For the surfboard makers who have dedicated their lives to the dusty world of a shaping room, where innovation meets design, it’s all about love of the craft.

The Longboard Collector Club hosted the 11th annual International Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame awards at Doheny State Beach on Saturday, where it was like a history lesson of surfing’s past, with hundreds of vintage boards on display and stories flowing all morning.

“It’s all passion, it’s all love. The thing we all share is the love of shaping a surfboard,” said Bob “The Greek” Bolen, a Huntington Beach shaper and co-creator of the  Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame. “I’m just really proud to hang out with these guys.”

This year’s honorees include George “Peanuts” Larsen, Rich Harbour, Kenny Tilton, Johnny Rice, Harold Iggy, and Bill Wallace.

CHECK OUT A SLIDESHOW FROM THE EVENT:

Seal Beach shaper Rich Harbour accepts his award. Click on image for more from the event

“This is one of the greatest honors you can bestow on me,” said Seal Beach shaper Rich Harbour, who has been making boards for 50 years. “I’ve made a life out of shaping surfboards. My family has put up with my obsession for it, and it’s an honor to be honored.”

Bolen and friend Mike “Micky Rat” Ester started the award tradition 11 years ago, when they noticed many of the notable shapers passing away.

“Somebody has to recognize these guys before they are gone,” Ester said.

The first inductee was Bill Holden, and from there a number of iconic surfers have graced the list, including Capo Beach’s Micky Munoz, Dale Velzy, Hobie Alter, Greg Noll, Hap Jacobs, Duke Kahanamoku, and more.
Then, each year the honorees pick next year’s nominees to keep the list going.

“This is a lifetime achievement award for these guys,” Bolen said. “It means a lot to them, because they never get recognized. It’s always the surfers – who wouldn’t be able to ride if it wasn’t for these guys, who took the time to learn the trade, to build the boards, to give them the boards and sponsor them, so they can ride the waves.”

In addition to the  Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame, surfboard collectors brought out the classics, setting out hundreds of boards to show or sell. There were models in the form of old, big wood boards from decades ago, and even one of the first Burton snowboards ever made in the ’70s.

Mark Woodrone was there with his collection of more than a dozen Lightning Bolt boards, a label that was popular in the ’70s on the North Shore.

“There were world titles won on these boards,” Woodrone said. “The first boards I collected were the boards I looked up to when I was younger, but I couldn’t afford them. I always rode hand-me downs. As I got older, I got more money. I basically got the ones I admired when I was younger.”

Dan Pincetich – who has been collecting for 25 years and comes to the event each year – cruised around checking out the old boards.

“I’m addicted to it.”

For more, go to longboardcollectorclub.com

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