Byerly done?

His IG is lots of construction type work lately. The website re-directs to the Hyperlite page. Did he finally retire?

Didn’t they discontinue the Byerly brand like last year, or even the year before?
Don’t know about Byerly himself... but it would make sense that the website redirects to Hype.

I didn't know that they dropped the line last year. I guess I really am getting old and out of touch.

I think last year the "Byerly" brand was dropped, and there was a byerly line in the Hyperlite line up, which i think was just a wakesurfer

This year it looks like no more Byerly line up at all.

Aside from Byerly, nice to see Murray still getting on the Wakeworld Riders Choice Awards.

It makes me sad that an OG founder in our sport cannot "retire" with some real money or some sort of ongoing revenue stream in their pocket. As much as some of these guys sacrifice by pushing their bodies to the limit for progression you would think they might be rewarded a little more for their efforts. Guys that never even play in other professional sports end up in better shape financially after a few years of riding the pine.

Originally Posted by gene3x

It makes me sad that an OG founder in our sport cannot "retire" with some real money or some sort of ongoing revenue stream in their pocket. As much as some of these guys sacrifice by pushing their bodies to the limit for progression you would think they might be rewarded a little more for their efforts. Guys that never even play in other professional sports end up in better shape financially after a few years of riding the pine.

yep. especially considering the Byerly Nautiques were some of the best looking boats of that era and I believe the first to list over 100K. You could make the case that the Byerly Icon edition gave CC the idea they could double prices and still move boats. Icons were limited runs, but still. CC made some coin off his name.

Hyperlite did as well. Not sure how much of Byerly boards he owned, but just feels like the industry did him dirty. I realize none of the pros are living large, but for an OG that so many looked up to ( me included) it kinda sucks.

Great guy and someone my kids will remember forever.
2008:

Most of the Construction you see on his IG is his new house. He's still involved in the industry and probably will be for a long time.

Agreed Gene3x.
Randall is in a similar situation (financially) per his comments on the golden mic podcast.
I remember riding at Murray’s place years ago and learning that the female world champ (at the time) was a barista at Starbucks. That really hammered home the financial problems in the water sports industry.

This sport(s) is really a young mans game and most extreme sports are that way. The sponsors float the "bills" to travel while you are on top of your game but they certainly don't pay your personal bills, unless you are someone like Murray. It has always been an illusion to most that these pros are well take care of. In reality they are well taken advantage of. They sacrifice their life for very little promise of finical well being. Sure its fun and you get a ton of life experience traveling around but unless you are able to make a shift into business you will end up broken and poor with not much to include on a resume.

Originally Posted by westsidarider

This sport(s) is really a young mans game and most extreme sports are that way. The sponsors float the "bills" to travel while you are on top of your game but they certainly don't pay your personal bills, unless you are someone like Murray. It has always been an illusion to most that these pros are well take care of. In reality they are well taken advantage of. They sacrifice their life for very little promise of finical well being. Sure its fun and you get a ton of life experience traveling around but unless you are able to make a shift into business you will end up broken and poor with not much to include on a resume.

Well said. If you look at the numbers you will see very few have every made a long term run of it so you better have a transition plan for when the real world comes a knocking.