"Simon Anderson's surfing suited single-fins, but the events at the time were all being won on twins. Frustration led him to consider a weird-looking mix -- three smaller fins, one set three inches from the tail, the other two set 11 inches up and on either rail a la the twinnie," explained surf historian/writer Nick Carroll. "The first Thruster, made in October 1980, went with Anderson to Hawaii that winter, then on to California, where he convinced Nectar's Gary McNabb to make a Thruster model. Back in Sydney, he went to work at his own factory, Energy, and made two more Thrusters. On one of his boards, he won the Bells-Coke double again, and surfing history took its biggest turn since polyurethane foam. Simon never took full commercial advantage of his Thruster concept. "I'm too lazy" was his judgment, but perhaps closer to the truth is that it was never in his nature to deny others a chance to enjoy their surfing."
The six shapers, which will include defending champion Pat Rawson, will be asked to replicate the Thruster that Anderson rode during his legendary 1981 Bells Beach victory, an event that featured the largest waves ever ridden during that historic contest.
"I'm very stoked to have the Thruster's 30-year anniversary honored at Sacred Craft," said Australia's Simon Anderson. "It'll be good fun to get back to the States and see some old friends and see what is happening with board design over there."
“US Blanks is once again proud to be a part of the Sacred Craft Expo and the Tribute to the Masters Shape-Off honoring Simon Anderson. We feel that Simon is the perfect honoree for this year’s Tribute as his contributions to design and innovation have certainly left a profound and lasting mark on the industry.”
The Sacred Craft Consumer Surfboard Expo is open to the public and takes place August 14 & 15 at the award winning 'Sail Pavilion' in the San Diego Convention Center. Sacred Craft includes live shaping, laminating, art, music, film, book signings, legends, and hundreds of world-class surfboard shapers, designers and lovers of the craft.
Above is my recent find. A simple, beautiful, clean, original Energy Thruster with unique angled channel bottom design and classic subtle hips and fat rounded square tail. Simon experimented heavily with the use of channels even trying 'nose channels' at a later point. According to my research the angled channel bottom was used for for only one year, 1982, when Simon competed on the design at Burleigh. Evidence of which I will post when I fix my scanner!
aah some people have the life...have a great time at the sacred craft gathering...my thought about the thruster were that in 82 Simon dabbled with jet fins...me thought that the channel bottom was maybe 83 and onwards...i maybe wrong but will vehemently deny it...Rasta
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