Mystery board.


Michael wrote to me with pics of a board he found abandoned in a church equipment room. He was told to make it ‘disappear’. The board had been spray painted white all over, and after much elbow grease, revealed this lovely 1985 Triad Hawaiian Underground shaped by John Orlando.






Inspired by his find I was motived to bid on this early 80’s tri fin that has been painted blue. I know it’s a long shot, but the outline and tail looks remarkably similar to an early 80’s Energy thruster.
What do you think??
Uncle Keith has gone to pick it up for me so I’m yet to see it in the flesh.
How should I remove the house paint with damaging the fiberglass??



I havent seen the board yet but this is what I'm dreaming it looks like under the paint.


Secret collector


Keith can be so mean to me. 
He sent me these pics of a surfboard collector stash he visited somewhere on the mid north coast.
He wont tell me who he is or where he's located.
Suffice to say it looks to be one of the best collections from the modern era I've ever seen.



Singles



Hulls and transition period


50's, 60's and wood.


I count 14 Mark Richards twins and a rare Nat Young twin.




Who's Skelly...?


I started this blog because I didn’t have anyone to talk to about my passion for late 70’s and early 80’s surf board design. 
My wife and immediate family are very kind and supportive but their eyes would glaze over after an hour or two of me dribbling on about the differences in the two Col Smiths or the hydrodynamic principles that make a cut back on a twin fin so deeply satisfying.
The most unexpected joy I have received in my life has come to me since starting this blog through the generous and interesting people I have met who have let me into their lives, their homes and their collections.
While in Devon at the Museum of British surfing surf swap organized by Alasdair from vintagesurfboardcollectoruk, I met Simon Skelton when we were both instantly attracted to a flouro green T and C as it came out of the back of an old Morris minor.

He invited me to his house and shared with me some of the most, no the most, exciting collection of UK innovation period surfboard design I’m likely to ever see. I was fascinated to learn of the importance of wooden surf-o-oplane to British surf history and I was jealous and in awe of his fantastic brightly coloured Adler logo Crawlyn Williams model Crab Islands.




A man of impeccable taste


Simon's home is one of most characterful homes I've been in. 
It was so full of history that its probably dates back to the time of William Shakespeare.


The board above his head in the kitchen belonged to his old man. They "invented" their own leash plug in the 70's.


Every corner was packed with surfboards and art work.








One of Simon's handmade drift wood chairs.


80's UK twin fin with rego stickers intact.





I got very excited when Simon took me to his board room to show me his iconic 80's UK surf classic.


His flouro paint Crawlyn Williams Adler twinzer.






Drift wood chair and vintage Surf-o-panes and quad fin.