Pete Johnson logging a '67 Hansen - video
Making a brief interlude among the clips of nuts out big waves, is Pete Johnson stylishly surfing his original 1967 11 foot Hansen. With that vintage - 1967 that is - this board must've been one of the very last to come off the blocks before the shortboard revolution shook things up forever.
Whenever I see someone riding an old board like this the old 'to ride or not to ride' question comes into my head. If you're an owner of an old time original do you get it out on the small days or do you keep it as a wall hanger?
There's no right or wrong answer, you own the thing and can do as you damn well please, but if you do ride it just make sure it's waterproof or you won't be riding it for much longer.
And with that I'll get out of your way and let Pete shuffle his way centrestage...
Comments
The best track, one of my favs.
Are you sure that's not the "G" man riding the long thing?
Wall hangers ... they look so sad.
hhheheheeeehe too true Clif.
I have my original '63 9'6" "Swordfish" from Maslin's Beach near Adelaide. It is in fantastic condition , waterproof, but still soooooo hard to decide to take it out!. What if I ding it ???????. I do refuse to hang it on the wall though, its still with the rest of the quiver in the shed , so at least it looks as if it is ready for another tour of duty !!!.
I've got a slightly weathered though still beautiful '64 Gordon Woods that I break out every now and again, though each time it's with some intense justification. "They're meant to be ridden." "What's the worst that could happen?" etc etc.
Well a punter on the Vintage Surfboards FB page posted a pic of the worst case scenario with a lovely 60s log (can't remember label) snapped during a small wave go out. Say what you want about them being meant to be ridden but that outcome just breaks your heart.
So I think I'll still ride my GW but only on the tiniest of days. Besides, the thing is such a brute I don't reckon there's a wall strong enough to hang the bastard on.
Its a wall hanger. Try putting an old log under your arms or even on your head. It does get used on small days but heh, note no leg rope. Great for the young ones to try and to see what it was like. Their feedback is gold just like the old log itself.
hey stu i scored a gordon woods for $10 from a guy at modbury in the early 80's.great condition but no second thoughts those days-SURF IT!Man i had some great days at Triggs 2 and 3 Poles when longboards were oddities.Ended up getting $300 hundred dollars trade in from the guys down at Genisis. in the early 2000's. You can look at them all day but nothing beats the thrill of surfing them.me and my mate also used to surf an old Scott Dillon elephant gun at Woolamai in the early seventies and when i work out how to post the pictures in the forum i'll whack em on
Barry Bennett, the god father of Australian polyurethane foam is around 84 years old, 'Baz' goes to work EVERY DAY and pours long board blanks. Your attempts at legendary surfboard status are invalid...
errrrrr ok mantown