Hello, I’m an old timer who has not surfed in quite a while. I have a story that may be of interest to a few “surf historians” and a few questions that some of you may help answer for me. I have a 1969 or 1970 6’ 2" Plastic Fantastic surfboard I bought directly from Jeff Hackman on the beach at “4-Mile Beach” in the town of Wellfleet on Cape Cod in the summer of which ever year it was (I can’t quite remember). I was one of only a handful of guys that surfed in those days on Cape Cod. Once I saw the incredible things Jeff did with this board (it was like going from a Wright Flyer to an F-16 fighter plane!), it was a “no-brainer” to trade up from my 9’ 8", 50 lb. Dewey Weber! I was a beach guard (combo life guard and parking lot attendant for the town) and Jeff learned that I was looking for a new board. He approached me and we made a deal for about $200 as I recall. I think I got $40 for my Dewey Weber from some guy who was either a really desperate “newbie” or just broke like me. I really couldn’t afford the board but just knew I had to get it - and glad I did. Once I got mine, most of the other locals bought one as well. [=1] Jeff and another guy were doing an east coast tour of these “radical new boards” - the first short boards ever seen on the Cape. [ 2]I’ll never forget the first day I saw them. I was in the water waiting with a few other guys for some waves and suddenly these guys came jumping over the edge of the dune with these tiny little “things” under their arms. They hit the water and began to do things none of us had ever seen before. It was like being transported instantly through a time warp. And, as they say, “the rest is history”.[/][/] Hard to believe it was 37 or 38 years ago! Now my 20 year old son, Chris, is really into surfing and he goes quite often here in RI and a couple of times to Costa Rica. I’ve often thought about having the “Plastic” restored but don’t know whether or not it would destroy the authenticity and value. Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated. I also have a 7’ 6" Surfboards Hawaii that I bought second hand from a shop in Truro, MA on the Cape in 1971. In the meantime, I’ll look for numbers and markings on both boards, take a few pictures and try to get back everyone who’s interested.
sounds great
i look forward to the pics
and get back in the water!!!
I have a story that may be of interest to a few “surf historians” …I was one of only a handful of guys that surfed in those days on Cape Cod. …Jeff and another guy were doing an east coast tour of these “radical new boards” - the first short boards ever seen on the Cape. … I’ve often thought about having the “Plastic” restored but don’t know whether or not it would destroy the authenticity and value.
I think the years may have affected your memory. There were plenty of surfers (too many, in fact), and shortboards, on the Cape by 1969. I can recall that during the Summer of '69, most of the longboards you might see were from shop rental fleets, as that was the only way they could get any money out of “dead stock”. No one wanted to own one, by then. Jasper’s Surf Shop was a Plastic Fantastic dealer. They also sold Webers. During '69 and 1970, Gary Chapman, Jeff Hakman, and the late Warren Bolster all made forays to the Cape, to promote “Plastics”. Around that same time, Nat Young came through the neighborhood, and gave one of his Weber “Sunface” boards to one of the Weeks brothers. I can’t recall if it was Gordon or Rick (?). The board had been broken in half, so Nat gave it away. During the Summer of '69, I was riding a 6’9" Morey Pope. The vast majority of boards you might see in Cape line-ups were Weber “Skis”, or Gordon and Smith “Magics”. Typically, in the 7’4" to 7’8" range. There was one guy who had a 6’4" Dusty Rhodes. I tried it, and it felt ridiculously short!!! Funny how it all changed. As to your Plastic… Unless it’s really close to mint, a major restoration wouldn’t be needed. On the other hand, transition era boards don’t gain a lot of value if they were restored from near terminal state. As with any old board, pictures help a lot in determining value, or making a call on restoration worthiness. ---------------------- Note to Sway’s longterm members: Where’s Doc? He’s a Cape old timer, and probably knows more about local history than anyone. Doesn’t he post here, anymore?
Yep—was before 1969, easy.
I got out of the Army in Dec '68 and drove up the coast of Cal on my way home.
Stopped in Pismo Beach and bought the latest Surfer Mag. The cover was of Nat Young maybe at Margaret River…“Animal” this and aninal that.
“…Super light, up-tight, v-bottomed wave riding vehicles…”
My bro had been telling me since summer of 68 about the Channin-Diffenderfer he’d gotten in San Diego. It was an eight footer.
New ballgame from then on.
john brewer
Yep—was before 1969, easy.
I got out of the Army in Dec '68 and drove up the coast of Cal on my way home.
Stopped in Pismo Beach and bought the latest Surfer Mag. The cover was of Nat Young maybe at Margaret River…“Animal” this and aninal that.
