Shaun Tomson Personal Board (1979)

Offered here is Shaun Tomson’s personal surfboard, shaped by renowned Lightning Bolt craftsman Bill Barnfield. Finished in a rich yellow tint, the board features Tomson’s iconic green, blue, and red racing stripes running across both deck and bottom. A nearly identical example—shaped in 1978 but slightly shorter appears in Jim Winniman’s The Ultimate Guide to Vintage Surfboards (page 203). While both boards share a rounded tail, this board was built four inches longer at 7’0″ with added volume through the nose.

At the New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on June 1, 2025, Shaun Tomson was reunited with this very board and signed it for us (see attached photos). Upon seeing it, Shaun remarked, “I remember riding this board. Where did you get it? Wow.” INSTINCT later echoed the sentiment on social media: “It doesn’t matter if you are a World Champion or just some average bloke—there’s a special feeling you get when reunited with a stick from your past.”

Tomson had this board shaped slightly longer and thicker through the nose to enhance bottom turns and generate the extra speed needed to set up and exit the tube—refinements that helped him excel during his 1977 World Championship campaign. The board carries Shaun’s signature Instinct logo on the nose, with Bill Barnfield’s initials “BB” on the foam above the stringer and under the glass, identifying it as a true custom made specifically for Tomson.

Bill Barnfield is a top-tier Lightning Bolt shaper whose boards and guns were among the finest ridden by elite surfers on the North Shore. This board was carefully crafted to Shaun’s specifications following his Pipeline Masters victory at Banzai Pipeline in 1975.

The board remains all original and has been professionally re-glossed and polished to restore its shine. Some browning is present on areas of the deck, visible in the photos, but the board is solid and completely watertight. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a museum-quality surfboard with exceptional provenance, directly tied to one of surfing’s greatest champions.

If you have questions about this surfboard visit our Contact page or call 1-800-210-6714