To pinpoint when I first met and surfed with Peter Townend would be a guess. In the late 60s/early 70s I was surfing North Narrabeen and would be onboard Col Smith’s VW Combi for the annual sojourn to the Coolangatta area, so that seems to make sense. To me ‘PT’ was always the perennial ‘professional surfer’, determined to make a living out of something he loved, and dedicated to seeing surfing grow into a recognised sport.
I knew he was a couple of years older than me and from a different socioeconomic background. It was surprising for me to discover he began surfing at 14 in 1967; entered his first competition in 1969 and was soon shaping his own boards. I was gifted my first balsa cutdown/reshape for my ninth birthday, never shaped aboard (thanks to my older brother Butch)and started surfing in club comps at ten.
By this reckoning, Pete was a late starter and massive over achiever, and I say this as acompliment. Floyd Smith ventured to Australia in1965 from San Diego to set up Gordon and Smith Surfboards in Brookvale. G&S(as they were now known) was the first American label to try and snaffle a share of the burgeoning Australian market. Their factory showroom was in Harbord Road, Brookvale, near Barry Bennett and the various other brands that helped transform the beachside, Sydney suburb into a surf industry hub. Initially, longboards were still de rigueur but by the early 70s G&S was servicing the demand inspired by the “short board revolution”. The iconic brand had a store located south of Sydney to Cronulla and begun what would be a long association with PT. When asked, during a Tracks interview, “Which boards were critical in your 1976 World Title victory?” PT responded, “…the 6’10” pink diamond tail that I shaped at G&S in Cronulla that I had on the South African leg.” He also claimed it was his mother who encouraged him to use the colour pink because, “…that way they’ll never miss you”. Mum’s advice proved effective.
During 1976 I’d travel south to visit the ‘fledgling’ surfboard industry in Cronulla with workmate, Kim “Fly” Bradley. Our dual mission was to gather design content and sell advertising for Tracks. PT was always responsive to promotion, never missing a photo op’ or interview. The front of the G&S factory was situated on a major road and not particularly picturesque, so we ventured to the back area where some funky old houses and a bit of grass had survived the industrial assault. After shooting a few standard advertising images with Pete and another shaper against a Besser brick backdrop, PT sat down with a few, sweet single fins and a Bonza. It was nice to see him focusing on the boards in front of him rather than the camera. Beneath the burning ambition, there was obviously a genuine interest in craft and design.
Invariably, PT became a titan of the surfing universe, from his early years in the highly competitive environment of the Gold Coast, to a world title and the Bronzed Aussies experiment. Beyond that there were movie roles (Big Wednesday) the re-invention of pro-surfing alongside Ian Cairns and various coaching and corporate gigs. Although he resides in Huntington, USA these days(where he oversees the Surfing Walk of Fame) it’s great to claim him as an Aussie.