“…Super light, up-tight, v-bottomed wave riding vehicles…”
My bro had been telling me since summer of 68 about the Channin-Diffenderfer he’d gotten in San Diego. It was an eight footer.
New ballgame from then on.
john brewer
In this case you are correct - there were plenty of short boards (mostly wide-tail deep V-bottoms like the Con Iron Butterfly or Bahne Crystal Ship at just under 8’ down here) on the East Coast by the Spring of 1969, although the poster who makes it seem as if all of the long boards disappeared overnight exaggerates a bit. However, extrapolating surf culture on the East Coast based on what you saw in Cali is a very hazardous exercise - we were typically 6 months to a year behind, and some trends never did make the transition…
-Samiam
Quote:there were plenty of short boards (mostly wide-tail deep V-bottoms like the Con Iron Butterfly or Bahne Crystal Ship at just under 8’ down here) on the East Coast by the Spring of 1969, although the poster who makes it seem as if all of the long boards disappeared overnight exaggerates a bit.
I was not exaggerating, nor did I say that all longboards “seemed to disappear overnight”. By the Summer of ‘69, in New England, virtually anyone who was serious about surfing was riding a board under 8’ in length. 7’4" to 7’8" being typical. There were a few hold-outs who stuck with true longboards. They were either just stuck in their ways, or just couldn’t adapt to the reduced floatation. If you paddled out on an LB at some spots, you were automatically labeled a kook, unless you were well known. Hell, by the end of '68 most guys were riding boards close to 8’0", or a bit over that. I had a Corky Carroll Hobie, 8’4". I sold it when I bought the 6’9" Camel. By 1969, the wide-tailed V bottoms were dinosaur boards.
Hey, “where’s Doc”? hmm…seems like this CCFoote may know?
Like Andre the Giant, we’ve all got Posse’s out there somewhere.
anyhow, not really have info for the thread but wanted to send a call out for Doc or any of Jasper’s, Pump House, Cinnamon Rainbow’s, Nauset Sports crew.
I recently fixed a Hawaiian Moon board out here in Marin.
Hey, “where’s Doc”? hmm…seems like this CCFoote may know? I recently fixed a Hawaiian Moon board out here in Marin.
Funny thing, Doc once had the nickname, “Foot”.
A Hawaiian Moon, you say?
Shaped by this guy:
Yeah, I kinda figured Doc and CCFoote were/may be the same BUT who knows the depths we go to hide/pseudonym ourselves, watch your back folks may be after ya!
Yeah, that’s one Mr. MIke Lasorda. Used to give me hell for being a “new shaper” back in the early 90’s. I took over Cinnamon Rainbows in 92 or so for a few years w/partner Steve Gould. Then we sold it to Matt Rivers, who I believe still runs the show there.
Hope to come back for the Old Timers contest some year…
Yeah, I kinda figured Doc and CCFoote were/may be the same BUT who knows the depths we go to hide/pseudonym ourselves,
I think I know Doc well enough to say that he wouldn’t bother creating a troll along these lines. He doesn’t have a son, and doesn’t live in RI, as claimed by “ccfoote”. I also think that Doc wouldn’t post something that was historically inaccurate, even if he were trolling.
PS: Mike’s last name is Losordo.
I always thought it was lizzardo
but as why kauai
such a happy guy
the photo just don’t show
…ambrosio…
ats Italian dont ya know
some body that can
say hello
for me.
long
time
no
see.
hmm…now the plot thickens. I was sure ccfoote WAS INDEED Doc. Oh well. I 'member (I think his name was) John Foot (or foote?), did everyone call him “the foot?” from Jaspers way back then. Great guy, always had the odd view/take on life in general and by my assumption, since he was “older” (probably in his late 30’s when I was early 20’s?) and still worked in a surf shop, then he probably had it figured out and was having a good life. Sadly(?) I also went down that path, now here I am, broke and older. Happy, maybe, sometimes.
Glad to hear you’re happy. Your trip south must have been good…
How do you choose the 1 thread you post into every 6 months, anyway? 
I can’t resist like that…
hmm…now the plot thickens. I was sure ccfoote WAS INDEED Doc. Oh well. I 'member (I think his name was) John Foot (or foote?), did everyone call him “the foot?” from Jaspers way back then.
Doc’s last name is not Foot, or anything similar. He was given the nickname, back when he was a young guy. As I recall the story, it had something to do with hygiene. So, Foot is one of his nicknames, as is “Doc”. You can generally tell how long someone’s known him, by which moniker they use. I think his family might be the only ones who call him John. On a more serious note; I got an email today, saying that Doc/Foot has had some health problems recently, and that is why is he is not posting here. Though I don’t believe it’s really serious, I get the impression he’s been having a rough time, lately.