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Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Australian Surfboard Manufacturers

8 comments:

  1. DHD - Darren Handley Designs
    pausedDarren Handley's ProfileBred in Kirra on Queensland's Gold Coast, Darren Handley has lived and breathed surfing his entire life. At the age of 12 he started sweeping floors at the local surfboard factory, which eventually led him to Murray Bourton's infamous Pipedream factory. This is where Darren Handley learnt all aspects of board production. After 10 years with Pipedream Surfboards he branched out to launch his own label DHD (Darren Handley Designs).
    Darren Handley has travelled the world, surfing every type of wave to create the perfect surfboard. But it's the famed "Superbank" surf break on the Gold Coast, that provides an incredibly high performance environment that allows Darren Handley to make the fastest, most responsive boards in the world, ridden by the best surfers in the world.
    Apart from having the world's best riders lining up to ride his shapes, his staff are at a very high level of surfing and this has been the catalyst for DHD (Darren Handley Designs) reaching such high standards of production.
    Darren Handley continues to remain at the forefront of cutting edge surfboard design and sets industry bench marks for quality and performance.

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  2. Murray Bourton's ProfileMurray Bourton first picked up a planer back in 1970 and has not turned it off since. He has seen the evolution of surfboard design from almost the beginning and his knowledge in hydrodynamics through trial and error over the last 35 years is second to none. Many well known top shapers like Darren Handley (DHD), Jason Stephenson (JS) and his son Skye Bourton (On Fire), owe their starts to Murray Bourton.
    Murray Bourton started Pipedream surfboards in 1976, and his shapes are well known and represented not only on the Gold Coast, but all around the world. The famous Coolangatta Pipedream store has always been a favourite hang out for local and visiting surfers, where Murray Bourton is often seen in store sharing his many years of design experience.
    Now 30 years later Murray Bourton has released Bourton Shapes, as a re-invention of Pipedream. Bourton Shapes are top end, high performance surfboards while Pipedream surfboards are still available, they will remain an entry-level and more affordable surfboard brand. There are also a great range of Pipedream Retro boards on offer, that are exact replicas of models that Murray Bourton used to shape back in the 70's and 80's.
    His versatility from Indo guns to tow boards ridden by Tony Ray and Ross Clarke Jones and his cutting edge contest boards ridden by the hot young guns Troy Brooks, Luke Munro, Ry Craike and Lee Wilson, leave no questions asked of Murray Bourton’s commitment to modern short board design.A point worth mentioning is Murray’s current success with Cooly’s latest 16 year old whiz kid Jack Freestone who is 42 years younger illustrating that when it comes to keeping ace with each new generation Murray’s design language transcends the gap.
    In recent years due to Murray’s embracement of the computer shaping programs his passion to innovate has soared, drawing from past and present his new hybrid designs have inspired many who have lost patience with the thrusters status quo. Due to their paddle friendly nature Murray even at his age will test ride most of these designs to be sure they are on track.
    Perhaps Bourtons strongest asset is his custom communicative skills, having worked in his own shops the last 35 years he is under no illusion what a real surfer wants and needs. This asset has been bolstered of late with his mastering of the internet custom ordering process. Many customers who make enquires about his models are surprised when all of a sudden they are on line talking technical with 40 years of hydrodynamics. Murray treats on line the same as he does a customer on the floor of our hardware shops. So if you are a distance away and want to be serviced- we dare you to send him an email.

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  3. Simon Anderson's ProfileSimon Anderson grew up in the 60's at Collaroy on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. He was lucky enough to witness the evolution of the modern day surfboard in his own backyard, ridden by a host of world class surfers including Nat and Chris Young, Butch and Steve Cooney, Rob Holt etc.
    From the early 60's 9'6 longboard to the ultra short 5'4" single fin in '68, surfing was going through a dramatic design revolution; massive vee bottoms, trackers, tear drops, pins, double enders. Every 6 months there was a new leap forward and an extra 6" cut off the length of the board.
    Simon Anderson gravitated to North Narrabeen in '69, to a culture of hardcore surfing with a strong link to board manufacturing at nearby Brookvale. He entered the industry as a ding fixer at Shane Surfboards in '70. His shaping career began at 17 after winning the '71 Australian Junior Title at Bells Beach from Peter Townend and the hottest junior of that year Andrew McKinnon.
    Drawing inspiration from legendary local surfer/ shapers Bob Kennerson, Terry Fitzgerald, Geoff McCoy and Col Smith as well as the stella staff at Shane's, Frank Latta, Ted Spencer and Butch Cooney, Simon Anderson had the best possible apprenticeship.
    In 1973 Simon Anderson competed in the first professional Australian contest at Bells Beach placing 3rd behind winner MP and 2nd Anthony Hardwick (NN Surfer). '76 saw the beginning of the World Tour. Simon Anderson had wins in '77 at Bells and the Coke 2SM Surfabout finishing the year ranked No 3. In 1981 he had 3 more victories the Bells/ Coke double again and the Pipe Masters on a new innovation "the Thruster", the modern day surfboard.
    Simon Anderson is still motivated to improve surfboard design to benefit his own surfing, team riders and surfers in general, including Kelly Slater in 2005 who won at J - Bay and Trestles riding one of Simon's shapes. Simon Anderson uses his many years of experience in shaping, surfing and working with team riders to create the best possible boards for all wave conditions.

