ao mar e apenas vemos os nossos filhos durante alguns minutos por dia, apercebemo-nos que algo está errado e estamos no mau caminho.

A MQ ou a WG ainda não geram por si só capital suficiente para me sustentar e por isso tive de escolher entre elas ou a minha vida pessoal e a escolha é óbvia. A minha família e o meu tempo livre são mais importantes do que qualquer negócio, por mais que eu goste dele!

Por isso, a partir de hoje, a Magic Quiver deixa de ser uma loja online, abandonando todas as actividades comerciais.
Irei manter o blog mas apenas para continuar a falar e escrever sobre o que gosto, pranchas e surf, mas sem qualquer intenção de vender seja o que for.
Pelos mesmos motivos termino também a minha colaboração com a Wavegliders.
Não é uma decisão fácil e nunca é fácil abdicar dos nossos sonhos, no entanto quem sabe o que o futuro nos reserva. Eu cá estarei para agarrar as oportunidades que apareçam!

Resta-me apenas agradecer a TODOS os que tornaram a Magic Quiver possível e me apoiaram ao longo destes anos. A todos o meu sincero OBRIGADO.

Rui Ribeiro

Em 1986 os Crowded House lançaram uma música que se adequa ao meu momento (ver video acima)

Rich Pavel in Europe

The one and only Rich Pavel is on his way to the UK to shape some custom boards with Rob Royal. This is a very rare opportunity to grab a genuine Pavel, so if you want the real thing, don’t miss it and order one.

To get yours contact Rob at: royalsurfboards@gmail.com

jeff's special

Ryan shaped this special (secret) one for Jeff, 100% custom made. Nico did the amazing acid splash and Carlos the shinny polish. The result: a unique and magical surfboard!

8 for wallako

These eight beauties are on their way to Wallako Surfshop in Bidart, France. Contact them if you're interested.

  

Josean D.Bowls

Josean just sent me some photos of his beautiful D.Bowls.
This 9'4 D.Bowls was shaped Ryan Lovelace on his trip to Portugal and then finished by the Wavegliders crew, Nico and Carlos.
It has a clean white tint and glass on wood fin by Quilhas Alfredo.

Thanks for the photos Josean and enjoy your amazing new board.

KooK

Last week got on the mail the first issue of Kook, a really interesting surf newspaper created by Daniel Crockett, http://thisrichtapestry.blogspot.com/. With a unique style and quality articles, Kook is well worth your attention. If you want to grab the first issue before Daniel releases number 2, just go to his blog and order it.

About Kook:

"KooK is published independently and printed in the UK on paper from sustainable forests. No Paid-For Advertising.

Global contributors include Cyrus Sutton, Mike Black, Mark Leary, Ryan Heywood, Kassia Meador, Tom Haskett, Kate Czucsman, Andrew Kidman, John Eldridge, Jim Newitt, Alex Rowse, Michael Fordham, Ollie Banks, Mark Dickinson, Rob Royal, Seamouse, Ryan Tatar, Ryan Lovelace and many more.

KooK features Cyrus Sutton on handplanes, hulls with Ryan Lovelace, notes on flow by Mark Dickinson, John Isaac by Michael Fordham, Shayne House on tea... KooK includes illustration by Seamouse, Ryan Thomas, Simon Perini, Tom Haskett and many others... Photography by Friend of Mine, Ryan Tatar, Mike Black, Kassia Meador and more..."

the special one

Every surfboard I've sold was unique and very special. From the first e-mail to the delivery I do my best to make my costumers happy with the buy and try to assure they get the perfect surfboard, the Magic one, just like they dreamed.
But this one will remain in my memory for a while. It's an amazing surfboard from all angles. From the shaping process to the riding style everything in this board is unique and absolutely beautiful.
Such surfboard deserves a great photo and who better than the owner to do it.

Shaped by Ryan Lovelace, glassed by Ryan with the help of Nico and sanded by Carlos.
Photo by Miguel Barreira

Flex Spoon

Portuguese surf mag, SurfPortugal, has on the latest issue a nice article about the Flex Spoon and George Greenough legacy. The Flex Spoon shown on the photo was hand made by Ryan Lovelace on his trip to Portugal last June. It was the first one made in Portugal and one of the few ever made in Europe.

I will post photos of that outstanding surfboard as soon as possible.

Check the amazing photo by Miguel Barreira, proud owner of the Flex Spoon.

back on the glassing room

The Wavegliders crew has been working hard to finish the boards Ryan shaped. Boards are coming out amazing. Nico and Carlos are doing a fantastic job. Thanks guys.

DK Swordfish for sale

SOLD
DK Swordfish
6'0 x 20" 3/8 x 2,5"
clear sanded finish
Lokbox LB1/LB4 glass fins

A prancha foi feita pelo DJ Kane durante a sua viagem a Portugal em 2009 e laminada na Boardculture.
Está em excelente estado, sem dings, apenas ligeiras mossas dos pés.

Board was shaped by DJ Kane during his trip to Portugal in 2009 and glassed at Boardculture.
Board is in great condition, no dings, just minor pressure dents on deck.

Preço/price: