Chris Holyday is the author of Between Beach and Bush book published by Hesperian Press 2020.
While researching material for his next book ‘RECOLLECTIONS from the COAST,’ Chris discovered a 1950s Bevan Cole wave ski by Leo Cole on permanent display on the wall of Thirsty Camel, North Beach Shopping Centre – just across the road from Tom’s surf break.
Chris –“Greg of Thirsty Camel North Beach said 28 years ago, he picked the wave ski up from a Council verge throw out! It had been in a garage in Eric St Cottesloe for years before that … Greg said it is an early 1950s single ski and second straps were added just for positioning the body further back on big waves. It was built in Leo Cole’s cabinet making works. His son Leon was age 16 when built.”
Bevan Cole wave ski by Leo Cole at Thirsty Camel bottle shop North Beach. Chris Holydaypic 1.Bevan Cole wave ski by Leo Cole at Thirsty Camel bottle shop North Beach. Chris Holyday pic 2.
This background material on Bevan Cole Surfboards by Leo & Leon Cole is courtesy of WA Surfer of the Year 2006 web page.
Leo andLeon Cole SurfboardBuilders When Leon was 15 years old, he helped his father Leo, build 16 ft paddle boards and single and double racing skis from ply. Word got around about their skills and they were asked if they could make surfboards similar to a “Wallace Surfboard” that someone was riding locally.
The father and son team gathered up some broken eastern-states boards to see how they were put together. They kept experimenting and building until they got it right. The pair were then introduced to the surf clubs at Cottesloe and North Cottesloe and the orders started rolling in. These boards were built in a big shed at Leo`s place in Nedlands.
George Bevan, a good friend of Leo, knew something about surfboards helped out and as a result Bevan Cole Surfboards was formed. George returned home to the eastern states, but Leo continued making boards under that name for another 8 to 10 years.
When son Leon was age 18, he bought a balsa blank and made his first balsa short board with friend Maurice Tate. Shortly after, Leon met local surfer Len Dibben through their future wives, good friends Wendy and Margaret. Len had been making some boards at home and the pair decided to start building boards together. Dibben Cole Surfboards was now underway in North Fremantle, opposite the Swan Hotel.
Leon worked with Len for a couple of years before heading overseas where he learned some new fibre-glassing techniques in the United Kingdom and Canada, while working for a boat builder. On his return, Leon built a few more short boards and then used his new skills to build canoes and kayaks under the banner of Cole Competition Canoes for next 20 years.
1962 Dibben & Cole Surfboards, 2 Stirling Hwy North Fremantle. Image courtesy Dave Ellis L-R Leon Cole, Dave Ellis, Julian Mazzetti & Len Dibben.
Chris –“Also in the North Beach shop is a 1930s solid wood surfboard given by a customer – it is ex Sydney, builder unknown.”
1930s solid wood surfboard ex Sydney, builder unknown on display Thirsty Camel bottle shop North Beach. Chris Holyday pic
Thanks Chris, for sharing your surf history material.
Coming soon Preview ‘RECOLLECTIONS from the COAST’ book by Chris Holyday
Chris Holyday is the author of Between Beach and Bush book published by Hesperian Press 2020.
While researching material for his next book ‘RECOLLECTIONS from the COAST,’ Chris discovered a 1950s Bevan Cole wave ski by Leo Cole on permanent display on the wall of Thirsty Camel, North Beach Shopping Centre – just across the road from Tom’s surf break.
Chris – “Greg of Thirsty Camel North Beach said 28 years ago, he picked the wave ski up from a Council verge throw out! It had been in a garage in Eric St Cottesloe for years before that … Greg said it is an early 1950s single ski and second straps were added just for positioning the body further back on big waves. It was built in Leo Cole’s cabinet making works. His son Leon was age 16 when built.”
This background material on Bevan Cole Surfboards by Leo & Leon Cole is courtesy of WA Surfer of the Year 2006 web page.
Leo and Leon Cole Surfboard Builders
When Leon was 15 years old, he helped his father Leo, build 16 ft paddle boards and single and double racing skis from ply. Word got around about their skills and they were asked if they could make surfboards similar to a “Wallace Surfboard” that someone was riding locally.
The father and son team gathered up some broken eastern-states boards to see how they were put together. They kept experimenting and building until they got it right. The pair were then introduced to the surf clubs at Cottesloe and North Cottesloe and the orders started rolling in. These boards were built in a big shed at Leo`s place in Nedlands.
George Bevan, a good friend of Leo, knew something about surfboards helped out and as a result Bevan Cole Surfboards was formed. George returned home to the eastern states, but Leo continued making boards under that name for another 8 to 10 years.
When son Leon was age 18, he bought a balsa blank and made his first balsa short board with friend Maurice Tate. Shortly after, Leon met local surfer Len Dibben through their future wives, good friends Wendy and Margaret. Len had been making some boards at home and the pair decided to start building boards together. Dibben Cole Surfboards was now underway in North Fremantle, opposite the Swan Hotel.
Leon worked with Len for a couple of years before heading overseas where he learned some new fibre-glassing techniques in the United Kingdom and Canada, while working for a boat builder. On his return, Leon built a few more short boards and then used his new skills to build canoes and kayaks under the banner of Cole Competition Canoes for next 20 years.
L-R Leon Cole, Dave Ellis, Julian Mazzetti & Len Dibben.
Chris – “Also in the North Beach shop is a 1930s solid wood surfboard given by a customer – it is ex Sydney, builder unknown.”
Thanks Chris, for sharing your surf history material.
Coming soon Preview ‘RECOLLECTIONS from the COAST’ book by Chris Holyday
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