Reno Abellira entered surfing’s collective consciousness at the 1968 World Contest in Puerto Rico. He didn’t win or even get second. But his path to sixth place revealed some of the fastest surfing ever seen at the time, drawing unconventional lines in a conventional time. While the traditional approach of Fred Hemmings took the world title that day, Abellira’s unique style and equipment put the world on notice that his surfing was poised to leap into uncharted territory. As an innovative performer and surfboard craftsman, the small framed Hawaiian local made waves throughout the 70’s but will forever be remembered for his Smirnoff Pro/Am win. Besting an international field of competitors in what has been called one of the greatest days in surf contest history and inspiring the next generation of shapers and wave riders, Reno … Read More »

Mick Fanning has been surfing since the age of 5 and is now a pro surfer from Australia. Mick is well-known for his super aggressive style and ability to whip his board. Pro surfer Mick Fanning competes at the WCT championship surfing level. Mick Fanning’s nickname is Micktor. Mick also goes by the nicknames Eugene, and White Lightning. This is the Surfing.com Mick Fanning biography.

Height: 177cm, 5ft 10in Weight: 73kg, 161lb
Birthday: June 13, 1981
Birthplace: Penrith, New South Wales Australia
Current Home: Tweed Heads, NSW Australia
Surfing Coach: Phil McNamara
Life Facts: Mick was born in Sidney suburbs of Penrith, he first put his feet on a surfboard at the age of 5, then surf occasionally. He really get into it when his family moved to Tweed head (border between NSW and QLD state) by the age of … Read More »

A large, deceptively casual power surfer, Simon Anderson achieved high renown in both competition and sheer performance through the early days of pro surfing. Like many pros of the day, he also learned the craft of board shaping and design, thinking it might be useful as a career backup. When these talents came together through the last part of 1980, they resulted in the three-fin Thruster and made Anderson one person who can truthfully be said to have affected every surfer on the planet.

Born in Sydney, Simon grew up second eldest of a big family of boys. Literally big — none of the Anderson boys (Mark, Simon, Grant and Michael) stood under 6 feet. The family lived in a house overlooking Collaroy Beach on Sydney’s north side, where Nat Young had learned to ride. A … Read More »

Jordy Smith 22 girls for Billabong Pipeline event. Jordy showed up on the North Shore this winter with a 22-board quiver of provocative sleds. Some are jealous of the art, others (namely his ex-girlfriends) think it’s gross, Jordy thinks it’s funny. “Kelly had those boards with the girls on them back in the day,” says Jordy. “I thought it was classic, and that’s kind of what gave me this idea.” Jordy Smith’s Quiver for Pipeline >

The 22-year-old prodigy born and raised in the rough and tumble land of Durban, South Africa is set to embark on his third year on the ASP Dream Tour. The powerful regular-footer’s spotless season in 2007 saw him claim both the 2006 ASP World Junior Championships as well as the ASP WQS season, qualifying for the coveted ASP … Read More »

BACK TO BUGGS’ GALLERY

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

Goodtime has been handshaping surfboards since 1971. We began with one thought, that having a Goodtime is; “what surfing is all about.” Thirty eight years later we still are having a goodtime surfing! The shop is now a long way bigger and with the huge wave and large surfer on the awning, it has now become a famous landmark in Woolloongabba, if not in Brisbane.

www.goodtime.com.au

Board Dimensions
Length: 5′ 8″
Width: 22″ 1/4
Thickness: 2″ 5/8
Classic, 1970’s knee Board.  Yet I have been using it as a surf-rider. Boaty, floaty and curvy.  Just look at that HUGE Fin.  Like a boomerang!  This thing … Read More »

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

Board Dimensions
Length: 7′
Width:22″ 
Thickness:2 3/4
This is truly one of my cleanest Transitional 1969 Pieces.  Unknown on California Company, but  the spray, pin line, fin – all original, is sooo striking and a show stopper.   Back in the 60’s it was all about quality, not quantity.  We all should reflect on what we had and built then to inspire and guide todays generation to reflect same.  Acquired this out of the Nordine Collection. ( His Favorite Board) (o) 10

Skateboarding is what you would call an extreme sport. Skateboarding all began in the 60s. The idea of skateboarding started from surfing. That is why surfers and skaters looks are almost the same. The surfers wanted to see if they could do the same things on the street like they did on the waves.

