Challenger
Surfboard Australia
Surfer Alliance
Progressive
Nectar
Plastic Fantastic
Wardy
We know what they are now, Im looking for the story of what they were and how this happened.
Looking to talk to the owners/previous owners and or people involved with those names.
Feel free to contact me at
(Im on your side by the way)
Challenger was started by Bill Bahne (Fins Unlimited founder) and Frank McLeary. Later owned by Bobby Thomas.
Sfbds Australia was part of the Gordon and Smith company. Licensed from the OZ firm. Built in USA.
I’m pretty sure that Surfers Alliance was owned by Randy Rarick and someone else.
Are you saying that (fake) Wardy and Plastic Fantastic are being imported from China by the same Long Island scumbag who usurped those other labels? He’s doing fake Natural Progressions, too. Or, is that what you meant by “Progressive”?
From what I’ve learned over time, just about all of those labels were not protected by trademark or copyright. Once they fell dormant, they became up for grabs. Still, while it might be technically legal, it stinks like hell, IMO. This same guy has a bad rep on Long Island. He’s pulled some sleaze moves on his competitors and even ratted out a backyard builder that he thought was cutting into his customer base. I’m sure you know his name. Are you a lawyer (I hope)?
Also, Nectar was founded by Gary McNabb. I’m pretty certain he still owns the label. Google that one.
No sorry not a laywer.
Working on a film project.
But that information is a great start thank you.
feel free to PM me
A good bit of Challenger info here (and some characters, and some stories...)http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1028954
balsabill has told the SA story on some of the G&S threads here, he was there...
"How this happpened"? What the hell happened? What's that suppose to mean? I don't think you have any idea what the status of these brands are and you are just" fishing" for A RIP-OFF.
Howzit Jscott, One of the original owners of Plastic Fantastic was Danny Callahan but I can't remember the name of his partner, brain freeze is setting in. Wardy was I believe Fred Wardy but may have the first name wrong.Aloha,Kokua
Kokua is correct. Fred Wardy founded Wardy Surfboards. Formerly located at 525 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach.
Dave Johnson has owned and operated(shaped) Progressive in Goleta Ca for as long as I have been surfing. Phil Di Bartolomeo(Rippin Stix) Helped Dave on occasion for big orders.
You could just to the US PTO site and do a search.. If it's not active or has runout ------------file.
Thanks you guys.
The short answer of what and why Im doing this is. I am researching the information for a short documentary on these trademarks and how they ended up on china built boards. I live in Rockaway and know the basics of the story, now I am looking for the details and the truths. Im hoping to keep the story as unbiasesd as I can and go on the real situations and facts. In the end I intend the documentaryto be a cautionary tale to young shapers to keep their company names legal and safe.
Thank you for th information, feel free to add more.
Jscottk - pm me. Saw the whole thing happen. SammyA - seems you know some of the details - curious how you heard.
Most of what I know about the ersatz labels was learned from the nysurf.com forum. I was well aware that they were fakes when I first saw some local kids with SA and Nectar boards that looked highly suspect (ie: crappy). Plus, there was that issue of Longboard mag that showed a few of the fakes side by side, with the same LI address for each company. That told me something was up.
i was hoping someone could help me id, shapers, stories etc on following surfboards..thx in advance.
1)Eastern Challenger- 9'4" longboard no sig no serial # yellow tint pulled in nose and heavy
2) ah-ooo- aipa style sting.. serial #135 heard there was a movie by this name? from florida. no shaper sig
3)kennedy- 8.0 70s gun shape from california
4)Rick- 8' transitional gun shape serial #7177 from california
5)design 1 surf jet- thick and wide almost modern egg shape i think it has a cb sig in glass bubbles by stringer, was that his style?
here they are...
First off, and for the millionth time (it seems)… Very few boards from the 60s had any signatures on them. Some guys did put a symbol or their intials. Those cases are rare.
So…
#1 is a “Challenger Eastern”. Most likely built in Neptune, NJ. Search this forum for discussion of that label. Plenty of info from guys like Jim Phillips, who shaped many of those.
#2 never heard of those. there was a movie by that name in mid 70s. Doubt if there’s a connection. Probably a borderline backyard operation. Can’t say for sure.
#3 Most likely shaped by Glenn Kennedy. Newport Beach (I think?)
#4 Rick Stoner’s label. Very much a respected brand during the 60s. Hermosa Beach, CA
Your board looks like it has a Waveset box. I would date it around 1970, given that, and the outline. Maybe late '69.
#5 Design 1 was based on Long Island. Very short-lived label that came and went in the transition era (68-71). Not sure on the dates, but they weren’t around more than three years, if that. Had a few different designers/shapers including Rodney Sumpter, Butch Van Artsdalen and Dennis Choate. The “CB” probably means it was shaped by Charlie Bunger, who was also part of that operation for a brief time. I think much of the production was done at Bunger’s factory.
The Surfet look a lot like a Rodney Sumpter I had. Also shaped in the area, probably by Charlie Bunger.
thx sammy, i appreciate the responses you gave me..i was hoping i could get more input from someone who might recognize any of these shapes in particular, thx for the general info tho.
At the end of one summer (not sure which year 70, 71 maybe) Design 1 had the mega inventory left and decided to close because of poor sales. Allegedly the factory was burned for the insurance.
anyone have info on above boards pictuerd? thx.
That sounds about right - we were about it for Design 1 dealers hereabouts. Some were okay boards, some a little odd. I think the financing of the company was shaky too, remember hearing some tales about that. .
The one in the photo is, I think, an early one, first year perhaps. The later year(s) were more drawn out/gunny, if I remember right.
hope that's of use
doc...
