The Superstars of Surf Culture
The history of surfing dates back thousands of years and through that time there have been pivotal surfers and shapers who have influenced the surfing world and our work at Bywater Surf.
Let’s take a look into a few key players and how they have shaped and inspired our surfboard obsession.
Duke Kahanamoku 1890 - 1968
Known as the ‘Father of Modern Surfing,’ Duke popularized surfing in the early 20th century. He rode traditional wooden surfboards and played a crucial role in introducing surfing to the world. His wooden boards were made from koa wood, crafted by skilled Hawaiian builders and a hell of a lot heavier than the hollow wooden boards of today. Duke is the ultimate figure for wooden surfboard riding and his connection to wooden surfboards is a reflection of the traditional Hawaiian roots of surfing.
Credit: https://www.surfholidays.com/blog/legends-of-surf-duke-kahanamoku
Tom Blake 1902 - 1994
The man who developed the hollow surfboard, introduced the concept of building boards with internal chambers to aid in lightness and buoyancy. These boards nicknamed ‘cigar boxes’ were covered with a thin skin of plywood. These lighter boards soon became the preference for surfers, allowing for an easier paddle and a faster ride. It also opened up the realm of different timber being used like; balsa, cedar or pine. This innovation in surfboard creation is the backbone of our hollow wooden surfboards.
Credit: https://surfingwalkoffame.com/tom-blake/
Dale Velzy 1927 - 2005
Dale, also known as ‘The Hawk’ was a pivotal figure in the history of surfing and the development of modern surf culture. He began shaping boards in the 1940’s and by the early 1950’s he established the first surf shop ever in California, was the first to put a name on a surfboard and commercialise surfboards into the retail market. Our Rose board pays homage to the iconic ‘pig’ that Velzy created, which is essentially a classic longboard flipped upside down; where the widest point is just above the tail and the nose is more tapered.
Credit: https://surfingwalkoffame.com/dale-velzy/
Bill Wallace 1927 - 2017
Growing up in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney, Bill spent much of his time in the water as part of the surf club. At 15 he was building boats as an apprentice, making his first surfboard, a 16’ toothpick in 1942. He went on to become Australia’s leading surfboard maker, after seeing the innovation of the balsa woods from the Americans, making up to 120 a week to keep up with the demand. Soon moving onto foam boards, Bill’s first employee being Bob McTavish.
Robert August 1945
Of ‘Endless Summer’ fame, Robert is a legendary surfer who chased the perfect wave around the world and became a well-respected surfboard shaper. It is his boards that have inspired our Bob surfboard, reminiscent of the ‘wingnut model’ - a classic longboard design for smooth and traditional longboarding.
Credit: https://easyreadernews.com/return-endless-summer/
Every wooden surfboard created becomes a part of history so delve into the range at Bywater Surf where you too can have your own classic board and embody the full experience of surf culture.