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Friday, August 27th, 2010
When the first Brazilian in the ’80s started using OUR company name, Astrodeck, Herb contacted him and tried to negotiate a deal to buy back our Astrodeck name that he had registered in Brazil. The guy was very uncooperative and did not want to sell it to us-which was very unethical-but, unfortunately, not illegal. Herb contacted a lawyer here in the states about options and he was advised that he could probably win the case but it could exhaust all company assets. Herb had a young, growing family, limited resources, and so he made the decision to move forward by creating films and products that he was proud of, hoping that he could revisit the Brazilian infringement at a later date.
Time marched on and the business had periods of expansion and contractions, with many people jumping into the traction market that Herb created through his invention of the surfboard tail pad. With many players in the market for the pad (Which, by the way, is the smallest segment of surf-related sales.) being dependent on the purchase of a new board, it was difficult to keep our small family-owned company afloat. There was much money spent with attorneys getting trademark protection in many foreign countries, but most never produced the revenue that made the expense worth while.
We had heard nothing out of Brazil for quite some time until we ran into our friend, the shaper, Pat Rawson, at the tradeshow last year and he said that he wanted us to meet a young Brazilian who had bought “Astrodeck” from the previous Brazilian who had trademarked it. Pat said that the young guy really wanted to make it right and work with us. We were thrilled! After the initial introduction, I started to correspond with him through emails as I was always the one who handled all the international business. It was almost immediately apparent that the only way to work together would be a licensing deal due to the exchange rate, import duties, etc. I called him to discuss going forward and he became extremely reluctant to put together any specifics after he said that he was making many items with the Astrodeck name on them, and I said that I felt he would rightly owe me a royalty on anything with the Astrodeck name. He then said that he would have to talk to his people at Astrodeck. That pissed me off and I tried to politely explain to him that he WAS talking to Astrodeck. That’s when he decided to hang up, and that’s the last any of us have heard from him.
That is, until he popped up on Facebook with an Astrodeck profile and account. He is now also in the process of launching a website known as Astrodeck.com.br., where he has even stolen my Astrodeck logo and insignia that was personally created by Shawn Stussy for Herbie.
My attorney said yesterday that I have a very good case. But it could cost me north of $80,000.00. And at this point, with a still-small family-owned business (practically one of the only ones still surviving in this surf industry), that kind of money could completely destroy what we’ve spent our whole lives trying to achieve.
What he’s done may be lawful…but it’s immoral, unethical, and fuckin’ stinks!!!
Best regards,
Dibi Fletcher
CEO
Tags: Adrenalinle Surf Series, Astrodeck, Bad Ass Bindings, Brazil, CEO, Christian Fletcher, dibi fletcher, Greyson Fletcher, Herbie Fletcher, Nathan Fletcher, Pat Rawson, San Clemente, Shawn Stussy, Standing Island, The Originator Not The Imitator, Think Fast, wave warriors, Z-Ryder, Zryder
Posted in Astrodeck Blog / News | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010
Here’s are a couple of little random YouTube clips that people had posted of the Coastal Carnage contest in Huntington Beach. Check out Greyson, pretty much holding up his own against guys like Omar Hasssan, Lance Mountain, and Christian Hosoi.
Greyson was representing with the Astrodeck shirt! Yeeeeeeeeeeah Greyson!
If you can’t directly click on the link, the just copy and paste.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paFtdKJnS50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeOj0HrMQms
Tags: Astrodeck, Ben Schroeder, Christian Fletcher, Christian Hosoi, Coastal Carnage, Greyson Fletcher, Huntington Beach, Lance Mountain, Omar Hassan, Skate, Tosh Townend, wave warriors
Posted in Astrodeck Blog / News | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
Photos from the USMC Fox Company Graduation where Dibi Fletcher was a guest of honor and presented a plaque for the recognition of all her contributions and support through her non-profit organization Z-Ryder. She does what she can for these guys because they do everything for us. Hope you all had an epic 4th of July!
