Cort Gion ---------------Formally of the North Shore (Oahu) and Santa Cruz, now living in Florence, Oregon. Heard of him a few years ago while living in SC. Met him about two years ago at a contest in Pacific City in Oregon. Had a few cervesas with him and a couple of other guys over fish tacos. When he found out that I shaped he pulled out the one of the nicest looking short/mid-size boards I have seen in awhile. At aboout 6’6(been awhile, don’t remember). But the channels blew me away. They were friggin’ poifect. Best channels I have ever seen.
I may be mistaken, but I may have had one of his boards back in '83-‘84. It was something around 7’, single fin, and killer channels. It was either that board or a Country Surfboards thruster, but one of those two was his shape. Both were good boards.
I had one,too. About 81. My last single fin before the truster thing started. 6-8. No channels. Loved it. mike
His work is a frequently-discussed topic on longboard.net…
I first met Cort Gion when he lived in the house fronting my favorite break Leftovers. Ironically, it was used as the home of Chandler in the movie “North Shore”. He let me watch him shape a couple of boards once, very generous in sharing his knowledge. It sounds like he’s doing well for himself in Oregon…good for you Cort. Besides being a good shaper, he was a hell of surfer when he lived here…probably still is.
Benny -Thanks for the link. Interesting to see how far afield his reputation has spread.
there was a really great interview he did for a local gorge magazine I used to link to but it’s gone now…
Wish I had saved it offline.
he talked about all his trials and tribulations and it painted a good picture of what life was like on the northshore in those days just like the interview wish Parrish.
Seems like everyone from that time on the northshore has really interesting story behind them.
Some aspiring writer should collect them all and do a book of everyone that made up the northshore from 1958-1990
BTW
Griff and Byrne do some unreal channels as well
and what about Petersen and his crazy channel bottoms (see Chip’s post)
I don’t think anyone can beat the glasser who does those boards.
Hey there oneula:
Noticed your comment re: Parrish and thought folks might enjoy this interview he did recently with my friend Mike:
http://www.newyorksurf.com/features/nysintv/tp/index.html
Interesting thoughts at the end of the interview about the popout business.
Back to the subject at hand, I don’t have any boards with channels and have never ridden one. Is it true that the are better in real clean surf? We just don’t see that many of them around here (NY and NJ). I always assumed it was because the conditions rarely warrant it.
hiya Bernie !
"…what about Petersen and his crazy channel bottoms (see Chip’s post)
I don’t think anyone can beat the glasser who does those boards…"
…as far as I know , Erle glassed and sanded them , himself … he may , still , I’m guessing ?
[I assume <span style=“font-style:italic”>no-one else </span>wanted to touch them !]
cheers
ben
As someone who has glassed (and sanded) a few channel bottoms, I can state that no one wants to touch those jet bottom boards. Those look like an absolute nightmare. However, they are cool as sh!t.
This is all good stuff boys. Keep it up. Interesting subject.
I would think a vacuum bag would be preferable for glassing channels … but I dunno never done 'em …
Now you guys have me wanting to try them … do you need a glassy wave for them to really do anything though? I only get those when I travel away from home usually 
Big Day Billy