As the 70s began most riders went soul surfing, breaking away from the confines and stereotypes of competitive surfing, breaking out some different shapes and having a blast. The Freedom fun machine typifies this, a loose 1st generation twin fin shaped by Steve Harewood in Jersey in around 1971. Super wide tails were a break from the narrow singlefin tails which needed more poweful waves to get them going. The fun machine was available in either twin or single fin set up .This board is pretty short at 5'9 ,features an s-deck to increase volume , and is probably influenced by Corky Carrol's short lived twin fin designs. The fins look live waveset fin boxes. Freedom were a leading board maker in the UK, progressive and up to date with developments in the surfing world, and this was also a short lived model - now very rare. Thanks to Alex for the photos.
Charles Williams of St Ives 1972
1971 British Surfer mag
1971-2
For more old surfboards made in Jersey check out this link
After reading this post Graham Rosewarne sent in this photo of him and his Fun Machine, taken by his friend Robbie Walker all the way back in Easter 1971. Looks a very similar board to Alex's one, Graham says his was 5'8 , pale blue with blue glue stringer and glassed on orange fins. It was bought 2nd hand off English champ Colin Wilson. He kept it till the mid 80s by which time it had delamed.
nice table.
ReplyDeleteIt will go with the Bickers!!
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