In Nov 1969 the Side-Slipper was a stock design for Farrelly Surfboards in Brookvale Sydney, along with Midget Farrelly’s Rounded Pintail and Squaretail ‘White Kite’ designs. At a cost of $125.00, it was a premium product trading on Midget Farrelly’s designs and an immaculate finish that set the benchmark for the rest of the industry.
The specific design was first noted at the Huntington Beach USA Contest in 1969. It was designed and ridden by Reno Abellia for Inter-Island Surfboards, Hawaii. Source Surf ResearchCo
The late Midget Farrelly: “What started out as a fun design allowing for slipping, tail sliding and flat 360’s inadvertently turned into an amazing speed and carve design. The last three feet of this board were ruler straight with a moderate vee lifting the rails. The last foot of the tail had well defined hard edges for release. The fin was tiny, maybe 6” deep and 1” in profile, so very little drag. Strange thing about the Slipper was its diamond (very hipped) outline and the way it pulled back in before the nose.
Board speed was so great it was possible to drive out wide onto the flats of a wave, rail turn and make it back to the pocket. This board came second at the 1970 world contest at Bells/Johanna, and first at the Gunston in Durban in 1970.” Source Farrelly Surfboards NSW
These images show WA surfers riding side slippers in the 70s. NZ surf photographer Ric Chan snapped the photos unless stated otherwise.
In the early-70s champion WA surfers Peter Bothwell, Ian Cairns and Barry Day were working at West Coast Surfboards in West Perth and road-tested side slippers in metro and southwest waves.
Barry Day. “In 1970Ian Cairns worked for Farrelly Surfboards in NSW and Midget shaped him a side slipper surfboard. When Ian returned to WA, he shaped me a replica Farrelly side slipper at West Coast Surfboardsin Fitzgerald St West Perth. And I think Bob Gairdner from West Coast Surfboards shaped Peter Bothwell’s side slipper based on Ian’s Farrelly side slipper.”
1972 Junior contestant Barry Day with side slipper shaped by Ian Cairns at the State Surfing Titles Yallingup.Rod Slater is crouching behind him.Early 1970s Barry Day surfing Trigg Point on side slipper shaped by Ian Cairns. Tom Collins pic
Peter Bothwell. “The side slipper boards were a bit of an experiment Barry Day and I rode based around Ian Cairn’s interest in the design.
Fun at the time but didn’t last long like the Pintail. Some of the next designs however like the twin fin were really good and that design is still popular today in its various forms. Australian surfer Mark Richards (NSW) won four consecutiveWorld Titles (1979–82) riding twin fins”
1970 Peter Bothwell surfing Guillotine on side slipper shaped by Bob Gairdner at West Coast Surfboards.#11970 Peter Bothwell surfing Guillotine on side slipper shaped by Bob Gairdner at West Coast Surfboards.#2
Ian Cairns. “That’s classic! I remember that day at Guillotine riding a side slipper. Fun waves. Weird feeling going sideways.”
1970 Ian Cairns surfing Guillotine on Farrelly side slipper shaped by Midget.#11970 Ian Cairns surfing Guillotine on Farrelly side slipper shaped by Midget.#21970 Ian Cairns surfing Guillotine on Farrelly side slipper shaped by Midget.#31970 Ian Cairns surfing Guillotine on Farrelly side slipper shaped by Midget.#4
Bonus pics
1970s Dunsborough surfer Trevor Anderson side slipping at Three Bears surf break.1972 Trigg surfer Mick Black side slipping at Lighthouse surf break.
Jim King. “Circa 1970 Top-40 Disc Jockey Dennis Commetti ran a weekly 30 min Surf program on radio station 6KY in conjunction with WA surf promoter Trevor Burslem. I remember being interviewed on the program and waxing lyrical about side slipper boards after a fun weekend down south sharing Barry Day’s West Coast side slipper at Windmills😊”
Dennis Commetti went on to become a renowned AFL Football Commentator. He announced his retirement from AFL football commentating at the end of the 2016 football season.
