: Board Collector: February 2010

Dream Quiver

Surfer Magazine 1985: dream quiver.

1 x single fin pin tail.
1 x twin fin swallow tail.
1 x thruster.
1 x 5 fin.
1 x tent.

Manly Qualities- Genial, Generous, Just.

I was moved by this memorial I saw today and was struck by how much we have changed as a society in 100 years.
How qualities once admired now seem to no longer matter. The poet warrior, the skilled craftsman, the hand shaped surfboard.

- esteemed him on account of his manly qualities.

Comp Programs 1984 / 1985 / 1986.

Blade Runner is one of my favorite movies of all time.
I love the way its set in the future but all the brands featured on the neon bill boards, along side ads for the off world colonies, are now gone like Atari and Pam Am.
Like these programs, AWA Amstrad, Mango, Saltwater, Instinct, Cheetah and The Sun. They look so confidant and all powerful and now they are all gone.

Thanks Matt for the pics.

Tommy

Occy

Jonny

Kingsley

1973 Ken Bradshaw shaped Lightning Bolt single fin pin tail.

Ken Bradshaw

I have decided to define my collection as a 'Modern Era Collection'. That means it needs to be book ended by a classic 70's Hawaiian bulit Lighting Bolt single fin at one end and a Simon Anderson shaped Energy Thruster at the other end. I am following John Melius's definition of the begining of modern era as portrayed in his movie Big Wednesday when (the real) Gerry Lopez put (fictional) Matt Johnson to shame with him inovative hot dogging and deep tube riding on his newly developed Lightning Bolt template. I end the modern era in 1981 with the invention of the Thruster and the following wave of uniformity that swept the industry with white 3 fin boards emblazoned with oversized logos that strangled the art of surfing for the next 25 years.

The problem was I didn't own an Hawaian built Lighting bolt single fin although I do have a hand full of beat up thrusters.

So I set to work finding an early Bolt in my price range (under $300) which was'nt easy cause a lot of them are fetching over $3000 these days.

I found and bought this board a while ago from Criag's list in LA but could not get it home. It had been waiting patiently, many months in fact, at my good friend Mark's house before I could get it on a plane.

I post these photo now as part celebration of our unification and as the first part of the 'before and after' shots because as you can see, she is going to need a lot of love to get her back in shape.

When I finally got her home this week the thing that struck me about this board was how serious and how scary it is. It is 7'0" and heavy. Heavy with the weight of a glass job built for getting down the face of some heavy, hollow waves. A glass job layered on knowing that it was gonna be taking some serious beatings over some shawllow Hawaiian reefs. It is thick. Thick for paddling into some ledging barrels as early as possible. The tail is so narrow, like a water ski. And the fin is thick, thicker than my thumb cause a bit of drag is not important where this board is from. But what is worse, scarier, is its cracked around the base. Cracked thru an inch of glass. It makes me shiver thinking about how fast you'd be going and how shallow the rocks were when this thing was cracked.

Deus Surf Market 'Wall of Vintage' PREVIEW 3

10am till 5pm.
Saturday April 10th 2010.
Deus Ex Machina.
104 Parramatta rd Camperdown.

Mick is bringing down this little classic.
Better get there early. Boards like this wont last long.

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Star Bolt- for fanciful flights of daring

In 1979 Lightning Bolt Surfboards of Hawaii presented their quiver of designer model surfboards. Gerry Lopez called the series "Star Bolt"- the state of the art in handcrafted boards.

This board may or may not have been part of that series....

6'0" single fly swallow tail twin fin. This sweet rider is a nice addition to my collection of Bolt twinnys.

Or maybe its time for me to seek some professional help for my obsession.

Star Bolt shaped by Jim Beardsley

Mick Mock's Vintage Surf Auction.

I have spoken to Mick today and I have the most update information on his Bi-annual vintage surf auction.
It will be on this year.
It will be on the northern beaches.
It will be on in spring time.
Date to be confirmed- stay tuned.

KC Twin Fin

Gary Green from SW.

Gary Green is considered one of the best free surfers in the world of his era and growing up he was one of my idols.

Unfortunately being one of the best free surfers in the world didn't pay much and when I got to meet him he was happily driving a delivery truck for a wetsuit company.

I always longed for one of his KC twin fins.

Their simple unpretentious honesty and simplicity. 6'0" single fly swallow tail shaped by Greg Trotter in Avalon. Classic shape, beautiful construction and the after hours phone number of the shaper right there on the board.

I understand why you might want to call your shaper during the day.

But after hours? Well there it is......

Good, solid, honest, people