Happy Christmas !

 Wherever you are in the world, have a fun day !

Bob Head Friendly Bear longboard

 Some of you may have a new or even an old board to unwrap tomorrow - if youre lucky and if your loved ones are supportive of your board collecting habits !
Im pretty sure there won't be one under the tree for me, but if I could wish for one this Friendly Bear would be near the top of my list .
One owner since new, bought straight from Bob Head at Mawgan Porth in the early 60s . It looks a great board , a bit more refined than the Friendly Bear put on the blog last month , and with resin tint designs making it an artful board too. The logo is a classic Californian beach boy - actually nicked by Bob from a Katin advert , with words from his own logo cut up and spread around. Looks cool though. Im hoping for a few more photos and history of the board soon. Will keep you updated.

 The board being dusted off after being brought down from the garage rafters

Katin shorts sew on patch, mid 60s

Bob shaping at the Mawgan Porth factory / shed

A Tris for Christmas ? If youre lucky ! photo by Traditional Surfing co.

Surf wagons

Graham has been looking at his old slides from the late 60s and picked out these classic surf wagon shots. It seemed like back then anything you could tie a board on was a surf wagon, although the favourites had to be the Morris traveller and good old VW camper. Words by Graham -

First is my mates' Morris Traveller in which we had many surfing adventures, but is seen here on its way from Oxford to Newquay in 1968. This was quite a long journey back then, going through every town and village on the way, and largely dependant on what you got stuck behind...no dual carriageways.

Next one of the most bizarre vehicles I've seen with a board on top ! Parked at the roundabout in front of Boscombe pier. 

3rd is the camper my mate who owned the Traveller bought next. The ideal woodie for surfers ! Pictured here nearing Kimmeridge, Dorset in 1969.

Lastly, and I'm sorry about the colour but that's how slides go sometimes, is my left-hand drive VW Microbus, parked down the bottom of Great Western slope. Next to it is an Austin A30 belonging to Robin Hendy. This is in 1969. A year previously, I'd driven my V-dub into France, then right across Spain and into Morocco, getting down as far as Marrakesh. Magic bus!
Unfortunately it was written off in 1970 on the old A30 near the Iron bridge because of an over ambitious ( putting it politely) driver in an MG. 

Thanks to Graham for the words and photos . And funnily enough those little bubble cars are still sometimes used as surf wagons ! And below a Porsche 356 . One way of getting to the surf in style.

Wavekraft charity auction board - Chapter 2

 This Wavekraft is now back on ebay, raising a further amount of money for the Philippines fund !
This is because of the generosity of Rob from Hayle , the winner of the first auction. Immediately after paying, he said he wanted to donate the board back to the fund so it would raise more money - this is without even seeing the board in the flesh. What a cool gesture - and hopefully one that will bring in some more generous bids.
The auction is up on sunday night - so please help the charity and have a bid - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121227134981?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649 every few pounds helps. And if you win the board I won't force you to donate it back !!

The final donation amount for the two boards was £227.22 .Thanks to everyone who had a bid.

Boardcollector Damion's surf swap

Here's a peek at Damion's surf meet / museum show. Looks very very good , shame its so far away !
http://www.boardcollector.com/2013/12/green-cathedral-surf-swap-december-14th.html

The long and the short

 This Carwyn Williams is a result of a recent swap for my Tig semi gun. The Tig was hard to let go of but I have always wanted one of these Carwyn boards because when I started surfing he was the main man, getting cover shots on the surf mags and even on the world tour !
This board is a few years before that though , made in 1984 by Craig Hughes, with Carwyn's personal decal and also his sponser Alder . It also has the t&c style decal for Underground Tube Line  Exeter. Alder back in the 80s were main sponsers of some of the best British surfers (most of which went round in very tight Alder shorts)  . Below are Alder team riders Richard Carter, Mike Raven, and Carwyn Williams lurking in the background. My new board is stood up next to Carwyn.

1984 from Surf Scene magazine
Were these three boards all part of Carwyn's quiver or were they a Carwyn model available to the public ?
They are based on Carwyn's title winning board from 1983 see below. The board is 5'7 x 21 inches, small but with loads of width to perform well on your average contest conditions.

Below - Carwyn talks about his earlier surfing days

Soul Minds - Carwyn Williams from Cosmic Children on Vimeo.
and in  the next vid below he shows us round his pad in France, where you can see his old trophies and boards , and a few other classic things ! Watch from 22 mins 40 .

 
EpicTV Weekly 11 - Next Level Surf Porn, EpicTV Cribs: Carwyn Williams, A Surfboard You'll Never Own, Surf Editor Dave Mailman from EpicTVAdventure on Vimeo.