Kōrero: Lifesaving and surfing

Malibu boards arrive

Malibu boards arrive

New Zealand surfing changed radically when two young Americans, Bing Copeland (left) and Rick Stoner brought their American-made Malibu boards to New Zealand in 1958–59. These light, manoeuvrable boards were made of a shaped balsa core covered with a fibreglass mat. They were a vast improvement on the old-style solid or hollow wooden boards. Riders could surf across the face of a wave instead of simply following the breaker to the beach in a straight line. Soon Malibu boards were being manufactured locally, and many more people took up surfing.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Private collection, Bing Copeland

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Lifesaving and surfing - The rise of surfing', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/photograph/7370/malibu-boards-arrive (accessed 29 March 2024)

He kōrero nā Nancy Swarbrick, i tāngia i te 12 Jun 2006