Velzy Custom from 1991. As I remember it, Barry Jones and I had gone up to see "Hawk" at his home in San Clemente. He was busy out in the back yard shaping bay. Cleaning up this nine-stringer beauty. Kind of grousing about the guy who had originally ordered the blank and shape backing out of the deal. This according to Barry who had many "irons in the fire" with Velzy. And I recall after saying the guy had backed out on the deal Barry asked me if I wanted it. I mean it was the most beautifully shaped blank and with all that wood in it, well I think I said "Hell yes I want it!" 

 

I started riding Velzy boards around 1988, after a long stretch of searching for the right combination of paddling characteristics, classic in the pocket ridability, and good craftsmanship. Some or all which were either missing one or two categories in the surfboards (as opposed to shortboards) I had ridden up to that time. I started in 1964, so I have seen many changes in surfboard technology. Some of it very zany. Some of these changes actually made sense. Other ideas just make everything go backwards.

 

The fine Velzy pictured in this article is hanging in my garage along with a dozen or so other classic Velzy surfboards. I've got the first "contemporary" competition longboard, his first noserider, a California semi-gun, a "Show" board from one of the earlier trade shows honoring Hawk, one of his last shapes -what he called "the Point Break", and various three stringer boards that rode so good and there was no way I was ever going to sell them. The Balsa Malibu is hanging in my living room. All of them have subtle differences that make them unique in ways compared to other surfboards. Some have characteristics that make them just another surfboard. Some are very colorful and have pinlines or  unique resin color jobs. "White layups" seemed to give a board a different timber than a clear board. Some of the artwork cost more than the average glass job. But all are Surfboards.

 

We always called 'em "Surfboards". I hope yours are making your go outs good.

 

Regards,

"Alzy"