If boards could talk….

Matt’s Bolt

Vintage surfboard collectors are a rare and diverse breed. They come in all shapes and sizes, from all walks of life and collect boards just like themselves. But here are just a few collector types that spring to mind ;

The ‘Hipster’ who only rides vintage boards and would not be seen dead with an off the rack thruster. The ‘Butterfly’ whose boards are in mint condition and are stored away from direct sunlight never to be taken into the ocean. The ‘Investor’ who purely collects in the hope that their purchase price will increase in value as time goes by. The ‘Historian’ who knows the heritage and lineage of the boards they own.

In truth most collectors I know are a mix of some or even all of these stereotypes.

I was recently contacted by a fellow collector with a beautifully restored lightning bolt and had mentioned was keen to bring it down to the Shootout. This pricked my attention, why ? Well the reason being he wanted to see someone with vintage board wizardry or witchcraft ride the thing, see what how it went and what it was capable of under the feet of a stylish rider. After an exchange of messages it was decreed that the board would make it’s inaugural appearance at SFSO24. I was blown away by the generous offer and got to thinking, ‘If boards could talk’….. Voices from the attic, whispers through the shed door, mutterings from under the house . What would they say ? - “Let me out, I want to feel salt water on my cloth again.” “Yo, let me out, remember me ? We used to be friends, we went everywhere together man.” “Get me down off this wall and SURF ME AGAIN” “I just wanna go surf”

Boards do talk, we just stop listening to them and if you stay very very quiet and put your ear on their crusty wax job you will hear them calling out to be ridden and to make it down the beach once again or to The Shootout just like Matt’s glorious Lightning Bolt.