Photos by Hannah Norton
The Other Door
This is the other door to the pair of cabinet doors I found rummaging through a neighbors trash. The painting is an embellished view of a spot I surfed while visiting Morocco in the beginning of 2009. I was with 4 other surfers, 2 guys from Brazil, a girl from Ireland, and our local Moroccan guide. We pulled over on the side of the road, peaked over the edge of this cliff, and this is what we saw. I would suggest anyone to go there, tons of right point breaks and a great culture. For more info check out Surf Moroc. I stayed there and it was a trip of a lifetime.
- 24"x18", wood panel, acrylic
The Sprat - bonzer bottom quad
Welcome to the new model, the sprat. Inspired by the general shortewning of boards i wanted to make something 5'8 that was accessible to older surfers.The sprat features a very thick nose and a relaxed entry rocker but with a pronounced tail rocker and kick. Plenty of volume throughout for wave catching and a wide tail for drive and boosting off the lip.Double concave vortex channel through the middle (for lift under the front foot) blends into a quadruple concave V channel under the back foot (guiding water between the 4 fins), finishing with a kick-tail rocker with subtle single concave (for extra squirt)... So it was fun to shape, especially as my tool of choice, concave surform, had gone walk about.
nice suit
Here's a great original 60s floral wetsuit with beavertail. Unfortunately it seems a bit tight for this young lady
Secrets discovery by Steve Harewood
Tommy Bates, Steve Harewood and Barry Jenkins outside the Freedom factory, Jersey.Secrets Discovery by Steve HarewoodIt was a perfect sunny day at the end of May, the air was balmy with the scent of blossom and the light offshore breeze was drifting gently over us.In those days I, oh yes I - the surfer, the dreamer, the one who was going to conquer all - was stuck in the dreary confines of the National Provincial Bank in the Royal Square in Jersey – a job, I hasten to add, that I took merely to please my mother who, being a caring mother, was naturally concerned about my apparent lack of responsibility (probably due to my preference for surfing). End of month at the bank was always balance day – a late finish – number crunching on an old fashioned adding machine (with grumpy old staff).At 7 p.m I left the bank almost at screaming point. I was at the Splash by 7.20 (not so much traffic in those days) and wow A SOLID SWELL bouncing off the sea wall and a group of smug surfers sitting around drinking ice cold lagers bragging about how good it had been!!Fuck, what to do, I needed a surf desperately. Knowing the tide hardly ever hit the sea wall in front of my Dad’s house at Barge Aground and how he regularly belly boarded there on the shore break, I headed there - it wasn’t that suitable for old long boards but hey as I said I was desperate. As I scanned the area I spotted some beautiful left handers peeling about 750m south of the Barge – absolute classic surf – I drove to the now well known car park and gazed in awe but a little apprehensive as it was 8 – 10 ft and also difficult to get a heavy board down the iron ladder (no proper steps in those days).I drove back to the Splash to find some back up in the form of Tommy Bates, Ivor Stratford and Conrad Coutanche, who although sceptical followed me back. On our arrival there was no hesitation, better than La Barre in Biarritz, we passed the boards to each other from the sea wall and in we went.The only four out there, we caught insane waves, all to ourselves. I remember to this day a left tube that totally enclosed me, I never made it out, those old boards were not the quickest, but what a great experience!! The swell pumped up and up, it actually got a bit hairy and Conrad went out.I was paddling out on the right when Ivor, who wasn’t the strongest surfer, caught an outside set which massive and scary, but he caught the rail and his board bounced up and the rail hit him in the belly. He was winded and couldn’t swim (no leashes in those days) so I helped him to the shore and gave up those perfect waves, probably at about the right time as the tide was getting too high even for Secrets – that was when I took that original black and white photo with my trusty Kodak Brownie – proof enough that it was my special place and still is.We celebrated at High Towers, aka Sands, aka Discovery Bay, with Fred Le Sueur the owner and sunk a fair few beers, whilst swearing a pledge of secrecy and naming our newly discovered surf spot Secrets. For about 7 weeks we had it all to ourselves before my annual holiday to Biarritz which coincided with Wheels Williams from Australia visiting Jersey, who was hero worshipped by most of us for his outstanding ability and knowledge, we were still in our infancy by comparison. Wheels checked the beach from Le Braye to L’Etacq, as someone of his calibre would, and unfortunately found our ‘secret’ place - after that it was no longer a secret! The secret was out but the name I gave it remains to this day.I did attempt to knock the iron ladder down in those early days to try to prevent anyone else going there but was only partly successful.Secrets is still my sacred place and I have many glorious mornings there with Peter Painter, James Hick, Peter Trenchard, Blair Talibard, Chris Tucker and the infamous but lovely Chris Fairbairn.Find me another place as good and I will go!Secrets is special, is sacred and was first surfed by Steve Harewood.
