In this image below are a few boards that I once new. The board on the left is of particular interest to me. I bought it for $45 from Island Water Sports in Deerfield Beach, Florida in 1981. It was a used rental with a bungee cord leash. The bolt for the single fin box was broken and the fin was loose. It would wobble and slide to and fro.
It is the first baord I ever paddled out on, and the one I learned to surf on. I passed it to other friends and they each learned to surf on that same board. It ended up with my one of my friends, and to my amazement, he still has it. This photo was not taken in the 80's, or even the 90's. This photo was taken last weekend as he was cleaning out his garage.
I rode the other two boards as well. The G&S with the fat squash tail was sweet.
I wonder how many others rode that Natural Art before I had it. I wonder how many of them took a skeg to the head from the bungee cord leash. Or how many of them nearly drowned like I did.
The one time that I for sure was done for, without a doubt, dead or waiting for it, I was on that board. A big sloppy day at Deerfield Pier. Breaking out of control way out by the end of the pier. The first bottom turn I ever made was on that board. The first time I ever stood. The first time I ever got chased out by a shark, was called a kook, was laughed at, rained on, or sat longingly on the beach waiting for waves to show up..... The first time I ever lived.
I can only pray that before the last time I ever know any of it, that I will once again know that board.