In early 2000s Ian Clarke nephew of renowned surfboard shaper the late Greg Laurenson contacted surf historian and artist Damon Hurst and told him he had original surfboard templates by Greg.
One of the templates was for a 6’2” x 19 3/4’ rounded square tail surfboard built by GL for top WA surfer Mitch Thorson under the Star Surfboards label in 1985.
1985 Star Surfboards advt featuring Mitch Thorson & Greg Laurenson. Image courtesy West Coast Surfer Magazine.
Damon was keen to capture the relationship between surfer Mitch and shaper GL and in 2001 he got Margaret River master shaper Nathan Rose to pick up the brief and shape a replica foam surfboard using GL’s original templates.
Mitch and surfboard historian Bill Gibson helped with the process.
Bill Gibson. “Nathan rang me and asked if I had a similar GL surfboard. I had an early 80s Reactor Surfboard and when we laid the GL template on my board, we found it was not dissimilar in shape to Mitch’s, except it had flyers. Nathan went from there! On the GL template GL made a note to adjust measurements for Mitch Thorson.”
1980s Reactor Surfboard by GL. Image Bill Gibson.1980s Reactor Surfboard by GL matched against GL’s Mitch template #11980s Reactor Surfboard by GL matched against GL’s Mitch template #21980s Reactor Surfboard by GL matched against GL’s Mitch template #3.1980s Reactor Surfboard by GL matched against GL’s Mitch template #4.
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Wetted Surfaces video by Damon Hurst . Run time 1.50 min
The replica GL shape is on display at the WA Museum’s ‘Innovations Gallery.’
THE ART AND SCIENCE OF SURFING – WA Museum Boola Bardip
Artwork by Damon Hurst is installed in the WA Museum’s ‘Innovations Gallery,’ titled ‘Greg Laurenson; master surfboard shaper,’ features an interactive digital screen display and cabinet containing tools and templates which were all used by Greg (RIP) to hand shape 1000’s of surfboards in WA.
Also located on Level 3 in the ‘Connections Gallery’, look out for an artwork titled ‘Bathymetry #2’, created by surfer and artist Damon Hurst. There are 4 linked elements that all work together to represent the art and science of surfing, focused specifically on The Cow Bombie, which is located around 3km offshore west of Gracetown. A console, which forms part of the artwork, also includes an interactive game for kids, titled, “Create Your Own Perfect Wave.”
This photo of Alfy Cater surfing The Cow Bombie by photographer Jamie Scott features as part of the ‘Bathymetry #2, artwork created by Damon Hurst.2022 Shaping Exhibition Innovations Gallery new WA Museum. Photo Damon Hurst
The WA Museum is open daily 9.30am – 5pm, with free entry for kids 15 and under.
If anyone knows the whereabouts of Mitch’s original GL board, the one in Star Surf Shop advertisement above, please advise Damon Hurst (damonhurst@thirdman.co).
In early 2000s Ian Clarke nephew of renowned surfboard shaper the late Greg Laurenson contacted surf historian and artist Damon Hurst and told him he had original surfboard templates by Greg.
One of the templates was for a 6’2” x 19 3/4’ rounded square tail surfboard built by GL for top WA surfer Mitch Thorson under the Star Surfboards label in 1985.
Damon was keen to capture the relationship between surfer Mitch and shaper GL and in 2001 he got Margaret River master shaper Nathan Rose to pick up the brief and shape a replica foam surfboard using GL’s original templates.
Mitch and surfboard historian Bill Gibson helped with the process.
Bill Gibson. “Nathan rang me and asked if I had a similar GL surfboard. I had an early 80s Reactor Surfboard and when we laid the GL template on my board, we found it was not dissimilar in shape to Mitch’s, except it had flyers. Nathan went from there! On the GL template GL made a note to adjust measurements for Mitch Thorson.”
Related Video
The replica GL shape is on display at the WA Museum’s ‘Innovations Gallery.’
THE ART AND SCIENCE OF SURFING – WA Museum Boola Bardip
Artwork by Damon Hurst is installed in the WA Museum’s ‘Innovations Gallery,’ titled ‘Greg Laurenson; master surfboard shaper,’ features an interactive digital screen display and cabinet containing tools and templates which were all used by Greg (RIP) to hand shape 1000’s of surfboards in WA.
Also located on Level 3 in the ‘Connections Gallery’, look out for an artwork titled ‘Bathymetry #2’, created by surfer and artist Damon Hurst. There are 4 linked elements that all work together to represent the art and science of surfing, focused specifically on The Cow Bombie, which is located around 3km offshore west of Gracetown. A console, which forms part of the artwork, also includes an interactive game for kids, titled, “Create Your Own Perfect Wave.”
The WA Museum is open daily 9.30am – 5pm, with free entry for kids 15 and under.
If anyone knows the whereabouts of Mitch’s original GL board, the one in Star Surf Shop advertisement above, please advise Damon Hurst (damonhurst@thirdman.co).
Thanks for sharing your GL story Damon.
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