Hap opened Jacobs surfboards in Hermosa Beach on Pacific Coast Highway in 1959, and came up with the Diamond logo: Surfboards by Jacobs. Business was good, and then it was great, and then it was ridiculous.

“We were there at the beginning during I guess what they call the Golden Years of Surfing between the 60s and 70s,” Jacobs said. “As I look back on those days there was a lot of stuff I could have done. It got busier and busier and busier until we had five shapers and people in the front room. Lance Carson and Robert August and Rick Irons all worked in the front room until they wanted to learn to shape. There were a lot of people who shaped for us and at our peak we were up to … Read More »

Larry Gordon and Floyd Smith were the co-founders of Gordon and Smith Surfboards in 1961. Gordon and Smith Surfboards, commonly referred to as G&S Surfboards, were based out of San Diego, California and had a large local following.

It wasn’t long before the Gordon and Smith label was well known and surfed throughout the surfing world. In large part, Gordon and Smith Surfboards gained popularity among surfers because of the major talent and influential surfers on the Gordon and Smith Surfboards team.

Team members like Skip Frye, Hawaii’s Barry Kanaiaupuni, Mike Hynson, of Endless Summer Fame, Dale Dobson and Butch Van Artsdalen – the original “Mr. Pipeline” and many others, contributed to G&S’ popularity.

Throughout the 60s, 70s and even well into the 80s, Gordon and Smith Surfboards continued to be a sucessful surfboard, surf accessories … Read More »

Another cool find in the OC. Storage War’s. Another Man’s Fall is another Man’s Gain. What can I say, but another great example of a 1970′s Mini-Hawaiian Sunset Gun. Made and surfed in Hawaii is this Donald Bennett. I do not have much history on DRB, but all you viewers, please partake and advise. – Buggs

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

Board Dimensions
Length: 6′ 3″
Width: 19″ 1/2 
Thickness: 2″1/2

I was on a Craigs List Hunt a couple years back on a hot summer day and came across this vibrant craft.  Acquired it from its original owner. Early 1980′s round-pin, Clark Foam Fibercraft.  I have know idea where the origin of this beauty is from, or the Story Behind the Board. I believe the East Coast.  Anyone? Not really collectable, yet it tickled me when I first laid my eyes on it. It whispered at me through the flat screen, “Buuuy Meeee”.  Almost in pristine condition, all original never really ridden.  I had to drive out to South Gate to the Old Man’s garage to pick it up. One of those, “If you … Read More »

Steve has been shaping for G&S for the past 17 years without missing a beat. He’s a seasoned craftsman who is probably our best kept secret. Steve started surfing in 1959, shaping in 1965 and surfed and shaped for G&S from 1970 – 1975 before moving on to start his own line of surfboards.

Steve is versatile and can shape anything, and re-create virtually any model made since the 60′s long or short, retro or modern. Seebold has a mind-blowing shapers library of original templates and specs. Born and raised in San Diego , California , Steve is an incredible surfer who started shaping in the 60′s and is well traveled and known just as well on the East Coast as well as the West. Steve will be transforming retro G&S shapes by modernizing and updating for the present … Read More »

Are stupid as it sounds, East Coasters are expected to perform in Hawaii. They come from some of the worst surf on the planet, but after so many have stood out in the ultimate arena, we have come to presume success. Not long ago, an East Coaster in Hawaii was hailed for merely paddling out in serious surf. To perform was unheard of. Jeff Crawford rubbed out those notions in the 1970s by emerging from Florida to claim the loftiest prize in the sport, a Pipe Masters crown. When he returned home, he brought everyone else up to speed with performance surfing, inspiring the generation that would dominate today.

Crawford was born in Melbourne Beach, Florida, but as the son of an Air Force commander, he didn’t settle in one place. Before establishing roots back in Central Florida, where his father … Read More »

Clyde Beatty Jr. is known for his surfing, shaping and his glassing, in fact Clyde is considered to one o f the first to use epoxy resins on surfboards. When it came to glassing Clyde Beatty was on the creative edge. Clyde first learned how to surf in 1964 at California Street in Ventura. He was in the fifth grade at the time. His first surfboard was a Duke Kahanamoku pop-out made in Ventura, his parents bought it for him. While going to University High School in Pacific Palisades during the latter part of the 60’s Clyde was a team rider for the Hobie / Blue Cheer surf shop in Santa Monica. Mike Perry was the shaper at Blue Cheer and had an influence in Clyde’s shaping. Clyde learned by watching Mike shape a lot of boards including … Read More »

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

Board Dimensions
Length: 4′ 11″
Width: 20″ 1/2 
Thickness: Varied

This was cool find.  Actually on Ebay.  Great example of a George Greeno Spoon.  This was handcrafted to my understanding out of San Diego, Ca.  I have no information on Surf Systems Brand.  So you viewers, please help me out here……   This beauty is in all original condition, one ding repair on the nose, otherwise in great shape.  Classic Greeno Tuna Fin with that flex.   I have been tempted to take this out for a spin, but with my Buddha Weight, I am afraid I may blow right thru the fiberglass deck.  Well, if I drop 30 lbs., will keep you informed.  (o) 8.5

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 »

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 »