 Dibi Fletcher & Z-Ryder recognized for their contributions to the USMC.  USMC Fox Company Graduation 
Tags: 4th of july, american, americant, Astrodeck, Camp Pendleton, Christian Fletcher, dibi fletcher, Fox Company graduation, Herbie Fletcher, Nathan Fletcher, nonprofit, Oceanside, organization, San Clemente, Trestles, USMC, Z-Ryder
Posted in Astrodeck Blog / News | No Comments »
Monday, June 28th, 2010
What better way to celebrate the independence of this great nation than to spend some of those hard-earned American dollars on some sweet Astrodeck sandals? You’d be unpatriotic to go around without a pair, and if that’s the case, why don’t you just shoot down an American bald eagle with a paintball rifle and then spit in Lady Liberty’s face while you’re at it?
Order a pair of sandals and you’ll be able to purchase certain selected styles for 50% off!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
 4th of July Astrodeck Sandal Sale
Tags: 4th of july, 50% off, Abraham Lincoln, america, american, Astrodeck, bald eagle, Benjamin Franklin, Christian Fletcher, dibi fletcher, dollars, Freedom Fries, George Washington, God bless America, Greyson Fletcher, hawaii, Herbie Fletcher, independence, Independence Day, James Monroe, Lady Liberty, money, San Clemente, sandal sale, Skateboarding, Statue of Liberty, Surfing, The Constitution, The liberty bell, Thomas Jefferson, United States, Washington D.C.
Posted in Astrodeck Blog / News | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
Check out this oldie but goodie. This is one of the first Astrodeck t-shirt designs that was ever made - way back in 1981! And can you guys guess who the image of that surfer is? That’s Marvin Foster doing his classic pig-dog stance.
 Marvin Foster Pig Dog Stance
Tags: Astrodeck, Marvin Foster, pig-dog stance, retro surf, wave warrior
Posted in Astrodeck Blog / News | No Comments »
Monday, May 24th, 2010
Marvin passed away last week. He was truly one of the original Wave Warriors. That’s all that needs to be said.
 Wave Warrior Marvin Foster Backside
Tags: Astrodeck, Backside, Marvin Foster, R.I.P., wave warrior
Posted in Astrodeck Blog / News | 1 Comment »
Saturday, May 15th, 2010
Andy swung by and hung out at Astrodeck recently. Of course he did. He’s a Wave Warrior. Andy did a little Q&A with Dibi Fletcher for her “D-Side” series of interviews. Linked below is a teaser piece of that interview, so make sure you come back later to check out the rest of the interview in its entirety.
 Wave Warrior Andy Irons Hanging Out At Astrodeck
Tags: Andy Irons, Astrodeck, bruce irons, dibi fletcher, hawaii, kauai, San Clemente, The D-Side, wave warrior, wave warriors
Posted in Astrodeck Blog / News | No Comments »
Friday, May 14th, 2010
Tags: Andy Irons, Astrodeck, bruce irons, Christian Fletcher, dibi fletcher, hawaii, Herbie Fletcher, kauai, Nathan Fletcher, San Clemente, The D-Side, wave warriors
Posted in Astrodeck Blog / News | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrwhHV0M0mI
Part Two of Dibi Fletcher’s Q&A with former NFL New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Kyle Turley. Now touring the country with his own band and promoting his new album “Anger Management” (from Grid Iron Records), Kyle stopped by the Astrodeck Headquarters for a down-to-earth chat with Dibi for her popular interview series “The D-Side”. In this particular clip, Kyle talks about growing up as a grom and his love for surfing. And after viewing this, you can check out the rest of Kyle’s interviews with “The D-Side” at www.christianfletchersurf.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrwhHV0M0mI
Tags: anger management, Astrodeck, Christian Fletcher, dibi fletcher, grid iron records, grom, Kyle Turley, New Orleans Saints, NFL, offensive tackle, San Clemente, The D-Side
Posted in Astrodeck Blog / News | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Astrodeck team rider Makua Rothman and Ian Walsh (sharing the last wave with Makua) riding some big ones at Jaws in Maui. Video by Joel Guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MsTb1DJw0A
Tags: Astrodeck, billabong xxl, billawrong, Christian Fletcher, eddie rothman, hawaii, Herbie Fletcher, ian walsh, jaws, joel guy, makua rothman, maui, monster, red bull, rvca
Posted in Astrodeck Blog / News | No Comments »
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