John Conway singlefin

Another board from the Gul collection, this one's a classic John Conway shape from the early 70s, with his bird logo - don't know the story on the bird, mighty wings and a puny head - but its a great image for a surfboard. John was an important figure in our surf scene, if you want to see other boards by him and more history, search on his name at the top left of the blog page. Thanks to Alex for the photos.

This rare shot of John at work was sent in by Neil Watson. Taken in '74 by Mal Chatten when for a time John was building boards at the old Tris factory. Another board with the eagle logo.

Readers boards

Above -Freedom singlefin found behind a shed.
I get quite a few emails now from readers with questions about their old boards, about the boards history and shaper, is it worth anything ? and do I want to buy it? I think some people think old boards are worth a fortune because they've been in the loft for years and were some old relatives. But when you think how many thousands were produced from the mid 60s onwards and a lot have been stored , in good condition or bad. Even if you look on ebay at top condition old boards they're still pretty reasonable prices for what they are. In the US and Oz boards from the same era go for huge prices because certain shapers or surfers have hero status and everyone wants a piece of them. Over here its a lot more down to earth, a cottage industry compared to a multi national, but special because of it.

Conway singlefin and another Roger Cooper Bertlemann model

Ocean Magic by Pete Mcallum

Mandala and Chateau '41 twin fins in Wales

Blog review

Was surprised to see this review of the blog in this weeks Cornishman, which I would have missed if a mate hadn't told me. A nicely favourable piece written by a non surfer who actually recommends it to other non surfers because of the cultural history of the old ads and photos, which is good to hear. Obviously the blog is mainly for surfers but if others appreciate it too thats a bonus.

Got in the water this week with photographer Mike Newman for a future Surfers Path article. Was great to have a mid morning session under the pretence of 'work'. Can't usually get in until evening when the days work is done. I first met Mike years back when he was photographing my artwork; he appreciates old boards too so I was surfing early 70s boards, this Freedom by Steve Harewood and a Tris.

Williams of St Ives longboard

Williams surfboards is one of our first surf brands, started in 1963/4 by brothers James and Peter-George Williams with the help of Keith Slocombe in his Lelant factory. Keith opened Britain's first proper surf shop in St Ives in '63; the surf scene was stronger here at this stage than in Newquay, soon to be reversed by the arrival of Bilbo in '65. The other Williams brother Charles started Atlantic surfboards at St Ives around this time.
This dusty relic is from Chris' collection and probably from around '64/5, it's a really heavy board and was used as a lifeguard board at Porthmeor, hence the Penwith district council mark. The logos a bit faded but says Williams surfboards, Surfers store, St Ives Cornwall.

1967

Surfers store, St Ives mid - late 60s

fresh from the skip

One man's trash is another man's treasure. 5'8 Larry Bertlemann pepsi model twinnie shaped by Roger Cooper in the late 70s. In need of tlc and probably a bit of spray paint.

More Freedoms

Freedom boss Steve Harewood with Shaun Tomson 1981

Here's another couple of Freedom thrusters from Stephane made in 1988. Amazingly enough after all these years they were made less than a day apart ! Both shaped by Gordon Jackson in Jersey and obviously part of the same shipment to a surf shop in France, probably the Freedom shop in Biarritz . They are both in great condition with their original quality gloss coats, loud graphics and sprays. The pink one has never been surfed, Stephane found it on a surf shop ceiling in Saint-Jean de Luz. Its 6 ft and dated 21/3/88 and is perfect. The green one ain't bad either, 6'7 and dated 22/3/88.

from 1984

80s Freedom quad by Bobby Male

Stephane from Biarritz has sent in some photos of his 80s Freedoms and heres one of em, a 5'8 quad fin shaped by Bobby Male in the early 80s. Thats a really classic 80s spray on the deck, pastel colours meets fluoro yellow, looks great. Bobby was a top surfer shaper for Freedom since the mid 70s, and was British champ twice and Euro champ once. More Freedoms coming up soon, adjust your sets for some bright colours.

Surf scene 1984

Bobby at the Splash, Jersey late 70s

Jersey surfers in France, early 80s

too many fish

After surfing Godrevy on thursday night with unprecedented crowds this track seemed apt

early 70s Skewjack twin fin

Here's a rare one - a 1st generation twin fin from Skewjack surfboards from '71 or '72. I've already written about Skewjack in the blog, it was set up by Chris Tyler in Sennen in 1971 as Britains first surf holiday village, and was very popular through the 70s and early 80s. I wasn't aware Skewjack made surfboards until I saw this one at Chris' house. Its shaped by Hank, anyone know who this was ? As you can see it has the classic Skewjack artwork on the deck, making it one of the most extravagant logos in UK surfing. its nice to see an early twin fin as well, although at the moment its a single - needs a spot of refurb ! Check out the tail, just a simple angled slab, crude but classic.

From British Surfer vol 5, 1971

from the Skewjack brochure early 70s

Vitamin Sea twin fin by CJ

Here's a classic shape from Chris Jones which I bought recently from Pete in the north east. Its for Vit Sea from around '79 or '80, with a great spray by Andy Cranston. It measures 5'10 x 21in . Also has some interesting little channels behind the fins, will have to ask Chris about those. The fins are big star fins, sort of semi keels. Its a fun looking board with flat rocker, plenty of float and super light foam, another CJ classic !

from 1981, Tad is in the middle in between CJ and Chops.

CJ on a vit sea