Vintage Surf meet 2019 coming soon !

Vintage Surf meet 2019 coming soon !
Free to take part
We buy interesting old boards 60s/70s/early 80s in good condition. Email alasdairlindsay75@gmail.com . Also wanted - Surfing UK , British Surfer and Surf Insight magazines .
Above photo - copyright Rennie Ellis photographer archive

Monday 10 October 2011

Graham Nile and Freedom

Thanks to Graham in Newquay for sending these photos in. Graham's young neighbour has just had his lucky day - he's been given these two old boards. To be gifted any vintage board is a treat, and especially when its two British 70s gems like these.
The board with the deep purple tints and overlays is a Graham Nile. Now you don't see many of these, its a single fin fish from I reckon 1973, shaped by Graham or John Hall in St Austell. Graham is a big and legendary figure in British surfing in the 70s, and scoped out many of the breaks around St Austell. He was in the British team in the early 70s, and was British champion in 1976. He had a sports shop in his home town which sold his boards and also Freedoms.
I like the look of this board, love the colour, and the fin which is identical to the one on my Nile. The lettering on the logo has been trimmed off from the full peacock logo . The board is 6'6 x 19 x 2 3/4. The leash plug has been added later - probably mid-late 70s. With a bit of proper restoration it'll come up a treat.































This board is a good looking rider by Freedom, probably shaped by Bobby Male - one of the best surfer shapers at the time, and European champion. I have a similar one with those pinched in wings and nice wide nose. Probably shaped in 1975-6, again with a later leash fitting, and its in great condition, ready to ride again with little work. Its 6'9 x 20 x 3 ,and has an original leash from Cosmic of Penzance, mid 70s. The best things in life are free.


























Bobby Male, Watersplash late 70s/ early 80s


Freedom crew - l-r standing -Bobby Male, Pat the Rat, Paul Gregory, Honky Harewood, Connie Farmer. Sitting - Paul Grieve, Jon Hetherington. Around 1980.



Graham Nile early 70s


Surfing at Caerhays - by Graham Nile 1970, from British Surfer.


1973.

2 comments:

  1. Graham Nile still surfs today and just so happens to be my grandad!

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  2. Wow that is unbelievable, super stoked. The purple Graham Nile Swallowtail was my board, purchased off a lifeguard at Polzeath by my Dad for me back in 1977/78. I learnt to surf on it when I was 12. The board stayed with me until circa 1990 when a colleague at work purchased it off me for use at his holiday home down in Newquay. Most memorable surf trip was a 4 week surfari back in August 1986 to Biarritz, when Hurricane Charley tracked across the north atlantic and made land fall as an ex trop storm on the south coast. The swell pumping into the Bay of Biscay was epic for several days.

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