It all began in California in the Santa Dogtown, which is really known as the Monica/Venice Beach area. California is where skateboarding became popular, and then grew to be all over the U.S. One of the most known groups of skateboarding this toy was called The “Z-Boys”. The group began in 1973. The first Z-boy was 14-year-old Nathan Pratt. Nathan Pratt worked in a surf shop owned by Jeff Ho. The shop was called “Zephyr Productions” where Pratt worked as an apprentice surfboard … Read More »

FAST FACTS

AKA: Parko
DOB: April 10, 1981
Born: Nambour, Queensland, Australia
Resides: Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia
Hobbies: Fishing and spending time with the family
url: www.joelparko.com

VITALS

Height: 6’0′ (183 cm)
Weight: 185 lbs (84 kg)
Stance: Natural
Sponsors: Billabong wetsuits and clothing, Von Zipper eyewear, Kustom footwear and JS Industries surfboards
Shaper: Jason Stevenson
Magic Stick: 6’2″
Training Ground: Snapper and D’Bah
Favorite Wave: Long ones
Favorite Maneuver: Big ones
Inspirations: Kelly Slater, Mark Occhilupo and Matt Hoy

2010 Rating: DL
2010 Points: 10500
2010 earnings: $20,000.00
Career earnings: $1,141,226.00
Highest Rating: Runner-Up in 2009, 2004 and 2002
Elite Inception: 2001
Years on Tour: 2011 will be Joel’s 11th year on the ASP World Tour
Sabbatical: None yet

Rating by Year:
2009: 2nd
2008: 4th
2007: 4th
2006: 6th
2005: 12th
2005: 2nd
2003: 5th
2002: 2nd
2001: 21st

Filmography: Still Filthy (2009), Stranger Than Fiction (2008), Trilogy (2007), Free As A Dog (2005)

Honor Roll: Two-time ASP World Junior Champion, ASP World Runner-Up in 2009, 2004 and 2002, Perfect 20 … Read More »

Known for his distinctive designs and innovative style, Jeff Ho has been a seminal force in the surf and skateboarding worlds for more than three decades. After creating his first skateboard at age 8, he went on to craft his first surfboard at age 14 – but he perfected his design with a board he made two years later. His passion for surfing and desire to find a board that performed to his standards led to a new obsession – designing and building custom surfboards.

He began building surfboards in his garage, re-making old boards he found on the beach. But Jeff had his own theories about how a surfboard should look and perform, and his ideas were far from mainstream. In 1966, Jeff found a new home at Robert’s Surfboards in Playa Del … Read More »

Mark Richard’s Winning Smirnoff Surfboard

Smirnoff Contest, Hawaii

1st Mark Richards (Winning Board ) Featured
2nd Ian Cairns
3rd Rabbit Batholomew
Other finalists  Reno Abellira (H), Jeff Hakman (H) and Shaun Tomson (SA)

To surfers born after 1980, Mark Richards is just the old guy whose record Kelly Slater broke. But not long ago, MR had another title, that of the greatest surfer of all time. So dominant was he, that no one regarded him with anything but awe, even as he paddled out in a silver wetsuit with a Superman logo on his board. It’s doubtful that even Kelly could pull that one off.

Richards was born in Newcastle, Australia, the only child of a car salesman. He was surfing by age six at Mereweather Beach, and his dad’s car dealership eventually transformed into a surf shop. His mom and dad surfed a bit … Read More »