russell / chuck dent longboard reviews

was wondering if anyone on these forums could give me some info/review on russell longboards (newport beach) or chuck dent longboards (huntington beach). going to pick up a 9’0 soon and just wanted some general info on how they ride. thank you.

ghettorat,

Unfortunately, I never made it past Mike’s shaping bay the times I was there for my or a bud’s boards. Then would stop just to pick a board up there or at the shop in Newport when they were done.

I think Kokua was involved with goings on in Huntington around that era and would be a source for some tales…I remember him talking of those days on a Plastic Fantastic thread and 1 or 2 others over the years here.

It was definitely a great time to be a surfer. The confusion of the transition era was calming down and designs were getting cleaned up/perfected - for what they were, as opposed to some of the wierdness that was being tossed out for a few years prior - but still a lot of different designs were being  tried and ridden. Probably the closest thing to what’s going on these days as far as experimentation on different types of boards. And a lot of which is still very valid stuff today. But, that’s just my opinion - probably because I was in my surfing prime then…

Pete

Hey Peterharwood, Mike O’Day is now retired from the phone company and I heard he is living in the Pacific Northwest.  In his time he was one of the best shapers in the world, and shaped most of the Russell’s back then along with Bruce Jones.  It would be nice to hear some of your old stories about the old Brotherhood glass shop in Huntington.

Both are stable cruiser type boards .

Both Chuck Dent and Russell are dead now but the names live on with different owners capitalizing on the name recognition in Northern Orange County.  What could I say about both persons could fill a book or two.  I miss them both, in some ways they were cut from the same cloth, and from a fabric that’s rare now, homegrown and woven unique, yet full of flaws.  Both had eyes for the best shapers in the area, and to have shaped for them, meant you were the best.  I can still here their voices clearly in my head at different times, and people wonder why I am so hard on the guys who think they know but are far from knowing.  As Russ would say when he still cared:  " Is that your best finish work?"  

 

Chuck Dents are made by several different guys so its going to depend on the specific shapers.

Russel just died recently so now its new guys carrying on the name.

randy lewis for chuck dent, not sure who shapes for russell.

ghettorat,

Don’t know how far back you go but, do you remember/do you know Mike O’Day that shaped for the Brotherhood/Russell? I had him shape a few boards for me back around 1970 to '72. He was a very nice guy and great shaper. I worked in a little outboard motor shop on PCH in Surfside and lived in Newport and would stop by his shaping room on the way home from work and he would graciously let me hang while he worked on my board.

Boy, did I learn how ignorant I was in the ways of shaping… Plus, his approach was so relaxed and smooth - no rush and no wasted effort is how I remember his work.

Still have a 7’ downrail pocket rocket from around '72/'73 with a 1" balsa stringer.

If you know of his whereabouts - think I heard he retired from shaping a while back - I hope he’s well.

Pete