Blue Magazine Japan. Twin Fin issue.

 

Mostly I feel that my banging away on the internet about my passion for vintage surfboards 1978-1983 or more specifically, vintage twin fins, is some what of a lost cause. 

It can feel a bit like yelling down an empty darkened tunnel about a subject others care little about.

I'm fine with that. 


But occasionally others pick up on my stoke and enthusiasm.

Blue magazine have just published an a twin fin issue with an interview and pics of my boards, featured the Electric vintage twin fin trip to WA with Craig and Ozzie and done a piece on the 'Communing with twin fins' Surf Swap event.








They titled the final section 'Enthusiasm'.
Well- thats nice o know that folks are listening.
:-)

Don’t hoard your board – get ready to surf swap


Are you a surfer who is tired of being hounded by your mum or partner about your ever-growing collection of surfboards cluttering the house, garage or backyard shed? If so, a cool local event next month will give you the chance to offload some of your ‘babies’ and leave you happy knowing they’re going to a good home.

The first annual ‘Boardcollector Surf Swap Avalon Beach’ – staged in conjunction with the Avalon Palm Beach Business Chamber – hits Dunbar Park on Sunday April 9.

Organiser Damion Fuller says that like every good vintage surf swap there will be pre-1990 surfboards for sale and to swap.

“It will be a festival of surf culture involving vintage surfboard collectors sharing their collections, local surfboard makers showing their latest designs, local artists, craftsman, and businesses showing their wares plus gourmet food and drinks stalls,” he said.

“The best part of every surf swap is the chance to pick up a new vintage stick or clean out the garage and turn the clutter into cash.

“So far we have wooden tooth picks from the 1930s, Midget Farrelly’s personal riders, Hawaiian big wave guns, ’70s single fins and twin fins right through to ’80s thrusters, quads and Lazor Zaps on display from collectors from Torquay to the Sunshine Coast – with a month to go we’re calling for more folk from the northern beaches to bring out their boards for display.”

Damion said the surf swap would also offer free vintage ‘Antiques Roadshow’ style surfboard appraisals by expert appraisers, with owners encouraged to bring down their “mystery” surfboards which would have their shape and design reviewed, plus the board’s history before a market value is calculated.

The day will also highlight the best of today’s new surfboards and contemporary shapers, with previous events featuring shapers and surfer such as Hayenshapes (with Hayden Cox and Craig Anderson), DHD (with Asher Pacey), Channel Islands (with Wade Goodall), Misfit Shapes, Dead Kooks, Mick Mackie and more.

Also, STAB Magazine will be hosting a free ‘Filmlyfe’ Film festival on the green of the Avalon Bowling Club, screening some rare gems from their rich archive and premiering exclusive Northern Beaches content. The green will feature gourmet food stalls and will be licensed.

“It will be a day of boards, bands, beers and burgers, kicking off at 9am in Dunbar Park and running through till 9pm in the Avalon Bowling club,” Damion said.

“In Dunbar Park there will a stage screen and bean bags on the grass to relax in and watch films and listen to Q&As with local surfing and shaping legends quizzed by guest MC Luke Kennedy, editor of Tracks,” he said.

More than 50 stalls are available for businesses – including photographers, local artists, local clothing and accessories, plus coffee, food, craft beer and wine – to showcase their wares. Stalls (3 x 3 metres) cost $175 – or $150 if you are a member of the APB Business Chamber.



Dual Dreams In The Desert: Craig Anderson, Ozzie Wright, and six vintage twin fins

Board collector's vintage Byrne 'Clinker' twin fin makes the cover with Craig Anderson.

When Stab and Electric disappeared into the dust of West Oz with Craig Anderson, Ozzie Wright, and six vintage twin-fin crafts, the curious atmospheric effects of dual rudders quickly materialised: Most notably, a touch of soul.

