In addition to buying and selling vintage surfboards, we also offer vintage reconditioning and twist removal, all done with exceptional high grade quality. In 2006, surfing author paul holmes told velzys amazing story in full in the book, dale velzy is hawk, published by the croul family foundation. From a large collection of vintage posters that i will be selling. Jun 12, 2012 a brief history of the surfboard these days anyone can grab a surfboard and hang 10. Velzy surfboards wasnt fancy by any means, but it was the first retail surf shop in the world when it opened in 1950. In 1953, velzy and hap jacobs formed velzyjacobs surfboards. The brand was a collaboration between dale velzy and hap jacobs, and was one of the leading surfboard labels of the time until its abrupt closure in 1959 apparently because velzy had been behind on his taxes. Surfboards begins with a brief but knowledgeable and entertaining history of the sport and its equipment. At, he became fascinated while helping out at pioneer surfboard maker dale velzys workshop in manhattan beach. A brief history of the surfboard these days anyone can grab a surfboard and hang 10. Former surfer editor paul holmes wrote the biographies for both velzy 2006 and hobie 20. Apr 11, 2017 known as the hawk, dale is a surfer, a celebrity, a hell raising rebel, a revolutionary retailer, a hall of fame surfer, a surf film financier, a lifeguard, and most of all, a shaper. Dale opened velzy surfboards the worlds first surf.
Velzys balsa wood boards were becoming increasingly popular among surfers, and he worked constantly to keep up with demand. Vintage original surf history dale velzy in hawk by paul holmes hardcover book. Discover our index of publications with over 230 books about surfing. The boards ranged in size from 7 to over 20 in length often weighing well over 100 pounds. Velzy, known as hawk, didnt singlehandedly invent the surf lifestyle and. Weber had been dale velzys protege, and while details of the sudden turnover at the venice lo. The boards were hewn from native trees such as koa, wili wili and ulu. If youre into surfing culture and history, this is a great read.
Surfing might not be where it is today without early freethinkers like dale velzy. But the two stories together in one book, or one movie that would be. Balsa wood boards were still around for awhile while experimentations with foam continued. Dale was such an important person in the world of surfing.
National public radio did some coverage of dale velzy s passing, including some sound clips from friends and admirers. Whenever i see dates provided on craigslist, i tend to take them with a grain of salt. But not nearly so much as is in this book, and his full history is mind blowing. And simmons, while he did a lot of amazing, necessary design work, was off on a deadend tangent in terms of how he chose to apply science to surfboards. It then goes on to explore the many different styles and types of surfboards, accompanied by stories and fullcolour photographs that depict their design, creation, and use from closeup details of the boards themselves to surfboards in. The revolutionary pig surfboard, designed by dale velzy in 1955, was the main development of the decade, and was a turning point in the way surfers rode. Includes an original dale velzy memorial brochure from the june 2005 paddleout and honor circle held at doheny state park. Velzy, known as hawk, didnt singlehandedly invent the surf lifestyle and industry, but his pioneering work as a craftsman, his charismatic personality and his. This year were pleased to welcome bud light as our main sponsor of the event, and our contributing sponsors.
Surfboards by velzy 1949 on the family tree of surfboard shapers, one would put dale velzy right at the topwith the likes of legendary designershapers bob simmons, joe quigg and matt kivlin. The brand was a collaboration between dale velzy and hap jacobs, and was one of the leading surfboard labels of the time until its abrupt closure in 1959 apparently because velzy had been behind on his. It tells and shows how the hawk liked to roll with his own style and and class and with an awsome skill for making surfboards. This book tells and shows how dale velzy brought surfing on solid wood surfboards through to his influences on current designs. However, the peerless stokednboard tells me that velzy jacobs surfboards only existed for a few scant years during the mid to late1950s. History lessons at the dale velzy surf contest orange. Join facebook to connect with matt velzy and others you may know. Burbank field, takayama realized hed landed on a pretty big island. In 1950, george downing produces the first bigwave surfboard.