Olo of the Sun: deck planking continued .. .
Planking continues today.
The deck is 8mm thick, using paulownia wood of moderate density, lower density wood will be used for the internal panels.
The approximate volume of this 19 foot pintailed surfboard is 170 litres at 2.5 inches thick.
The deck is 8mm thick, using paulownia wood of moderate density, lower density wood will be used for the internal panels.
For the Groms
This weekend a buddy of mine Greg asked me to help out with his foundation called The Arc Project. It's a surf camp/ministry for kids, and man they were stoked! I am not sure who was more amped, the groms catching their first wave, or the surfers who were pushing them in. It was all smiles, and pure stoke.
European Fish Fry 2010
LOCATION: VERSILIA - NORTH WESTERN TUSCANY COASTDATE: 25th September 2010
come and share your experience...
One of the most interesting events in the alternative surfboard design calendar is the Fish Fry, this year it will take place on September 25th in Versilia, Italy. The event is open to every inquisitive surfer and every shaper, so you’re bringing your very first board or your 10,000th board your welcome to participate in this annual event.
This event opens a window to the underground surf culture, allowing Italian “afishionados” to spend some time with other like minded surfers from all over Europe and the USA to experiment and share there knowledge, designs and interpretations of the “fish” .
The Fish Fry started in California 2002. The idea was to spread the design and to avoid it getting lost in time. The results have been very positive; the growing interest in the fish design has spread the event overseas to places like Australia, Japan and Europe.
For 30 years, the “Fish” design has fascinated many surfers and artisans because of its shape, performance and feeling transmitted to the surfer. Some surfers consider it a mythic design and for the cultural atmosphere the boards have created transforming it into a cult object.
The Fish Fry gathering will be on 25th September in VERSILIA (TUSCANY NORTHERN COAST), midday BBQ with a couple of trips to the Canary Islands to be drawn among those present offered by friends from Kamalahouse, who have a surfhouse in Fuerteventura.
We are hoping for good weather, there will be an open party on that Saturday Night on the beach near the Fry.
Rich Pavel shaping clinic and fish discussing on 24th Sept, the day before the fry, at OLA SURFBOARDS labs (owner Michele Puliti) in Pietrasanta (LU).
Maremoto Surf festival on the following day (26th sept in Viareggio.
Three days of full immersion. Hoping in a good swell too.
