Please go out and buy Linden’s boards, he really is amazing. I really mean this! Also I love what reverb has to say about Gary. No one is doing what he is doing at his age. He is one of my heroes. Can you see yourself putting yourself over the ledge of some of those beasts he has conquered? This man has passion for his sport.
Reverb it’s funny you mention Stretch in your post.
Having worked with Gary and Stretch (Bill) they are both very capable shapers (All Styles of boards).
Stretch is also a gun master (Nathan Fletcher, Flea and many other Mavericks regulars). Stretch was a solid waterman at one time before his unfortunate accident. (Windsurfing). He has a vast knowledge base in Hydrodynamics. He and Gary both are in the league of greats however Gary Linden is one of the best Surfer Shapers in the world like a Simon Anderson or Mark Richards only he surfs much bigger waves than any of them, more like a modern day Greg Noll.
Only Gary has taken it to a new level!
Gary is so much in a better league than Stretch. Common, Stretch totally took credit for Cole Simler’s work on the firefly four fins. Cole’s boards that led the charge into this new four-finned revolution. Stretch is a usurper. What Cole did legitimized the movement. You want to talk about giving credit where it is do. When it comes to shapes, both Gary and Cole deserve the recognition that Stretch has received. Kind of makes me wonder about who picks the “shaper of the year” thing. More like self-promoters of the year,sans the likes Merrick, Rusty, or TPat.
Cole is very talented as well. Cole has a pretty good business himself and should get credit for some of his innovations!
Wouter--------------I'm going to dig thru my mags., but I think Surfers Journal did a small blip on Randy Cone two or three issues back.
Yeah and ditto on Pat Rawson.
Pat Rawson is ZEN Master!
Bill Barnfield should be mentioned here also, and since he provides such thoughtful insights here the art and skill of surfboard construction. He Is the real deal also. Pat is the gucci gun go to guy, and Barnfield’s is at that level, and in my opinion arrived there before.
Barnfield is one of a few North Shore shapers who were the big names in the 70’s still making boards, surfing and living there today. He’s got to be at the top of the list for guns.
My brother had a Linden short board in the 90’s and it was a really good board. I had some great days out at Courts on that board. It was also the first epoxy board I ever rode.