When the student is ready, the master appears.

[artz]

You are Lucky indeed Bill.  gaining that insight and knowlage  from the originel craftsmen, that learned from trail and error is golden 

[HerbSpitzer]

…to know and or to meet: Bill Thrailkill,Jim Phillips,Roger Brucker,Paul Jensen,Bert Burger,Josh Dowling,Rabbit,Nick Carroll,Bill Barnsfield,Greg Griffin,Tom O’Keefe,the two Brad’s Basham and Nydell,Ace,Grumpy,Grat,Fins,John and Peter Mel,Ken Moore,Tom Sterne,Balsa,Mr. Curry the 3,THE LIST IS SEEMINGLY ENDLESS HERE !!!

A few of these fine people,over time (in the last 15 years),have become good friends of mine. Friends that I am proud to say they are my friends.

THANK YOU…Mike Paler for bring us together…here on Swaylocks.

Aloha.

 

Herb

(photo:by Murray Irvin/skater: Herb Spitzer/pool: Pink Motel 1975/76)

[BarrySnyder]

@$1

My first exposure to the ‘‘how to’’ of surfboard making, was provided by Wayne Land, who patiently explained the design principles at play in 1958.   He also showed me how to glue up, and shape the balsa pig boards of the day.     Ronald Patterson showed me how to glass a board, mount a wood fin, sand and gloss a surfboard.      State of the art surfboard sanding, was done with a belt sander, in 1958.    Some of the regulars at Windansea, in those early years, were quite influential on me. Guys like Alan Nelson and Pat Curren, were fixtures in the lineup, and were always doing cutting edge stuff.     The two fellows that really opened my eyes, design wise, were Del Cannon and Phil Edwards.     Del showed me how to shape in a methodical and disaplined way, as well as thinking ‘‘outside the box’’ as the expression goes.     Phil Edwards took the time (about an hour) one afternoon,  to answer my design questions, and explain his theories, and understanding of fin design and function.     All of that varied input, woven together, is what enabled me to make what progress I did, in designing and building surfboards.    Guys like Jim Fisher, and Buzzy Trent, were both regular surfing companions, as well as walking encyclopedias of surfing history.     Both were former room mates with Bob Simmons in Hawaii, and both were great story tellers.   All of that information, history, and instruction, is part of every board I’ve ever shaped.    I’ve been very lucky to have had access to so many pioneers of this sport, and fortunate to have been accepted into thier circles.

Bill is the real deal.

I never get tired of board stories.

I have been blessed to have worked for and along side of many top quality board builders in my 30+ years of board building.

I have been fortunate to learn from guys with many years of board building under their belts.

I still use much of it daily.

And I always love to tell people who taught me those tricks.

I hope that all of you whom have never got to work in the surfboard environment, pay attention to the masters like Bill.

A wealth of knowledge.

Pay attention.

Take notes.

Use this knowledge to better your skills.

I’m still waiting for Bill’s book.

Tales from the shaping room?

That would be a great read.

 

[mattwho]

Haven’t seen much of guys of who had no formal training.

Felker and Liddle are the only ones who would let me watch, except I was already set in my ways and a real asshole!

Outlaws, shaping outside of convention from the start.

[dennis_andries]

Bob and Bruce were way better shapers than I ever was.

[TaylorO]

For hydrodynamics, Meeting Uncle Dale Solomonson as a very young man/big kid was instrumental in my life long path.
For technology and materials, it was Swaylocks, Uncle Ambrose, and the guy whose name I don’t remember, who let me watch 'em hotwire one day. Lots of trial and error… Science!!!