I was recently given a HIC 7’8" gun that was bought on the north shore of Oahu roughly 25 years ago. The logo has the letters S.K.I under the title Hawiian style. I am looking for information on this board as there is nothing written on the stringer as to who shaped it, dimensions, or what year it was shaped. IF anyone recognizes this board I would love to hear what you have to say about it. According to the last owner he bought it used 24 + years ago. It had just been fixed after the leash was wrapped around the tail at pipe, dug into the rail and ripped the fin out and leash plug There is a new plug in and the fin was replaced. I have posted pictures also. I look forward to hearing from those who have some knowledge about the history of boards. Thanks so much.
I don’t know if there is a connection, but the “SKI” was a Dewey Weber model that was associated with Nat Young in 1969/1970. I remember taking 5th (or was it 6th?) place at the french championships in Biarritz on my friend Esteban’s SKI. That was in 1970. Esteban had bought the board from a californian guy. It had been broken in half and repaired. Was there a Hawaiian SKI made by HIC? The one I knew was not so gunny and was equipped with the Guidance Fin System.
I am aware of the Dewey weber SKI and that is why I was somewhat baffled seeing this on the HIC board. Thanks for the reply, the board you rode sounds like a classic.
This is a question for Bill Thrailkill…
Something puzzles me, though: in those days, leashes (and very primitive ones at that) were usually tied to the fin. We used to drill a hole at the base of the trailing edge and tie the leash through it. Not sure about which year leash plugs were first used but I would say at least 1975… Am I right or wrong?
Something puzzles me, though: in those days, leashes (and very primitive ones at that) were usually tied to the fin. We used to drill a hole at the base of the trailing edge and tie the leash through it. Not sure about which year leash plugs were first used but I would say at least 1975... Am I right or wrong?
hmmm, 25 years ago is 1983, plugs pretty standard.
That logo appears to be the ‘revised’ one the owners came out with in the early 80’s … but I seriously doubt that an unmarked board would have come out of the HIC factory (in Aiea at the time). I’m guessing someone got hold of a stray lam logo and slapped it on.
Balsa,
Thank you for the vote of confidance. BUT, I can’t contribute much about the board. I can tell you that I was making leash plugs out of 1/2’’ PVC
end caps, with a 1/4’’ nylon rod through it in 1971 @ Surf Systems, and Surfboards Hawaii. I still make them that way. Far superior to the ''over the
counter’’ product.
I still have a board that looks just like that one. Same colors same pinline. My brother bought it in 1980 - 81 at the Brewer shop in Wakiki. It was a 6’9 pintail glassed on fin same template. Sam Hawk was the shaper. The template was pure Brewer. From the photo’s of your board that was the stlyle at the time. Everyone was shaping the same way. Kind of like the Thuster of today they all have the same rocker - outline. In the early 80’s most of the boards looked the same. Pat Rawson was a little ahead of the curve and shaped a more refined rail compared to what was being done at the time. Owl Chapman made simular looking boards at the time. You will need to find some one from the windward side of Oahu east of the Pali Highway where the HIC shop was at the time to really know who shaped it. Could of been a Ghost shaper at the time who may very well be well known now?
What are the Dimentions: 12" from nose - Center (is it 3 - 5 pulled forward?) - 12" from the tail? How thick is it?
Tail 1" - 3" - 6" - 12" - 18" - 24" - Center - 24" - 18" - 12" - 6" - 3" - 1" Nose
Vee in the tail? Starting back 18" from the tail? Full Brewer Style rail?
I will shape one and post it. Red tint bottom - Clear deck - Lightblue Pinline - Glass on Fin (Brewer Template)
These boards were so fun to ride at Pipe from about 1976 - 1983. Pretty much standard issue but functional at the time.
The one that is still in the family is: 6’9" x 19" 13" nose - 12" tail - 3" thick.
I know I’m rambling but those photos brought back some old memory when life was good on the North Shore (Late 70’s - Early 80’s)
Your board is a time piece. Have it restored. I’m Shaping one this week!
From what I can remember, “SKI” were the initials of then HIC shaper, Steven K. Ing. Looks like a 1977 era shape. During that period besides SKI, you could find shapes by Dan Nakasone, Ron House, Eric Arakawa and Chuck Andrus in the racks at HIC.
Foamdust: is narrrowing it down. Anyone of those shapers he mentioned most likely shaped your board. All those guy were good then and even better now.
Howzit balsa, I think fiberglass loops came after holes in the fin, then plugs. Come to think about it the first leashes had big suction cups that were usally placed at the front of the board. I remember people saying that they could pull the nose around for faster turns which was considered a kook move.Aloha,Kokua
Hi Kokua, you’re right about the chronology.
Aaaah, those suction cups… I still have an old board in my attic featuring one:
