Never anything but individual, Terry Fitzgerald emerged at the start of surfing’s true pro era — the ’70s — and played a key role in finally pushing high performance way clear of the sport’s longboarding roots and into the realm of the power carve. In his prime, he’s represented the peak example of the “total surfer” — a man who could ride any wave, anywhere, on his own equipment, without compromise.

Back in Australia, Fitzgerald carried his design thoughts into Hot Buttered, working with the super-hot performance school at North Narrabeen. Surfers and shapers who passed through his factory over the years include Simon Anderson, Col Smith, Derek Hynd, Steve Wilson, Greg Day, Greg Webber and many more. Along with their unique design twists, his boards became famous for the airbrush spray work of Martin Worthington, who drew anything from leaping dolphins to psychedelic sunsets.

By the early ’80s, Fitzgerald had set up Hot Buttered in places as far-flung as England, the United States, Japan and Papeete — well ahead of today’s trend toward multi-national surf corporations. Yet his disparity of interests, and his growing family, would always catch up with him, limiting the size and scope of his empire building. He was a founding member of Australia’s original pro surfing organization, the Australian Professional Surfers Association and took a strong hand in reviving his country’s flagging competitive fortunes in the mid-’90s. He helped pull together an industry-wide effort to step up junior competition. He married the spectacular Pauline in 1971 and had three sons, Kye, Joel and Liam — all of whom are keen surfers. Today, Fitzgerald runs Hot Buttered out of Sydney and lives just north of Narrabeen with Pauline and youngest son Liam. Kye and Joel both have substantial international reputations as freethinking individuals who are prone to big carves — picking up just where their father left off. — Nick Carroll from surfline.com

http://www.hotbuttered.com.au/

KEY: O= Original, R= Repaired, RF= Refurbished. Condition of board rated: 1(worst)-10(best)