My mom handed me a stack of photos today of her uncle, who she had mentioned before was a shaper. I met him a few times when I was younger, but never really got to know him. He died a few years ago, so I guess I missed out. My mom says she thinks he shaped for Rockn Fig and Wave Tools. It seems like whenever people get name dropped on this board, somebody here comes out and says they knew him. I was wondering if any of you guys did or know anything about him. I also thought everybody would like to see a bunch of old pictures with some funky boards.
i knew your uncle!
we surfed alot together in various places on the coast here and in hawaii.
at one time we were competitors in surfboard shops.
he had two different shops in surfside/sunset beach,and one on fifth st. in h.b.
never knew what became of him after that.
sorry to hear of his passing.
howard always treated me like a brother and a big smile.
if you would like to know more about your uncle from my prospective,let me know.
herb
ps. i think i know where one of his personnal boards are.
Some of those shapes are coming back only much shorter versions.
It’d be cool to see some of those board pics in a larger version.
Didn't know him. But I can look into it for you as I now have a few OC contacts. I would think surfding might have known him. Good examples of boards from that era. Obviously a good surfer who's making the most out of Hunington area mush. Nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.
sorry to hear about your uncle.
cool pics
Thanks for the replies. He was my mom’s uncle, so he’d be my great uncle or something. The pictures are pretty much actual size on my screen, so I don’t know if I could make them any bigger Sammy. Cool to hear from you Herb. Was his HB shop the same building that 5th Street Surf Shop used to be, or is it still standing? Do you know what shop the black and white photo is of? Does anyody know the guys flexing in the pictures? That would be pretty funny if they posted on here. It would be pretty cool to see any of his boards today, especially if it was one of his personal boards.
Howzit codyguy, Not sure if this means anything but I think Bob Highsmith had his South Shore Surfboards shop on 5th street,close to the corner of PCH and 5th. Aloha,Kokua
is that snow in the background??? the first pic
the shop howard had on 5th was several shops thru the eras.
i believe it was the hawk's and before that sea ski.
i do reconize the guys in the photos but the names are very distant...............it's only been like 30-35 years or so.......lol.
and he's still your uncle .........twice removed..........or second uncle.
herb
Howzit Herb, I remember Sammy having a shop on Main st in 86' but don't know where Cris had his shop that year. The G&S shop had a neat little back yard area where the guys hung out and I was there 1 day and one of the guys was carving a Tiki And my friend Albert Jenks was hanging in HB for the summer. Now that guy was a great surfer but hardly anybody knew of him outside of Maui and he lived on Kauai for a few years. Aloha,Kokua
this was chris' shop on 5th it was inland abit from the surf theater.
geeez...........remember the surf theater,the golden bear,hows bout marina palace in seal beach?
now gone only to live in my memories.
herb
Howzit Herb,Now those were the good old days in HB and I hold those memories dearly in my heart and soul and the new generation missed the real Surf City. The M&M market sold BBQ chicken wings for 5 cents a piece and a baked potato with sour cream for a quarter. Last time I was there was a few years back and it was a zoo since they were having an ASP contest there. Then there was the arcade on the beach next to the pier and the pit where all the good local surfers girl friends sat and tanned, darn those were fun times. Aloha,Kokua