Pro-Shapers who gave indicated they will attend till now:
Michele Puliti - OLA SURFBOARDS (italia) www.olasurfboards.com
Marco Rizzo - Dr.ANK SURFBOARDS (italia) www.dranksurf.com
Massimiliano Purchiaroni - KIPU SURFBOARDS (italia) www.kipusurfboards.com
Riccardo Lapasin Zorzit - COSTA OVEST SURFBOARDS (italia) www.costaovest.it
Olivier,Cristiano e Piergiorgio - ALAIA RELIGION (italia) alaiareligion.com
Rob Lion - ROYAL SURFBOARDS (california/uk) www.royalsurfboards.com
Adrian Phillips - FLUIDJUICE SURFBOARDS (uk) www.fluidjuice.co.uk
Paul Smith - GLIDE SURFBOARDS (ireland) www.glidesurfboards.net
Rich Pavel - RAINBOW SURFBOARDS (california) www.rainbowsurfboards.com
Chris Christenson - CHRISTENSON Surfboards (california) www.christensonsurfboards.com
Robin Kegal - GATO HEROI (california) www.gatoheroi.com
For further details contact:
www.lokboxfins.eu
www.singlefin.it/fishfry
or email : events@singlefin.it
An interesting explaination of The European Fish Fry ITALY 2010 logo :
The playbill depict a young woman with a mural crown: this is the national personification and allegory of Italy, the so called "Italia Turrita".
Italia Turrita hair turning into small coloured "fishes" has been introduced to represent the link with the sea and the fish shape.
The azure used for the background is the national Italian colour in the sports events.
Marco Mazzini from Italy came to this years Alley Fish Fry to share in the day and get a sense of what the day was about. He then stayed for 2 months to enjoy the Gold Coast and Byron Bay waves in his camper van. A great guy who loves his surfing and the person sending me this information to share with you all. Great to see Rich Pavel and Chris Christenson are going to be there along with UK and local shapers.Looking forward to Marco's reports and updates.
California Home and Design Article
Hess Surfboards CHD ArticleI'm really honored that California Home and Design came to the shop and ran a piece on Hess surfboards . Sarah Lynch wrote the article and I think she did a great job. Check the link above
Walnut Planes
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Built a run of salvaged Redwood, Walnut, and Cedar Handplanes last week. I love building these. I scour and search for the nicest old beams, deck boards and offcuts for weeks then glue them up into blanks that really bring to life the beautiful grain patterns of each piece. I built 12 and there are a few left for sale. Give a call or email if you're interested.
a message from Kevin Cross
I emailed Kevin Cross in Australia a while back to ask him about Silverwings boards and also a bit of history of Creamed Honey, and here's what he said.....Hi Al........Sorry it's taken a while for me to get back to you. I think your Vintage Surfboard site is great :) It's good to see an interest in the history of surfing in the UK. I certainly had a great time and great waves with good company during my stay in North Devon.I can help you out with my history during that period. I never actually lived in Cornwall but did pass through there (and returned many times) on my way to North Devon. I did start work as a lifeguard at Woolacombe, and soon started making boards with John Hall, another Aussie travelling with me at the time. At the end of that summer and through the winter (which nearly killed me), I started the Creamed Honey business at Braunton. John was then shaping for Tiki down the road. Bruce Palmer arrived that summer and started making his own boards. Bruce and I have been friends ever since, and helped each other out from time to time with materials when they were in short supply.I continued making Creamed Honey Boards for a couple of years until my factory burnt down, a day before I was due to leave for France with a shipment of boards. Unfortunately, the boards where all in the factory and were lost. Not a good day!!!After that, I set up a small factory in a shed at Pickwell Manor Farm for a season, and used my own name on the boards. At the end of that summer I returned to Aust and continued making a small number of boards. Around that time I was offered a job with ExxonMobil and decided to use that to supplement my income, I thought for about six months. That job opened many doors for me and I ended up working for XoM for thirty years (that's a bloody long time!!).The Silver Wings boards were made in the Creamed Honey factory for the guy who had the surf shop at Watergate Bay. He was looking for a line of boards he could sell at a budget price. I'm not sure how many were made (not a lot) before I decided it did not fit well with my desire to make high quality boards. Having said that, as there were only a few made, I'm sure they will become very collectable... (-: His surf shop also stocked Creamed Honey Boards, in fact, the photo on your website of me in the circle of boards on the grass at Watergate Bay, was a delivery to his shop. Most of those boards were shaped by Richard Harvey.I have never stopped surfing although have returned to riding Mini Mals and Mals that I started on when I was 16. I just love it :) My two older boys are living in Croyde. Nigel is a part owner on Surfing Croyde Bay. At last count, he had seventeen Creamed Honeys in his surf shop. At least one is as it came out of the factory, never had wax on it.....there is a story there!!!. Benn works at the Blue Groove Restaurant. In recent years, I have been able to meet the boys in Bali for some great surf sessions. All good (-:Anyway, I hope the above is helpful.Regards Kevin.
Great stuff thanks Kevin, good to hear you're still surfingSurfboards as art...
Surfboard art is potentially about as good as urban tribalism gets. Unlike site-specific graffiti, it gets around. Boards are bigger than T-shirts. But like trash talk T-shirts and customised utes, a lot of so-called surf art is anything but. All from central warehouse casting. Skulls, skeletons, flame licks, crystal tubes, Nirvana sunsets, yoghurt waves, pneumatic mermaids and terrytoon dolphins, doth not pure Corduroy make. Not in art terms anyway. Gotta go deep into the creative Green Room to pull it off. Furniture designer-come surfboard maker Peter Walker has been in there for some time, acquiring the skills necessary to shape boards but also investigating what happens when artist and designers get on board at the concept end and ride it through to the end. Walker was Head of the Furniture Design Studio at the JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design Centre in the late 90s. Since 2001 he has divided his time as Associate Professor of Furniture Design at the Rhode Island School of Design, USA, and Adelaide where he designs and builds hollow wooden surfboards. Each board is uniquely made (predominantly from a light timber – Paulownia), sealed, vented and fibre-glassed.Making Waves spotlights a series of artist and designer collaborations. The assembled quiver of around 15 boards includes a number of Walker’s own designs as well as pieces conceived and designed in partnership with artists and designers known to the artist. Stephen Bowers is in the pack. In this work, Bowers’ distinctive blue and white Chinese export ware motifs, usually found on his outsized ceramic platters and vase forms, transformed the board into a totemic object embedded with OkkaChin-fusion motifs and references. The Bowers/Walker board in this current exhibition is a refinement of this original concept. In the earlier work Bowers painted directly onto the timber. In this subsequent work he laid down areas of white and applied his blue line and wash illustrations over the top. The crispness of effect has been enhanced by drop shadows which cause each unit of design to read as if a fragment of blue and white porcelain. Combined with the highly polished fibre-glass finish, the effect is visually striking. It implies fragility. No way this board is going to get wounded in action. But Walker maintains that each one is surf-ready. As he sees it, “It’s essential – their functionality is implicit in the artistic worth – even if some of them don’t get wet, they could, and that potential is paramount.”
It’s hard to see these beautiful objects getting waxed let alone exfoliated on a limestone reef. But Gerry Wedd’s just might. I think he’d be up for it. His board’s shape is customised in size and shape. The “skin” design has been sourced from the cell-like structure of the Paulownia timber used in its construction. The end result is reptilian. A bit of croc for Wedd’s Middleton slop. Walker’s own interventions are startling to say the least. Boards have been thrown in to the fire or heaped with hot rocks. Risky. He tells of one board getting away, fully alight before he could save it. The association of fire licks with foam flicks rocks. Respect, not only for each artist’s ideas, but for the surfboard as something with its own history, something clean and distinctive in a dirty old mixed up world, underpins the project. Walker’s epiphany came in the form of a Dale ‘The Hawk’ Velzy memorial paddle-out in San Diego in the company of around 2000 surfers. He’s been to the Tom Blake well and drunk deeply. As Walker comments, “The boards themselves are a study of the design evolution of the surfboard, with each one referencing earlier innovations and developments, spanning from 1920’s to the present day, while incorporating subtle changes… The boards themselves could be considered “a work of art”, combining performance/practical design considerations, iconic sculptural forms, particular proportional relationships between material characteristics and form, detailed attention to craftsmanship”.