By the late 50s, the two had shops in san clemente, hermosa beach, newport beach, san diego and honolulu, and their two factories were cranking out 150200 surfboards a week. Dale velzy helped shape surfer culture posted by malcolm gaultwilliams at tuesday, may 31, 2005. This one is in really good condition with a nicely done resin pinlines on the top deck. He opened the first professional surf shop in manhattan beach, california in 1950, personally hand fashioning the surfboards from wood or synthetic material. The brand was a collaboration between dale velzy and hap jacobs, and was one of the leading surfboard labels of the time until its abrupt closure in 1959. At the counter check out those fins above bing photo by grannis an original custom triple laminate stock model. Aug 26, 2006 excellent book, well written and covers the early history of surfing. Im leaning toward the velzy because, well, its velzy. Absolutely one of my favorite lines in the book, and it sums up dale velzy in 12 words.
The first surfboard made entirely of balsa wood probably dates back to 1940 and pioneer shapers such as legendary surfers bob simmons, velzy, joe quigg and matt kivlin. If you need more pictures, contact me and i can email them to you. A classic looking robert august single fin from the midtolate 1970s. And thus began the start of the first great american boardmakers rivalry. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world.
Dale velzy was instrumental in surfboard making and its history from its early infancy. Aloha and welcome to this chapter of legendary surfers volume 5, chapter 11 on legendary surfer buzzy trent. He spent the mid 50s in the coast guard stationed in hawaii and surfed the big waves of oahus north shore and makaha. Dale velzy s is a story set in a time and place where a combination of climate, geography, local aerospace industry materials and hollywoods media machine made california. Dale velzys is a story set in a time and place where a combination of climate, geography, local aerospace industry materials and hollywoods media machine made california. Dale velzy september 23, 1927 may 26, 2005 was an american surfboard shaper, credited with being the worlds first commercial shaper. The dale velzy surf contest and luau on saturday celebrated its 23 r d year, an event put on by the dohney longboard surfing association. Velzy longboard early 1960s vintage surfboards for.
As of tuesday, march 17th, 2009, this surfboard is on a 7 seven ebay auction. While simmons and quigg in particular have been credited with many design innovations, quigg himself once said, you couldnt even sell a board in the. After a harrowing tenhour flight that landed at prel. Sep 06, 20 dale velzy was an important person to all of us in the club and this event is our yearly tribute to one of the true pioneers of the sport. Surf boards by velzy local business facebook 39 photos. The history of surfing page for bob simmons went live this week. Restored to original condition, surface scratches from storage will be polished out prior to sale. He made his way to velzys shop, and the rest is shaping history.
Though reluctant to part with his city friends, he grew to love the beach. If you would like to order a custom velzy contact us at 805. In 1949, he opened velzy surfboards in nearby manhattan beach, a shop often considered the first surf shop in the world. A master shaper in his own right, joe quigg said, you couldnt even sell a board in the sixties unless it looked like a velzy board. I dont know which models they are and i dont think the owners do either. The driving force behind velzy surfboards is the demand on design created by the worlds greatest surfers, looking for the highest performance possible. Dale velzys first surf shop in manhattan beach opened in 1950. In 1953, velzy and hap jacobs formed velzyjacobs surfboards, opening a small shop first in hermosa beach and then in venice beach, california. The grandson of a cabinetmaker, dale was soon shaping redwoodbalsa boards for his friends under the hermosa beach pier. Paul holmes talks about his newly released book on one of. The history of surfing started in hawaii, the word spread by the duke then tom blake then velzy. They called these surfboards velzy jacobs surfboards.
We want to hear from you please contact us thru our email. In 1958 he sailed across the pacific and introduced modern surfboards to new zealand. More than 2,000 friends, associates and surfers of all ages joined in the traditional paddleout ceremony held for velzy on june 14, 2005 at doheny state beach. It was one of velzys favorite events to attend, up. The book is more the book is more than just the story of velzys extraordinary and colorful life, but also that of the development of the entire surf lifestyle and industry. A brief history of the surfboard popular mechanics. Growing up on the strand at 30th street in hermosa beach, jacobs picked up riding canvas surf mats filled with air. The first surfboards were developed by the polynesians and became very popular in hawaii during the 18th century. Hawaiian born, takayama learned to surf at waikiki beach and moved to california in the mid1950s. Which would you go for when considering the combo of rarity, collective value, and general awsomeness. Yvon chouinard, has revised and expanded his beloved book let my people. Give it a read, if for no other reason than because the chapter starts by recounting how simmons once answered some bullying by a group of palos verdes cove locals by splitting open the decks of their hollow boards with an ax.
