VINTAGE SURF AUCTION A HUGE SUCCESS

Do they come with Puka shell necklace? Barry Markowitz

Honolulu, HAWAII - (Monday, July 21, 2003) - - Collectors turned out en-masse this past weekend for the second Quiksilveredition Hawaiian Islands Vintage Surf Auction. The event went down as a huge success at the Blaisdell Center, with gross sales coming in just shy of a quarter of a million dollars, out-performing the first vintage surf auction held in 2001.

More than 100 silent auction lots and 100 main auction lots went under the auction hammer wielded by Surfer Joe Teipel, of Real Estate Auctions, ranging from clothing and artwork to a huge collection of vintage surfboards. While the auction attracted a slew of international collectors, this year it was bidders from the US Mainland who walked away with the bulk of items.

The highest ticket item sold was a 1950s Woody Brown balsa gun, which went for $11,800. Other wood boards sold for in excess of $10,000 a piece, including a 1950s balsa paddleboard and a redwood plank from the 1930s.

Since the first auction in 2001, there was an apparent shift in collectors' interest to surfboards from the 1970s. From that era, one of Gerry Lopez's winning Pipeline Masters boards sold for $8,200. A Larry Bertleman twin-fin from the 70s sold for $3,400.

While surfboards dominated the evening, there was huge interest in surf-art and other memorabilia that went up for silent auction, ultimately fetching great prices. A 1930s bathing suit from the Moana Hotel sold for $1,200, and poster art and old copper plates and etchings attracted plenty of bids.

Rarick and Noll Barry Markowitz

"The spirit of the event last night was phenomenal," said Event Producer Randy Rarick. "We had everything from intense, heated bidding, to some really emotional moments. While record sales drove the night, personal appearances by some legendary surfers and watermen from way back created a couple of special moments that I'll personally never forget.

"We had one Hawaiian gentleman, Luis Hancga, who was on the Hawaiian team in the 1956  Olympic lifeguard demonstration in Australia. He's 85 years old now and arrived at the auction wearing his official team royal purple blazer from the '56 games.  It was just an unbelievable moment as the audience rose to a standing ovation for him. He had an old balsa board that sold for $3,800."

Others in attendance last night included Greg Noll, Ben Aipa, Nat Young, Rabbit Kekai, Charlie Galanto, Kealoha Kaio and 70s Pipeline Master Rory Russell, among others.

The Quiksilveredition Hawaiian Islands Vintage Surf Auction was also a fundraiser for the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association Junior Guard Program with a portion of auction proceeds going to benefit the Junior Guard Program.

For a complete listing of auction results, go to website: www.hawaiiansurfauction.com