This article is from the Adelaide Review
If you are in Adelaide and want to check it out :19 Morphett Street
Adelaide SA 5000
AUSTRALIA
T: (08) 8410 0727
Opening Hours:
Morphett Street Retail/Gallery
Mon-Sat 10-5pm
Sun + Pub Hols 1-5pm
Also check out Peter's other work at : http://walkersurfboards.com
California Gothic
K&N sped up from Points South, dropped off a delicious MacMurray Pinot Noir (no relation, though I have indisputable ties to this clan), picked up an 8’ Broadsword in EPS for her, a 6’something Lil’ Pill for him, and loaded them up before the cork was popped or sardines tossed onto a hot grill.
Rumor had them gobbling up south swell peelers in Santa Cruz before heading toward Point Conception, giggling as every surf forecast on the planet pointed to fun, solid surf headed their way.
Their dour expressions are just a quiet consideration of the merits of riding her board as a single fin, 2+1, or quad.
Rumor had them gobbling up south swell peelers in Santa Cruz before heading toward Point Conception, giggling as every surf forecast on the planet pointed to fun, solid surf headed their way.
Their dour expressions are just a quiet consideration of the merits of riding her board as a single fin, 2+1, or quad.
Olo of the Sun: Planking the deck
The first planks for the 19 foot 'Olo of the Sun' were edge glued today.
Here's the tail in planshape:
Planking is started in the middle of the panel and proceeds fore and aft. The picture is taken from the nose, and the person in the photo is standing at the tail.
The target weight range for this board is 60 to 70 pounds.
Here's the tail in planshape:
Planking is started in the middle of the panel and proceeds fore and aft. The picture is taken from the nose, and the person in the photo is standing at the tail.
The target weight range for this board is 60 to 70 pounds.
Squashing Rumors
First and foremost I would like to give a shout out to Andrew Maguire. He stopped by my shop some months ago and did some photography which is excellent work. You can check out his stuff at: http://www.andrew-maguire.com/# The brother is also taking a fancy to surfing, so double props! I also wanted to comment on a rumor that has been flying around that I have quit shaping surfboards. This is in fact not true. I am taking a break for the fall season as my surfing contributes to my shaping and vice versa. So, I hope to see you all in the water soon, board building is here to stay, I just need a breather.
wearing a 60s wetsuit
made by Lillywhites of Picadilly from the mid 60s. The collar predates echo beach by a few years !
the cheesy catalogue pose
the flapper
Gul suit, late 60s
Isle of Wight surfers Colin Burgess, John Ainsworth and Roger Backhouse got their suits mail order from LillywhitesI recently picked up this 60s Lillywhites of Picadilly beavertail wetsuit and decided I had to try it on before it goes to the Surfing Museum. Above and beyond the call of duty mabye but it was acually more comfortable than I thought it would be. There were a few wierd things like you squeak when you walk and its not exactly elasto. Didn't want to pick anything off the floor or I thought the arse might go !But it was bloody hot , must have been a revolution to the surfers who beforehand had been wearing wooly jumpers in the water to keep warm ! The Lillywhites suits were actually for scuba diving but they did the job for surfers and could be bought mail order. The first Gul suits were based on suits like this.
Bilbo stinger singlefin
Now correct me if I'm wrong, but there can't be many Bilbo stingers out there ! When I think of stingers I think Ben Aipa who designed them in '74 and they really became popular in the mid 70s with Mark Richards riding an Aipa quiver in '76/'77. But the Bilbo factory stopped producing in the very early 70s after a devastating fire, so how can we explain the stinger. Was the Bilbo shaper at the cutting edge of board design, or was it a later board using old decals. I'd like to think its the former, the board has great quality, nice pinlining and a lovely eggshell blue tint. It had a swallow tail which is a bit worn away now, and a leash loop rather than a later plug. From Chris' collection.
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