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  4. Luke Short's ProfileThe creator of LSD Surfboards, Luke Short, had been a competitive surfer in his youth, living a stone’s throw away from the beach in the then sleepy town of Avalon on Sydney’s northern beaches. He and his brother would repair boards down in the back shed of their family home in between runs to the surf. After finishing a carpentry apprenticeship and some travelling Luke started working at Insight surfboards in 1992 fixing dings, and was soon learning to shape under the guidance of Greg Webber. Over the next eight years Luke was fortunate to work along side and ghost shape for Maurice Cole, Rod Dahlberg, Simon Anderson and Al Merrick.
    In the coming years Luke was creating some of his own unique designs and became one of Insight’s shaper/designers, achieving good results with the Insight team and many of the touring surfers.
    In 2000 LSD went independant, setting up a factory in Mona Vale, Sydney. As well as in Australia LSD spread its wings also reaching the international market.
    LSD Surfboards are performance based with a creative flare, never afraid to think outside the square. The designs are highly influenced by what is being developed with the team, through continuous feedback and communication as well as Luke’s own experimentation in the water. LSD is a part of the next generation of shapers who is taking advantage of new technologies available.
    LSD Surfboards prides it self on combined quality and performance, aiming to make the best product possible, driven by results of team riders and bringing joy into peoples lives by providing them with the magic board.

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  5. BASE Surfboards greatest asset is the collaboration of world class surfboard designers. Sparrow Surfboards (shapes) is the fruit of this collaboration.

    Everyday the experience and wisdom of the BASE shapers is hands on around the design and manufacture of surfboards. Having some of the best shapers under the one roof has created a friendly and competitive surfboard design forum, resulting in some of the worlds best handcrafted surfboards.

    It is not uncommon to see the shapers discussing their new design concepts with one another, or working together to improve manufacturing standards. It is this comradeship and collection of surfboard wisdom that has allowed Sparrow surfboards to emerge.

    The Sparrow brand is a design workshop for this collaborative group, not just the shapers but all involved with the manufacturing of BASE surfboards.

    It allows the shapers to work together to push innovation, capture history, blend contemporary design concepts with retro classics creating a new breed of hybrid surfboards, left of field to the conventional hotdog performance surfboard.

    Sparrow shapes are exciting and experimental, an alternative addition to the quiver, created from the worlds largest well of surfboard knowledge.

    An affordable alternative to add a bit of variation into your quiver.

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  6. Pipedream's Profile
    Pipedream Surfboards was founded in 1976, by legendary shaper Murray Bourton. Murray first picked up a planer back in 1970 and is still shaping to this day.

    The Pipedream brand has been an iconic surfboard brand in Australia for many years. A history enriched with high profile teamriders and constant pursuit of surfboard design evolution.

    Recently Murray released the Bourton brand, a refreshment of the Pipedream brand. It is the Bourton brand that now provides surfers with Murray's high performance surfboards, innovative retro hybrids and his well known level of custom order service.

    With such a strong reputation in the history of Australian surfboard design, the Pipedream could not be left behind. So Murray now services the Pipedream brand specifically for the beginner and intermediate surfer, looking for that entry level surfboard.

    Pipedream surfboards are a reflection of Murray's shaping experience and knowledge. Not to mention his enthusiasm for new surfers to have access to the perfect entry board, made to the high standard that BASE is known for.

    The Pipedream models have been designed by Murray , as a user friendly board, that anyone can jump on. Whether they are just starting or just wanting to have some fun.

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  7. FIREWIRE AUSTRALIA

    1/49 Currumbin Creek Road
    Currumbin Waters Qld 4223
    P.O. Box 137
    Currumbin Qld 4223
    Phone: +61 7 5587 7700
    Fax:+61 7 5559 5913

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  8. Physical fitness is a must for good surfing. How do you get in shape and prepare yourself for the surfing season? How do you stay in shape to be ready when the next good swell arrives? What are the ingredients for you to be physically fit? In this article, I will lay out a plan that will be suitable for the majority of the surfing

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