HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – Waverider Auctions will hold one of the largest mainland surf charity auction events in history on Saturday Aug. 18. Charities benefiting from a percentage of the auction fees will be the International Surf Museum, the Surfrider’s Foundation, Wounded Warriors Project and CHOC Hospitals, according to Seth Schiller, producer of the event.
LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.
“Since Southern California was so critical to the birth and explosive growth of America’s surf industry, it’s no surprise it’s also home to some of the most rare and valuable surfboards in the world,” said Schiller.
Surfing is one of the world’s greatest ocean sports. It spread around the world throughout the late 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. The surf era between the late 1950s through the late 1970s represented the fastest growing period in the industry and spawned a number of surf legends that are still well known and respected in the industry today.
Some of these legendary surfboard shapers, surfers, surf shops and private owners are offering their rare, private collections to be auctioned off for this historic surf charity auction event, the 2012 U.S. Vintage Surf Charity Auction and Ocean Art Sale.
History will be made on a number of fronts. According to Schiller they will be auctioning off an original Bob Simmons surfboard. The last Simmons board that sold at auction went for $40,000 in 2009. A legendary figure who died at the age of 35 while surfing off the coast of San Diego, Simmons (1919-1954) is considered the father of the modern surfboard.
“We could get bids in excess of $60,000 for this board, making it one of most expensive and valuable surfboards in the world,” said Schiller.
Waverider Auctions will also be auctioning off many personal boards owned and ridden by some iconic surf stars and local surf shop owner’s like surf champion Rockin Fig. Internationally renowned surfboard shaper and designer, and Huntington Beach local, Bob “The Greek” Bolen will be shaping and designing one of his famous ’60s Eliminator especially for sale at the auction. Bob Ballou, “Car Salesman to the Surf Stars,” will also have a rare Red Fin surfboard put up for auction at this charity event.
The live auction will run 5-9 p.m. PDT, Aug. 18. The Ocean Art show, surf rock concert and public viewing of the historic surfboards up for auction will be from noon to 4 p.m.
For information on auction items contact Gary Sahagen, 714-369-0825.
Waverider Auctions is owned and operated by Seth Schiller, a 35-year veteran of the Southern California advertising industry. His longtime love of surfing and his belief in giving to charity lead him to organize this historic surf charity auction event.
Gary Sahagen is a lifetime surfer, surf historian and former director and trustee of the International Surf Museum; and current director of the HB Long Board Crew. He is considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on authenticating surf artifacts and surf memorabilia.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
1960s replica Hawaii Surfboards Sunset Beach balsa gun surfboard, crafted and autographed by Dick Brewer in 1980. Estimate: $4,500-$6,500. Waverider Auctions image. Authentic 1950s Bob Simmons balsa surfboard, wood fin, square tail. Authenticated by John Elwell as being a reshaped Simmons surfboard. Estimate: $10,000-$12,000. Waverider Auctions image. 1980 replica redwood Hot Curl surfboard. There is a dolphin and extended inlays in the deck. Estimate: $8,000-$10,000. Waverider Auctions image. 1930 replica curly redwood plank surfboard. Crafted in the late 1970s, this surfboard was shaped using two planks, which were then glued and doweled. Estimate: $8,000-$10,000. Waverider Auctions image. 1950s Dale Velzy redwood surfboard, v-shape tail. Original size was 10 feet long by 8 inches wide. It was then cut down, reshaped and glassed by Velzy himself in the 1980s. Estimate: $8,000-$10,000. Waverider Auctions image.
