If only he had lived...

Just suppose that Bob Simmons had lived through that final tragic accident in 1954. Today, at 83 years old, what opinions might he have about current surfboard design and construction?

Just suppose that Bob Simmons had lived through that final tragic accident > in 1954. Today, at 83 years old, what opinions might he have about current > surfboard design and construction? Good thought, Dale. First of all, I think if you were to follow his orange-peel tracks, you would find him huddled up in some solitary place, certainly living right down the road from some gnarly reef break. He’d still be roaming the pathways of his own mind, contemplating some never-before-thought-of hydrophysics theory. By the time you reached him, he’d just be on the verge of some incredible breakthrough in hydrodynamic theory. He’d probably be at the point of audibly babbling his thoughts… You interrupt him, cautiously, to ask your question, to which he responds: “Somebody stole my ideas from 40 years ago and really screwed 'em up! Sure, those little rascals can fly off the lip, but they’re missing the point! And…and…where are my damn oranges?!..” Then he’d probably trail off into some indecipherable string of theoretical dissertations and you’d be left behind. That man was so far beyond his time. I only wish I could have been born early enough to have experienced his mind when it was still awake.

…That should be, “ideas from 50 years ago…” "Somebody stole my ideas from 40 years ago and really screwed 'em up! > Sure, those little rascals can fly off the lip, but they’re missing the > point!

Just suppose that Bob Simmons had lived through that final tragic accident > in 1954. Today, at 83 years old, what opinions might he have about current > surfboard design and construction? He’d be diggin those modern air mats and hangin w/ Solomanson.

Could we have gotten to where we are today sooner? Epoxy comes into play earlier? What about the extremes in 1970’s would it have even happend then? And the G&S label turns out to be Greenough and Simmons? Can you reach that bag of oranges back there? TS>>> Just suppose that Bob Simmons had lived through that final tragic accident > in 1954. Today, at 83 years old, what opinions might he have about current > surfboard design and construction?

Could we have gotten to where we are today sooner? Epoxy comes into play > earlier? What about the extremes in 1970’s would it have even happend > then? And the G&S label turns out to be Greenough and Simmons? Can you > reach that bag of oranges back there?>>> TS Tom, Perhaps not “where we are today”, or even “sooner”… but rather, “WHERE ELSE” might we have gotten to if Bob Simmons were still alive? Dale

I did leave that chapter out, didn’t I? If we reached our present state 10-15 years earlier, surely we would have moved further forward? I think so. Change is cyclical and it feels like we are entering one of those periods right now. There are some fresh minds right here in our midst on Swaylock’s. TS TS>>> Tom,>>> Perhaps not “where we are today”, or even “sooner”… > but rather, “WHERE ELSE” might we have gotten to if Bob Simmons > were still alive?>>> Dale

What if Simmons, Greenough and other great contributors to surf design had never been born or never taken an interest in surfing? Do you think the surfboard would have found it’s own way and evolved (devolved?) to what we have today? Would we be shaping something wildly different?

I believe it was noted in some of the profiles done on B. Simmons that he ate oranges all the time. You knew he had been around fromt he litter of peelings left in the parking lot etc. tom

What if Simmons, Greenough and other great contributors to surf design had > never been born or never taken an interest in surfing? Do you think the > surfboard would have found it’s own way and evolved (devolved?) to what we > have today? Would we be shaping something wildly different? In my opinion, I think the trend toward lighter-weight materials was inevitable. If it wasn’t foam at that time, it would have been something else, aluminum perhaps? The War changed the entire thinking of society, and that, in large part, was what spurred on sudden changes. You can even see a reflection of that type of thinking today: Just one tragic event rocks the foundations of American thought and it affects EVERY aspect of society, including surfers…thus, the sudden increase in “flag” boards today. But that’s just an example in the artistic sense. Imagine when the whole world is in the same crap for several years…people are going to find a way to turn their inner turmoil into something positive, whether it’s to help the cause by inventing new materials or whatever. Something more than a trend is born. A dramatic shift in thinking is the result. So that’s what I think about the materials. Some change would have happened eventually…probably later, of course. But in no way am I saying Bob Simmons’ genius is simply a result of societal changes. He had a gift, and he put it to use at the right time. Greenough is certainly gifted as well. And also “Y”…and even some here on this BB. Who knows where these gifted ones will take us?..And as for shape/outline, who knows?

Just suppose that Bob Simmons had lived through that final tragic accident > in 1954. Today, at 83 years old, what opinions might he have about current > surfboard design and construction? I’ve thought about this all morning while planting citrus trees, trying to get them in the ground before the rain comes. Even planted an orange tree - might name it “Bob”. Since Simmons was an engineer I would have to think he would have gone in the molded hi-tech material direction. I think he would have loved the old W.A.V.E Hollow and other honeycomb boards of the 70’s and would like the epoxy/molded/production boards of today. I also think he would have been excited by the soft material technology - and really that’s the only radically different material and method surfboards have been made from since foam (with a nod to inflatables ;-)). I think he would have liked the various traction devices, the hydrofoils, the tow-in boards (if not their “donkeys”), and foot straps. He probably would have liked or at least made peace with the leash. I think he would have either hated or laughed at the throwaway genre surfboards of today. I think he would have liked the shaping machines. I think he would probably be a pauper. I think if he had lived a long, involved surfing life and he died today his passing probably wouldn’t get any more magazine space than the 2 page photo spread SURFER gave Dora. If he stayed out of camera range he would probably get much less.

What if Simmons, Greenough and other great contributors to surf design had > never been born or never taken an interest in surfing? Do you think the > surfboard would have found it’s own way and evolved (devolved?) to what we > have today? Would we be shaping something wildly different? Very likely… and consider all the other people that great contributors to surfing inspire and influence, both pro and con! As an example of what would be missing if just one significant person never existed in our lifetimes… how many George Greenoughs have there been? A man who has been absolutely brilliant in the design, invention and development of fins, surfboards, kneeboards, sailboards, filmmaking/photography, wind and water powered generators, cameras, and a myriad of other things. One of my favorite sources of delight in regards to new discoveries, is the fact that a foundational, common denominator involves the accidentally fortunate synergy of dissimilar objects, materials and concepts. So many times I`ve been surprised to see that an idea and the means to attain it, already exist in totally unrelated applications. Sometimes the most difficult part of the invention process lies in NOT doing anything… and just opening our eyes.

More thoughts… Given the pressures on surfing since, say, 1980: Simmions might have dumped his surfboard and gone sailboarding. He might be a distant neighbor of Pat Curren in Baja. He might have moved to the Gulf of California and gone kiteboarding…in 1983. He might have gone into artificial wave design and testing. He might have made money on that,and built a private wavepool in the desert near the Colorado River. He might have a second, incomplete wavepool built right next to it. He might build new humps and bumps and contours as the ideas came to him and proved out in a test tank. When complete, he could fill it up and switch to the latest. The first pool could be drained and cleared out. Ready to build the next edition as the dreams and thoughts allowed… He might have dumped all that equipment and gone bodysurfing. From what I’ve read about the man, he wasn’t into encumbrances.

As Demsey Holder use to say,Simmons lives in all of us that experience the joy of the ocean.Herb.