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Sometimes a cover-shot captures the essence of a time, a place and a person. Mark Richards clutching his fabled twin fin, on the road to Bells, wearing a Superman-themed woollen jumper knitted by his wife. Back then he was surfing’s Superman. He claimed his second world crown in 1980 and his third Bells trophy ( he would eventually win both trophies four times). Below he tells the full story behind the cover and reflects on a more ‘colourful’ time in surfing.
“This was a favourite Tracks cover and the photo was taken either before or after the Rip Curl Easter Pro in 1980.
I can’t remember who took the photo but I’m guessing the location was the photographer, Peter Simon’s, idea.
It was taken just above the road where you turned left onto Bells Boulevard. The board in the cover was my 6’2” twin fin, which was the main board in my two-board ‘quiver’ …6’2” for small surf, and 6’4” for big surf. I kept the 6’2” covered as much as possible, as I felt it was my ‘secret weapon’ and I didn’t want anyone checking it out.
The blue sweater with the embroidered logo was hand-knitted by my wife. It may seem weird now, but it was a flamboyant era …coloured boards, bright wetsuits, and self-promotion were totally acceptable. Terry Fitz had a quiver of multi-coloured mural ‘art’ boards, sprayed by Martin Worthington, and Reno Abellira was surfing in a wetsuit with bell-bottoms. Rip Curl designer John ‘Sparrow’ Pyburne was making custom wetsuits for most of the competitors, in bright colours with logos, arrows and various symbols cut and stitched into the rubber. I still have the sweater, and one of the wetsuits John made for me with the MR logo cut into it.”
Click here to check out our selection of other Tracks covers to hang on the wall.
