HAWAIIAN ISLANDS VINTAGE SURF AUCTION
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 23 April, 2007 : - -
Honolulu -- The fourth biennial Hawaiian Islands Vintage Surf Auction,
presented by Quiksilveredition, has uncovered a new round of true
surfing treasures that will go under the hammer at Honolulu's Blaisdell
Center 12 weeks from now, on July 20 and 21, 2007.
Over the past three events, more than $750,000 of highly
prized surf collectibles have changed hands and this year's lots look
certain to carry the total past the million dollar mark. As has been
the tradition, a portion of all sales will be donated and this year's
beneficiary is the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation Scholarship
Fund.
Among this year's highly prized discoveries is an original
5-foot, redwood "Alaia" board from 1895, built to ride steeper,
faster-breaking surf around Hawaii's more rugged shores, as opposed to
the gentler 'rollers' of Waikiki. The thinner, shorter, lighter Alaia
allowed for responsiveness and dexterity and was the most popular board
of the time.
An 11-foot Buzzy Trent Model "Surfboards Hawaii" elephant gun
from the 1960s, shaped by Dick Brewer, is expected to fetch in excess
of $15,000. With less than 20 of these known to have been produced, it
is described as being the "Ferrari" of the big-wave surfboard world.
Beyond surfboards, some of the first published documentation
of surfing from the early 1800's has surfaced. There's also a painting
by Hawaiian artist J. Llaine Colquhoun from the '40s depicting surfers
at Waikiki which comes from the Buster Crabbe estate in Lanikai.
Crabbe, a surf enthusiast and old-time Hollywood actor, was raised in
Hawaii, graduated from Punahou, was a 1932 Olympic 400m swimming gold
medalist, and made over 100 movies in his lifetime. (Photo of this art
attached below.)
With the recent shift of collectors' attention to professional
surfing's early years, items from the 1970s are "really gaining in
popularity", according to the surf auction's curator, Randy Rarick.
We've got a large contingency of collectors coming from Australia
and Japan this year and they're super hot on items from the '70s," said
Rarick. "With the surge in surf-collecting in those countries we've
noticed that vintage items are fetching higher prices over there, so
with the value of the dollar at the moment, the Hawaiian Islands
auction is very appealing to them."
Items of interest from the '70s include Gerry Lopez's (Hawaii) very
last 'Lightning Bolt' surfboard and his winner's check from his first
Pipeline Masters victory; four-time world champion Mark Richards'
(Australia) surfboard that he rode to victory in the 1979 Duke
Kahanamoku contest at Waimea Bay; and South Africa's 1977 world surfing
champion Shaun Tomson's personal Tom Parrish-shaped Waimea gun.
With a handful of slots still open, Rarick is on the hunt for
a few special items to round out the show. There will also be a number
of slots reserved for the "Antique Road Show"-type appraisal that will
take place the day prior to the auction itself. Top appraisers in the
surf collector’s field will be on hand to appraise individual items
brought in by members of the public with the opportunity for some of
these to go under the hammer.
To consign or submit an item, please contact: Randy Rarick Tel: (808) 638-7266 Email: surfpro@hawaii.rr.com or visit the website: hawaiiansurfauction.com
EVENT DATES:
Friday, July 20 & Saturday, July 21, 2007 Open for viewing each day.
Friday: free appraisals 10a.m.-4p.m.
Saturday: open from 10a.m.-5p.m., followed by live auction thereafter.
VENUE:
Blaisdell Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
Galleria & Pikake Room
Held in conjunction with the Hawaii All-Collectors Show 2007
Proceeds to benefit Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation Scholarship Fund.
www.hawaiiansurfauction.com
Submitted By
Ryan - Magicseaweed.com on the 27th April 2007.
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