rodndtube.com's (OLD) MyPaipoBoards Forums. Reading but no posting on the OLD forums.

[Poobah]

Recent posts by Nels and Soulglider, have got me rethinking and old idea of mine...something I now call the International Paipo Conga. Let me shorten that to the IPC. The idea is to have a paipo exchange where the boards move around the planet in Conga fashion. You keep the board for 4 months, then mail/pass it on to the next person in the chain (at the same time that someone else sends/delivers a board to you.) This is done every 4 months, so you get 3 boards to test ride each year.

For legal liability issues, I would say that you own each board for the 4 months it is in your possession. You care for it, and keep it ridable. You are responsible if yourself or others getting hurt by the board. You should probably keep it indoors, or in a dry, secure shed. You are responsible for safely packaging the board for shipping at the end of the 4 month period.

Most transfers would be person to person...delivered by car or bicycle. Shipping out of the counrty (or off the island) would be done from a city or town where several members could share the cost of shipping (shipping nodes.) I reckon we might have to start with several regional congas, and then merge them together after a couple of years. For example: a mainland US conga, HI islands conga, Australia/New Zealand conga, and a European conga.

Well anyway...give it some thought, and maybe we could get something going by Jan 2010. It will cost you just one board to start, and then postage three times a year. Your exposure to these paipo exchange students will give you international culture without having to leave town...a green alternative.

Think about the kind of board you would like to send around the planet. Something rather custom... unique to your area, or maybe a significant vintage board.

[Soulglider]

great idea and i elect you to be the one to fund this project...should only be a few hundred bucks a year per person. thanks larry, you know we'd all really really appreciate it!
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soulglider
http://soulgliderpaipo.blogspot.com

[kage]

I don't think it would cost all that much.. I guess it depends on where you're shipping to. I think it kind of suits builders more than users though. Does the board you send out to begin with eventually make it all the way around and back home?

[Poobah]

Let's assume the conga is moving South to North on the Cali coast. Somebody in Malibu or Mussell Shoals would have to drive up to Nels to deliver 3 boards a year. That wouldn't cost Nels anything, but he would be responsible for driving up to say Santa Barbara 3 times a year. That doesn't cost a couple hundred dollars...not yet.

I disagree that it would "suit builders more that users." I think it would be a benefit to the people that can't build their own boards, because they lack tools, work space, skills, etc. For example a condo dweller.

It's quite possible that your board would never make it back around to you. Just for easy math...let's say 30 people and boards form the initial conga. That would mean your board would take about 10 years to do the circuit. During that time, others would join in the fun...inserting themselves into the conga at a geographically logical point. Your board could then take 20 or more years to complete one cycle. Think of it this way...you donate one board, then get 3 boards a year for the rest of your life.

Of course I'd be more enthused if I didn't already have so many boards.

[bgreen]

Poobah,

This is probably more sustainable within a country or if there folks who travelled between countries a lot. I have freighted 3 boards from Hawaii to Australia, and tried to do one internally in Australia, and the costs were almost as much as the board in some instances.

A board exchange might be another option, though if someone sent off a real dog and got a really good board, there might be little incentive to swap back.

Bob