John Skipp, known to all as Skippy, first opened his surfboard making factory back in 1970, on the Princes Highway in Wollongong.

Skippy has been in the same location ever since, and estimates he has made more 30,000 surfboards over the years.

But as the surfboard industry changes, and as Skippy nears retirement, he feels the time is right to finally close the doors on the factory, and spend more time in the surf.

Young local surfers hanging out with master surfboard maker John Skipp at his factory in the 1970s. (Supplied: John Skipp)

Growing up in the north Wollongong suburb of Fernhill in the 1950s, Skippy would head down to the beach before and after school every day — against his parents' wishes.

Skippy recalls his first timber surfboard was so heavy he would have to stop and rest after every block on the way to the surf.

As surfing began to catch on, Skippy could see the potential market.

"In the early 1960s there were probably only a couple of hundred surfboards on the east coast. But I knew that my mates loved surfing so much that there was a business in it," he said.

"I learned how to fibreglass and shape from a Sydney surfboard maker, but the early methods were so basic I developed new ways to colour the fibreglass, to shape it nicely, and make it lighter. I knew I had to produce a good-looking board."

He said breaking out of the Sydney market was the other challenge.

When I opened my first store in Fernhill in 1963, I was the only surf shop on the coast between Sydney and Melbourne," Skippy said.

"If the surf was up I could put a sign on the door 'Gone surfin'. Back at 11', but when the Beach Boys hit the charts then surfing really took off, and I'd return to a line of customers eagerly waiting for me."

Secrets kept from rivals while helping young makers

Skippy expanded his booming business in 1970 by opening a storefront and surfboard-making factory on the main highway into Wollongong.

As the surf industry began to embrace mass production, helped by foam-shaping technology adopted from the space program, Skippy continued to set himself apart as a master craftsman.

I'd definitely call surfboard making a craft, some people call it an art form; it's probably somewhere in between," he said.

"We didn't do model surfboards, our boards were all hand-shaped and often tailored for the customer.

"I had doors on all the board-making bays to keep the shaping methods secret from rivals. At the same time, I'd take on young guys who would learn the skills in my factory, and then head off on their own, usually to other parts of the country.

"As the materials we were working with progressed, so too did the style of surfboard, and the style of surfing. From the cruising and board walking of the early heavy models, to the fast manoeuvre of the lighter shorter boards.

"Of course the industry has also become far more competitive in the process, and these days a professional surfer is an elite athlete. We've certainly produced a few champions from Wollongong."

Surfboard maker John Skipp in his Wollongong factory (ABC Open: Sean O'Brien)

Reaching retirement age, facing an ever-changing market, and the pressures of developers in search of new space for high-rise apartments, Skippy is calling it quits at his roadside factory.

He is packing dozens of boxes of surfing memorabilia, wrapping his collection of historic surfboards, and dismantling the board-making equipment.

"I've been here nearly 50 years, a lifetime, and it's building up on me that the end has come," he said.

"What I'll miss most are the co-workers, all the guys who have come through here learning the craft; it's always been a great atmosphere here.

"My son Josh has got ideas for the future, so Skipp surfboards will continue in some form.

"As for me, I'll be spending much more time in the surf, although I have to ride a long board these days.

"Even if I'm just sitting under a palm tree I'll be happy." //SEAN O'BRIEN

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