Consistency is a dirty word to young pros. Nobody wants the label, and nobody could benefit more from it than Andy Irons.

In the full range of conditions, Irons has blown out the field on multiple occasions, even taking out six-time world champion Kelly Slater. Given a hint of the “C” word, Irons could be king. Most recently Irons took out a stacked roster of locals and the top WCT pros for his 4th Vans Triple Crown Title, including a win at Haleiwa and the infamous Pipeline Masters.

The lush tropical setting of Kauai has been home to the Irons clan from day one. Phil Irons transplanted from California in 1970, marrying wife Danielle in 1976. Just a year younger than Andy is brother Bruce — his childhood sparring partner and an equally talented surfer.

Kauai, … Read More »

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

Board Dimensions
Length: 6′ 8″
Width: 19″ 1/2
Thickness: 2″ 3/4
I acquired this out of  the North Shore Oahu, Hawaii.  Ebay. Great early 70’s Mini-North Shore Gun.Bitchen single pin fast outline template.  Love that glassed in fin and lam on the deck.  One of my favorite Hawaiian Surfboards. Simple is More! Been meaning to take it out to Sunset for a speed run.  Anyone have information on the history of  Surfboards Oahu?  Please reply below.  Aloha! (o) 8

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

Board Dimensions
Length: 5′ 5″
Width: 20″ 7/8
Thickness: 2″

Classic 1970’s all original Keel Fish.  Backyard crafted, unknown on Templin and Penny. This board catches your eye and is a great example of the fish era and knee board revolution.  slight concave deck, resin multi-color rainbow deck. Clean wood, fiberglass laid up fins. This board has not had many miles put on it. Acquired this from a Major Board Collector out of the IE.  What is your take on it?  (o) 9

Born in San Diego, California, Noll became famous for his exploits in large Hawaiian surf on the North Shore of Oahu. He first gained a reputation in November of 1957 after surfing Waimea Bay in 25-30 ft surf when it had previously been thought impossible even to the local Hawaiians. He is perhaps best known for being the first surfer to ride a wave breaking on the outside reef at the so-called Banzai Pipeline in November of 1964. “To establish our lineups,” Greg Noll wrote, “we worked off Kaena Point and back up on the hill behind Pupukea, taking three or four azimuths, until we finally got our lineups in late afternoon, just as this one particular wave came through. It was the only wave I caught that whole day, and it’s permanently etched in my … Read More »

History of Innovation

Born in Newport Beach, Peter Schroff took up surfing at the age of eleven on a stolen, purple spray-painted Hobie given to his father. This was during the heyday of the Blackie’s parking lot scene. Lined with customized Volkswagens from the Newport Beach Volkswagen Association (NBVA), of these surfers belonging to the prestigious Newport Beach Surfing Association (NBSA) included Peter’s best friend “The Newport Kid” Lenny Foster, David Nuuhiwa, Owl & Gray Chapman, and 1960s & 1970s wave/tube photographer Scott Price.

It was around this time the short board revolution exploded in Newport. First on the scene was Brad McCall riding a Hobie “Corky Carrol Mini Model.” Amazed by the new possibilities of this style of surfing, Peter knew that the long board days were over. It was shortly after this time Peter began experimenting with his … Read More »

The name Michael Hynson conjures up images of a red hot regular foot surfer gliding effortlessly at St. Cape Francis in the movie Endless Summer. Mike’s association with the film is something that will always influence the way people perceive him, just as it has influenced the course of his life and career. However, to truly understand Mike is to dig beneath the Endless Summer aura. It is to understand the contributions he considers his most important to our sport. It is to understand his passion for shaping, his instrumental and incredibly influential work on surfboard research and design, and his place in our collective history on a scope that goes beyond his long past travels with Bruce Brown and Robert August.

Now in his 60’s, Mike has found a niche that allows him to continue to … Read More »

Jeff Timpone began his shaping career in a Laguna Beach garage in 1968. Later that year he moved to Hawaii, working as a boat builder on Oahu where he continued to build boards and surf. After 3 years he returned to California where he was hired by Russell Surfboards in Newport Beach where he perfected his skills. In 1980 he opened Timpone Surfboards in Huntington Beach.

After almost 10 years of successful business in Huntington Beach Jeff Packed up his house and family and returned to Hawaii in 1989. Landing on Maui Jeff has shaped for the 3 largest sailboard manufacturers on the island. Doing this allowed him to learn all aspects of sailboard construction and board design. Once again Jeff set out on his own and opened Timpone Hawaii — a surf and sailboard factory that … Read More »

In 1973 “H” (Paul Hallas) and Michael Peterson formed the legendary Michael Peterson Surfboards. That partnership was short lived (read the life and times of MP book) that explains it nicely. Paul then took over the management of Harmony Surfboards for Keith Paul. This all led to the creation of HOT STUFF SURFBOARDS in 1975 , when Paul Hallas started a contract fibreglassing business, which grew to a fully blown successful surfboard manufacturing Company. Paul’s skill and reputation drew to him the likes of “RABBIT” Wayne Bartholomew 1978 World Champion, 2 times world masters Champion plus 10 conscecutive years in the top 5 of World Champions – LEGEND! Hot Stuff Surfboards began at Currumbin and the original crew included Gill Glover in the Shaping Bay and John Allen in the glassing room. It wasn’t long before Hot Stuff … Read More »

One of surfing’s high performance pioneers, Larry Bertlemann became one of the sport’s biggest influences. Born on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1955, he moved to Oahu at age 11 and surfed at Queens off Waikiki. One day he broke his 9’6 and tried glassing the fin to the front half of the board but had trouble getting it to stay. A guy walked up to show him how to do it properly and that guy turned to be Donald Takayama. From that very day he mindset changed on what types of surfboards could be ridden (longboards were the norm in the 60’s) and he would also work with Ben Aipa who began shaping shorter, wider, and faster twin fins, swallow tails, and stinger designs.

The new shorter designs allowed Bertlemann to surf faster and … Read More »

Tommy Tanaka, son of the late respected Hawaiian shaper Ernie Tanaka, grew up in Santa Monica, California but moved back to Hawaii to live with his dad during high school. He started off body boarding Waikiki and then progressed to surfing. Soon he was competing in summer contests and won Hawaii’s biggest longboard contest, China’s Uemura’s Annual Longboard Contest.

He studied and learned the art of surfboard shaping under the wings of his father Ernie and eventually worked full time for him. Tommy later got a full time shaping job for Town & Country Surfboards with the help of his father and in the five years that he was there shaped over 1,000 boards.

Ernie Tanaka passed away a few years after Tommy landed the T&C gig and after his father’s passing, decided that he wanted to … Read More »