Rick Stoner
Rick Stoner was born in San Diego, California in 1937 and grew up in Hermosa Beach. His life as a lifeguard, surfer and surfboard builder paralleled that of his good friend and former business partner Bing Copeland. Both were Los Angeles County lifeguards, both became accomplished surfboard designer/shapers, and both were mentored by the late Dale Velzy in the early ’50s. In 1961–while still working as a lifeguard–he started Rick Surfboards. In 1966, his company produced two well-known signature models–the Dru Harrison Improvisor and the Barry Kanaiaupuni model. Rick Surfboards expanded by opening operations on the East Coast and Hawaii, and was the first name to export surfboards on a large scale to Peru. – Words by www.LastWave.com
KEY: O= Original, R= Repaired, RF= Refurbished. Condition of board rated: 1(worst)-10(best)
Length: 7′ 6″
Width: 22″ 1/2
Thickness: 2″ 3/4
This is an acid splash special piece with the large Rick laminate from the 1960’s. It has a very drawn out flat bottom with little nose rocker. The bottom has a psycedelic acid splash design with no concave and no vee.
O – 8/10
Length: 7′ 6″
Width: 23″ 3/4
Thickness: 2″ 3/8
This board has a unique experimental design from the 1960’s. Shaped with a rare flexible diamond tail, this is the only one we have ever come across. Taken the board has not been ridden much, the rest of the board is shaped in traditional 60’s fashion. There is a slight vee bottom with moderate nose and tail rocker. The full rails transition from soft in the middle and sharpen towards the ends. This is a rare piece of surfboard design history.
O – 9/10
Length: 5′ 9″
Width: 20″ 1/2
Thickness: 2″ 3/4
This 1969 biscuit shape was a popular design in the late 60’s and early 70’s. This board has a dark brown tint on the bottom which wraps the rails around to the front of the deck. The wide s-deck has barely been ridden and shows a potential to be a fun shortboard into the early 70’s.
O,R – 9/10
Length: 7′ 5″
Width: 19″ 1/8
Thickness: 2″ 7/8
A special design for a California in the late 1960’s, this is the classic round pintail mini gun. The bottom is a rich red tint which wraps the rails to the front meeting some black pinlines which outline the rails. A beautiful black fin is glassed into the board. This board also has a domed s-deck that tone into sharper than average rails for the era.
O – 7/10
Length: 7′ 8″
Width: 20″ 1/84
Thickness: 2″ 7/8
This is his famous Barry Kanaiiapuni design from the 1970’s. The tiger stripe pattern, which covers the bottom and wraps the rails to the top, give this board a incredible vibrant energy. It is probably not the most functional shape for wave riding these days, but it is an amazing board nonetheless. It was full restored by Randy Rarick and now hangs beautifully on the wall!
O, RF – 10/10
Length: 8′ 0″
Width: 22″
Thickness: 2″ 1/2
This is another look of the Barry Kanaiiapuni model from the 1970’s with the same template. Its always a unique board to pick up and contemplate. This board is the same however all original.
O – 9/10
Length: 6′ 2″
Width: 19″ 5/8
Thickness: 2″ 7/8
This early 1972 twin fin, swallow tail fish was finished for Becker. It has a cool red rail band all the way around the perimeter of the board. The interesting part about this board is the questionable placement of the fins. Along with the many innovators of surfboard design, Rick frequently experimented with concepts and ideas.
O – 9/10
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Union >> Bradshaw >> Robert August >> Catri >> Tom Carroll >>
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Roger Hoyt
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Pismo Beach Surf Shop
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Buggs
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Bill
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Jim Geier
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Michael Mcgowan
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Ben
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Kaili
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David Prager
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Andy
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Kaili Kekumu
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Andi Welles
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Kaili Kekumu
A great page with some wonderful Rick Surfboards made by our friends at Beckers back in the day!
A great page with a lot of history! Just picked up another Rick Surf Board in the shop today!
Sweet,
Please enjoy the site and post and use it. !! Buggs
I have a Rick gun surfboard that I believe to be a Rick Stoner Board. It needs repair as some of the glass is torn. Should i have it repaired or will that hurt any value the board may have?
So, who has a picture of the old Rick “Baby” — its template was similar to the Gregg Noll “Ironing Board.” I noticed that the “Neck Beard” model from Channel Islands kind of looks similar to the “Baby” and the “Ironing Board”–in my memory, anyway.
just picked up a rick surfboard and would love to learn more about it.
please help
Please send photos to surfboardline@gmail.com
Buggs
Got my Rick Board from a guy who didn’t want “the air plane wing” I got my first real wave on it and cherish every moment I have had with it. It is a work of are and thank you Mr Harrison for the improvision
Dru passed away 11 years ago I’ve been looking for an improvisor to for my family if you come across someone with one please try to let me know on here my I’m am the youngest child of Dru Harrison and would love to have something in my home for my children
Did you find one?
Flyingsurfer1@gmail.com
I have a Dru Harrison and Barry Kanaiaupuni board . If you are interested give me a call 760-533-2988no
David prager i spoke with andy on the phone but it isnt a regular dru harrison improvisor but we are gonna be talking if you know of any regular impros let me know
Hi — I have an Improviser: 9’2, green wedge and green glass fin. I live in Santa Cruz but actually met Dru on the Big Island years ago. There were plans in the works for a repop of his model. I would like to sell it and see it go to a good home: 831-818-5577 Dave Welles
So apparently I need to get on here more often. Andi do you by chance still have the improvisor or did you find it a new home