1971 6KY DJ’s unidentified and Dennis Commetti at Elton John Concert media reception. Ric Chan pic
Side slipper boards were fun to ride, but their popularity waned by the mid-70s. The 70s was a period of constant change in board design moving from short single fins & twin fins to the Thruster three fin design by Simon Anderson NSW in 1980.
Thanks Ric Chan and Tom Collins for sharing your side slipper photos.
Coming soon 1960s-70s West Coast Surfboards revisited.
In Nov 1969 the Side-Slipper was a stock design for Farrelly Surfboards in Brookvale Sydney, along with Midget Farrelly’s Rounded Pintail and Squaretail ‘White Kite’ designs. At a cost of $125.00, it was a premium product trading on Midget Farrelly’s designs and an immaculate finish that set the benchmark for the rest of the industry.
The specific design was first noted at the Huntington Beach USA Contest in 1969. It was designed and ridden by Reno Abellia for Inter-Island Surfboards, Hawaii. Source Surf Research Co
The late Midget Farrelly: “What started out as a fun design allowing for slipping, tail sliding and flat 360’s inadvertently turned into an amazing speed and carve design. The last three feet of this board were ruler straight with a moderate vee lifting the rails. The last foot of the tail had well defined hard edges for release. The fin was tiny, maybe 6” deep and 1” in profile, so very little drag. Strange thing about the Slipper was its diamond (very hipped) outline and the way it pulled back in before the nose.
Board speed was so great it was possible to drive out wide onto the flats of a wave, rail turn and make it back to the pocket. This board came second at the 1970 world contest at Bells/Johanna, and first at the Gunston in Durban in 1970.” Source Farrelly Surfboards NSW
These images show WA surfers riding side slippers in the 70s. NZ surf photographer Ric Chan snapped the photos unless stated otherwise.
In the early-70s champion WA surfers Peter Bothwell, Ian Cairns and Barry Day were working at West Coast Surfboards in West Perth and road-tested side slippers in metro and southwest waves.
Barry Day. “In 1970 Ian Cairns worked for Farrelly Surfboards in NSW and Midget shaped him a side slipper surfboard. When Ian returned to WA, he shaped me a replica Farrelly side slipper at West Coast Surfboards in Fitzgerald St West Perth. And I think Bob Gairdner from West Coast Surfboards shaped Peter Bothwell’s side slipper based on Ian’s Farrelly side slipper.”
Peter Bothwell. “The side slipper boards were a bit of an experiment Barry Day and I rode based around Ian Cairn’s interest in the design.
Fun at the time but didn’t last long like the Pintail. Some of the next designs however like the twin fin were really good and that design is still popular today in its various forms. Australian surfer Mark Richards (NSW) won four consecutive World Titles (1979–82) riding twin fins”
Ian Cairns. “That’s classic! I remember that day at Guillotine riding a side slipper. Fun waves. Weird feeling going sideways.”
Bonus pics
Jim King. “Circa 1970 Top-40 Disc Jockey Dennis Commetti ran a weekly 30 min Surf program on radio station 6KY in conjunction with WA surf promoter Trevor Burslem. I remember being interviewed on the program and waxing lyrical about side slipper boards after a fun weekend down south sharing Barry Day’s West Coast side slipper at Windmills😊”
Dennis Commetti went on to become a renowned AFL Football Commentator. He announced his retirement from AFL football commentating at the end of the 2016 football season.
Side slipper boards were fun to ride, but their popularity waned by the mid-70s. The 70s was a period of constant change in board design moving from short single fins & twin fins to the Thruster three fin design by Simon Anderson NSW in 1980.
Thanks Ric Chan and Tom Collins for sharing your side slipper photos.
Coming soon 1960s-70s West Coast Surfboards revisited.
—————————
Share this:
Like this: