Gordon & Smith (G&S) Larry Gordon model longboard #29/50 (1999)

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Rare Gordon & Smith (G&S) Larry Gordon signature model 10’0 longboard. Shaped by the late Larry Gordon (1939 – 2016) in 1999. This is serial #29 of just 50 boards made to commemorate the 40th anniversary of G&S surfboards. Never ridden, all original condition. Use as a functional surfboard or decorative surfboard art piece! 

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History of Gordon & Smith (G&S) surfboards

In‭ ‬1961,‭ ‬Larry Gordon and Floyd Smith‭ ‬founded Gordon and Smith Surfboards.‭ ‬Before‭ ‬introducing an iconic surfboard brand out of a Pacific Beach garage,‭ ‬they were committed surfers,‭ ‬and knew what surfers liked.‭ ‬They pioneered a new kind of boards-‭ ‬foam boards,‭ ‬which was truly a revolution in the history of the sport.‭ ‬Larry Gordon was born on the‭ ‬13th of December‭ ‬1939,‭ ‬near Chicago,‭ ‬Illinois.‭ ‬Because of his health problems,‭ ‬he moved with his family to California when he was a kid.‭ ‬That‭’‬s where he learned how to surf-‭ ‬first,‭ ‬he tried bodysurfing and mat surfing then progressed to riding surfboards in high school.‭ ‬Larry Gordon studied chemistry at San Diego State University where he began experimenting with materials at his father‭’‬s factory,‭ ‬including foam.‭ ‬This gave him the basis for later work with surfboards.‭ ‬Floyd Smith wasn‭’‬t interested in‭ ‬surfing until he was about‭ ‬9‭ ‬or‭ ‬10‭ ‬years old.‭ ‬For a skinny boy like him,‭ ‬huge wooden boards were too heavy. Smith knew something had to change for the sport to grow.

In‭ ‬1959,‭ ‬Larry Gordon and Floyd Smith began working on their first project to build cutting edge surfboards with polyurethane foam.‭ ‬It turned out to be a huge success.‭ ‬So many people wanted to ride their foam surfboards,‭ ‬that they had to leave Smith‭’‬s garage and find a bigger space for their company headquarters.‭ ‬They opened their first real surf shop,‭ ‬called Gordon‭ & ‬Smith Surfboards‭ & ‬Skateboards.‭ ‬It quickly became one of the leaders‭ ‬in the surfboard industry,‭ and they ‬later made skateboards in addition to surfwear.‭ ‬A lot of surfers and shapers collaborated with Gordon‭ & ‬Smith,‭ ‬which helped them‭ ‬gather customers in a time when the sport of surfing was‭ ‬really starting to take off.‭ ‬In‭ ‬1965,‭ ‬Floyd moved to Australia to expand G&S on another continent.‭ ‬This brought the innovation and quality to Australia and provided‭ ‬new designs in return,‭ ‬as well as a new‭ ‬group of‭ ‬clients from around the‭ ‬world.‭ ‬Floyd Smith returned to California in‭ ‬1969‭ ‬and sold his share of the company in‭ ‬1971.‭ ‬The‭ ‬business kept a high profile and a high-quality stable of shapers until about‭ ‬1983.‭ ‬Gordon‭ & ‬Smith’s company is now run by Gordon‭’‬s son and daughter,‭ ‬Eric and Debbie Gordon. The family is still very loyal to their roots,‭ caring‬ about producing the highest quality boards possible.‭ ‬The company line now consists of classic longboards,‭ ‬performance longboards,‭ ‬shortboards,‭ ‬fun shapes,‭ ‬and fishes.

Larry Gordon passed away on January 1st‭ ‬2016,‭ ‬due to his Parkinson‭’‬s-related illness.‭ ‬He was‭ ‬76‭ ‬years old.‭ ‬The surfing society will forever appreciate his visionary work and contributions to the industry.‭ ‬Gordon and Smith’s‭ ‬polyurethane boards are‭ ‬known for helping to popularize the sport when wooden boards were heavy and‭ ‬difficult to ride.‭ ‬Floyd Smith has been‭ ‬working in a carpentry business for the past‭ ‬20‭ ‬years but still shapes longboards part-time in northern California,‭ ‬near Santa Cruz.‭ Recently, d‬ue to increased demand,‭ ‬he is now shaping surfboards full time.

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