Now here’s my story. I joined this amazing community almost 7 years ago and after posting a multitude of questions in preparation to venture into building my first board I was taken under the wing of a man called Bill Thrailkill. He tirelessly steered me in the right direction and gave advice with patience and grace. In the early days I’d no idea of his history and pedigree but quickly began to realise I’d hit gold on this one and I had a man with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the world I was desperate to enter. What’s more he was happy to coach me and offer advice and support for no personal gain. I have rarely experienced such generosity and encouragement in any aspect of my life. Now you can’t hang around a place like this without it all falling into place and within a short time I became to understand how lucky I had been. All of a sudden I’d gained access to a mind so full of knowledge and experience and what’s more there seemed no limit on what Bill would share with me. He has sent me numerous templates and guided me through the build of my first boards. His shapes changed the way I thought about surfboards and had a major impact on my surfing. I even got a full page photo of me riding his design at my local break, Porthleven, in a UK surfmag…that really is something I would have never dreamed of…After some years Bill was kind enough to offer to make me a board. At the time, as I was just starting a family, I had no chance of buying ‘luxury items’ and often dreamed about what I’d order should I ever get the opportunity. Then last year a thread was started about a lightning bolt ‘inspired’ board. I’m sure most of you know that it was Bill who designed and shaped the first 18 Bolts that started the iconic brand that’s etched into the minds of us all. Now this got me really thinking…I was earning enough from the boards I make to splash out and finally take Bill up on his offer. Now here’s where it all starts to come full circle. I was raised in a post industrial town in the North of England, about as landlocked as you can get in our little country…and as a child in the 70’s we took our family vacation to Cornwall to visit my ‘surfer’ uncle. I can’t quite remember the boards he or his friends rode but I do remember the posters that plastered his walls of a man called Lopez who rode boards with a lightning bolt emblazed on the deck. These images were my first recollection of the sport that would later take over my life. Of course when I finally got round to ordering a board from Bill it just made sense to have him shape me a board from the very same template that he used all those years ago…Now it’s taken some time to happen and the board has been through the hands and workshops of some of California’s finest craftsmen but finally I have the board of my dreams…Bill, you have been and will continue to be a inspiration and I really cannot thank you enough for your kindness, support and patience…and for the guys on sways…here’s a few pics of my most prized possession…
Cheers
Rich
www.thirdshade.com
a beauty!
great story too
Board looks great; I hope your getting some good ones on it.
Great story! Man am I jealous!
Sweet!
Nice job Mr. Bill
There sure is a lot more to those Windandsea guys than I ever imagined. Kidding. Cool board. Mike
great shots of the board. beautiful.
amazing story as well, great to hear it. thanks for sharing it.
so how many times have you walked into the room and out again thinking it will disappear once you wake up?
great stuff here third,
bill will be stoked as well.
herb
You guessed it…can’t walk past her without caressing the curves…my wife already thinks I’m developing separation issues…
Cheers
Rich
www.thirdshade.com
Nice Bolt. A true classic Island shape.
Awesome shape, and awesome story!
Aloha Richard, I am somewhat at a loss for words. Such lavish praise is rather humbling. I’m happy to have been helpful to you, and to have contributed to your development as a surfboard builder. Thank you for the acknowledgement.
Great stuff.
I suggest the mods make this a sticky to be pointed out to those noobie kuks who come here crowing about how much they think they know and disrespecting those older and wiser…
This bump for more recent forum members, as an indication of what the prior ‘‘Swaylocks Environment’’ was, as opposed to the current environment.
Amazing board. Lucky guy. Mom and dad taught me to treat others with respect even if you don’t like or agree with them. I havn’t always followed that rule, but have noticed it opens more doors to new friends and a experiences. Your ‘uncles’ might even share a few things with you, too. Mike
Bill is truly a gifted and experienced board builder.
Great surfboard and surfing knowedge.
My hats off to you sir.