Summer of 66 : Vintage Noseriders + Modern Surfers

In this week’s update we are revisiting a short film produced (2021) by Randy Rarick and David Stanfield. You already know Randy (you’re on this website, after all) but if you’re unfamiliar with David Stanfield you can check out his series on the Hawaiian Islands Vintage Surf Auction (HIVSA) right here.

The Summer of 66 features all classic noserider surfboards from 1966. Why this particular year? It was when noseriding reigned supreme. Board builders and manufactures on the west coast of the United States each threw their hat into the ring and produced their very own noserider models. But instead of creating a ubiquitous quiver, what resulted was a unique interpretation of noseriders that offered a distinctive experience for those who stepped (and cross-stepped) upon their respective decks. Randy Rarick restored or repaired a handpicked selection of 10 vintage noseriders so that a new crop of surfers could take them out 55 years after the craft were introduced to the world. A 5/5 split between concave and step-deck noses were used, and included the following models:

• Tom Morey MP “Snub”

• CON Competition “Wing Nose”

• Gordon & Smith “Stretch”

• CON “Ugly”

• BING David Nuuhiwa Noseriding Model

• Yater “Spoon”

• Harbor “Cheater”

• Rick “UFO”

• The Greek “Eliminator”

• Ramsey Jay “Elevator"

The boards were ridden at one of Randy’s secret stomping grounds on the North Shore of Oahu. In addition to breathtaking cinematography and noseriding skill exhibited by the production’s “test pilots”, Rarick and Stanfield did a succinct but insightful deep dive into the history of each board and its builder. The result is the most comprehensive accounting of a distinguishing era of surf history and culture, made modern for today’s generation and those to follow. Enjoy the film in its entirety below.