2011 Hawaiian Islands Vintage Surf Auction Wrap Up

Honolulu – (July 25, 2011) The sixth biennial Hawaiian Islands Vintage Surf Auction, presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection, took place in Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday, Jul 23^rd, 2011 with $650,000 in vintage surfboards and memorabilia changing hands in front of a capacity crowd at the Blaisdell Center, as well as on the Internet and in Hawaii on Oceanic Time Warner Cable channels 250 and HD1250.

Hawaii’s premier auctioneer, “Surfer Joe” Teipel effectively managed live online bids from around the world with more than 200 bidders who turned out in person and a new auction item record was set: $41,000 for a 1920, 9’0 John Kelly redwood plank.  It sold to a buyer from the East Coast, USA.  Other high priced surfboards of the night included:

-$30,000 Gerry Lopez ‘Big Wednesday’ Lightning Bolt
-$24,000 1934 Pacific Systems Homes ‘Swastika’ model
-$24,000 Pat Curren/Yater ‘gun’ from 1963
-$20,000 Greg Noll ‘Da Cat’ model from 1967

Over the past 10 years, Hawaiian Islands Vintage Surf Auction curator Randy Rarick has found new owners for hundreds of items that bring total sales for all six auctions to $3.2 million.

“The 6^th edition of the auction was without a doubt, the most successful ever”, says Rarick.   “Even though we limited the main auction to only 70 items this year, they fetched record numbers.  In addition we had an incredible 99% sell thru rate, which is nearly unheard of in the auction world!  It’s very satisfying for me to see two stoked individuals for every item sold: the seller and the new owner.  Surfing has always been hugely popular for it’s lifestyle, it’s athletes and it’s culture.  This auction is a perfect barometer of that rising growth in popularity and global interest.  By honoring surfing’s heritage, we will also ensure it’s future.”

In addition to the actual auction, all the other activities in and around the auction contributed to a rousing success.  Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber and the Honolulu SurfingMuseum, hosted what all participants consider the best ever pre-auction party.  Thanks to the 4^th Honolulu Surf Film Festival at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Doris Duke Theater, for the showings of “Incidental Icon: The Real Gidget Story” and also “Going Vertical”.  Thanks also to all the luminaries who showed up to make the auction special.  From the mainland, we had the likes of Greg Noll, Renolds Yater, Rich Harbour, Corky Carroll, Lance Carson, Ryan Dotson, Bob “The Greek” Bolan and Matt Kivlin.  Bob McTavish pitched up from Down Under.  Of course the Hawaiian contingent included a who’s who of surfboard manufactures, shapers and surfers.  Including, Joe Quiqq, Dick Brewer, Bob ‘Ole’ Olson, Ken Tilton, Harold Iggy, Ben Aipa, Charlie Galanto, Henry Preece, Buffalo Keaulana, Bill Barnfield, Chuck Andrus, Jock Sutherland, Ricky Grigg and dozens of others.  The book signings were terrific and thanks to Sandy Hall, Duke Boyd, John R. K. Clark, Anna Trent Moore, Tim De La Vega, Patrick Moser, Kathy Kohner Zuckerman and Dale Hope for joining the surf authors.

Lastly, thanks to our sponsors for making the auction possible.  Wayne and Ilene of the Hawaii All Collectors Show.  Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber for a great gathering place. Hawaiian Airlines for making getting to the Islands so easy for everyone.  Modern Postcard for printing an incredible program.  Of course, Quiksilver Waterman Collection for having faith in our program and what it represents for the heritage of our sport.  Final mahalo’s to the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation for their scholarship program, of which they are a receiptiant of funds from the auction, along with the Surfing Heritage Foundation, which will continue on with the traditions of not only the sport, but the essence of the auction itself.

On behalf of the crew at Davesurf.com for their excellent support of the website, Bruce Hansen of Buzz Media Group for the program layout and the staff of Hawaii Surfing Promotions for making the auction possible, we wish everyone a big “Mahalo and Aloha”.

Randy Rarick
Event Producer