Holmess book, dale velzy is hawk, is scheduled to be published this fall by the surf education committee, a nonprofit organization. Dale opened velzy surfboards the worlds first surf shop in manhattan. Donald moke takayama november 16, 1943 october 22, 2012 was an american professional surfer and surfboard shaper. Dale velzy september 23, 1927 may 26, 2005 was an american surfboard shaper, credited. May 23, 2014 a great balsa board collection is up for sale. Put anything you want in the shopping cart, but you have to deal with the checker on the. The special collectors limited edition of dale velzy is hawk consists of 500 numbered, leatherbound copies, signed by the author and archived in a matching leather clamshell case embossed with the velzy logo. By 1960, velzy owned five retail shops and three production facilities in california and hawaii. Velzy surfboards surf boards hap jacobs vintage original 1960s surfing patch. Dale velzy was an american surfboard shaper, credited with being the worlds first commercial shaper.
Simmonss eos entry covers the important, cantmiss aspects of his life. Takayama worked for velzyjacobs surfboards and lived in the loft of dale velzys venice, california surf shop. The book is more than just the story of velzys extraordinary and colorful life, but also that of the development of the entire surf lifestyle and industry. The development of polyurethane foam in surfboards came about in around the 1950s. Jun 22, 2017 read the full history of surfing chapter here we asked warshaw more about the legacies left by velzy and hobie, and how the two uniquely navigated surfings first commercial boom. We are stoked to be able to continue the tradition of handcrafted velzy surfboards for those who appreciate the history. Dale velzy is hawk book by paul holmes surftech surfboards surfing 2006 flyer. Excellent book, well written and covers the early history of surfing. Velzy s surfboards were in great demand, and so he took on a local surfer named hap jacobs another big name in surf history and taught him to shape. Weber, the flashy wrestlerturnedsurfer known as the little man on wheels, opened the first weber surfboards in the same venice, california, building that had for six years been the home of velzy surfboards. My brother has been surfing all of his life, now close to 70 it is time to sell a few items. A slender, slippery pivotnoserider special, offered as an alternative to its more full area relatives, including the heritage. Unfollow velzy surfboard to stop getting updates on your ebay feed.
This book tells and shows how dale velzy brought surfing on solid wood surfboards. Marion stratford does, and hes created a group where people can share their stories. The meistrell brothers turn redondo beachs dive n surf into a. The book is more the book is more than just the story of velzy s extraordinary and colorful life, but also that of the development of the entire surf lifestyle and industry. Dale velzy is believed to have been the first to open a conventional surf shop. The seller lives in hawaii, so hawaii buyers preferred. Originally a longboard surfer, takayama won the masters division of the united states surfing champions in 1971, 1972 and 1973. From its humble wooden beginnings, we explore the surfboards pastand look to its future.
In 1959 dale velzy sponsored 15yearold to compete in the makaha internationalthe world championship of its day. Surfing history dale velzy is hawk paul holmes hardcover. Loose yet stable, this one will come alive for the more sensitive types. Dale velzy was an important person to all of us in the club and this event is our yearly tribute to one of the true pioneers of the sport. Encyclopedia of surfing is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and occasionally goosing surf history and culture. This largeformat, premiumquality 256page, hardcover book, with. In1954 dale velzy joined forces with fellow board shaper hap jacobs in venice beach. Balsa surfboard collection for sale the surfboard project. Explore surf publications that document the history of surfing and project the future of wave riding. Velzy knew the subtle footwork from the likes of nuiiwa would benefit with only just enough fin far behind his toes. May 15, 2015 more than 2,000 friends, associates and surfers of all ages joined in the traditional paddleout ceremony held for velzy on june 14, 2005 at doheny state beach. The hawk passed away in may of 05, but his legend lives on in a.
1387 1078 116 641 156 1015 1188 901 558 1141 1543 328 873 110 810 1176 92 328 849 1369 1453 639 56 37 768 605 193