Can you feel it? That inescapable resurgence of the twin fin design? Right now, every notable shaper is doing an 80’s template single fly twin fin. Asher Pacey is ripping the Superbank on them, and even Mick Fanning is shaping his own. But, why now? And, do they even work?
If the single fly swallow tail twin fin is an idea from the early 80’s that’s worth reviving, then perhaps we’ve left other design concepts behind. Are there other design elements from that period worth revisiting? Like, channel bottoms, flex fins, or chimed rails?

The common belief is that twin fins are only for when it’s small, mushy and onshore, but four-time world champ (on a twin fin), Mark Richards, says in Simon Anderson’s Thrust that twin fins work best in hollower, more powerful conditions. Could this be true?
Stab, Craig Anderson, Ozzie Wright and I grabbed six vintage twin fins from different shapers, from different places, all with different design features, and headed into the desert with host Ry Craike, to find some barrels and put the ideas to the test. Despite a swell prediction of eight-to-ten feet, Craig requested 5’7” to 5’10”s and Ozzie asked for 5’3” to 5’7”s…

See what these boys could do on 40 year old surfboards in proper waves made the headache ache and pain of collecting for the past 2 decades all worthwhile.


So I went into the shed and pulled out a selection of the most unique twin fin designs I had. We ended up packing (from left to right)

- 6'0" Nirvana twin fin shaped by Peter Lawrence designed by Glen Winton. (AU)
- 5'10" KC twin fin shaped by Greg Trotter. (AU)
- 5'8" Wave Tools twin fin shaped by Lance Collins (USA)
- 5'8" Fluid Foils twin fin shaped by Jim Pollard (AU)
-5'9" Byrne 'clinker' twin fin shaped by Laurie Byrne (AU)
- 6'0" Skipp twin fin shaped by Terry Richardson (AU)
- 6' 3" SKY twin fin shaped by Bob McTavish (AU)

Ozzie with the Lance Collins, a long way from Newport Beach CA.

Ozzie on the Sky, showing that a pair of big fins has no trouble with some size.

Craig giving the Wave Tools a go.




Reynolds Yater- Kevin Ancell collaboration.


These photos are details of a stunning collaboration between Renny Yater and Californian artist Kevin Ancell. The illustrations are burned into an 11' 4" balsa blank that Yater describes as a 'stiletto gun'. The drawings, done with a soldering iron and water colour, tell the irreverent chronological story of the history of surfboard design, from the ancient Hawaiians to todays overcrowded line ups.
















Port Fairy Australia Day Surf Swap.


Keith Curtain invites you to The Australia Day Surfboard Swap Meet.
Its is on again this Friday 27th January as
part of this years Moyneyana Festival Program in Port Fairy 😄.

Do you have an old surfboard🏄 lying around x 💯? This is a great chance
to buy, swap or sell everything surfing...including Ex-GO SURF softboards
and SUP's at marked down prices.😉

Bring a board, save the date, spread the word. Gold coin donation to Port
Fairy Sea Scouts...

Coffee ☕️ and Icea Tea 🍹by Bean Cruzin and ChaCha Tea Blends 👏 See you
there.👍

"Anything is possible- Larry Bertleman"




'Hey mate! Can I have a look at that board". Its literally years since I've had the opportunity to yell that out down at the beach.
Vintage surfboard collecting has become a lot more popular than when I started and seredipitous finds, once common place are becoming a lot rarer. 

Of course the good news is these old olds are being bought, restored and cherished instead of ending up at the tip.

"How big is it? Oh, thats just my size.....would you consider selling it??"


Rarer but not impossible!


I drove away, stoked to realize that I could still get lucky and find a nice old Bertleman twinny out there.

Too bad its not the same in the water I thought, you can never find good, fun, uncrowded waves these days. 
Especially on a day like today, a sunny Sunday in the school holidays.
I pulled up at the point, 
3-4ft, a bit windy, but only 2 guys out.

Interesting to note that the by-line on the decal reads.

"Anything is possible- Larry Bertleman" 
  

I'm pleased new find can replace the hole in my collection left when I foolishly sold this board a while back.


Larry, during an earlier visit to Sydney.