In the early '90's; I had a bonding experience with another surfer just a little older than me, his name was Andy.
We had worked together for years; but it wasn't until I saw old news clippings 'hanging on his office wall that I realized he had been a champion tandem surfer back in the '60's.
As we shared our love for surfing; Andy eventually invited me up to his home by PV Cove to show me his old board. He un-earthed it from a corner of his garage; 'blew the dust off and explained it was a "Gordie Assassin".
Andy told me it was a revolutionary board in it's day because while most tandems were 12 to 13 feet; this board was only 10 feet long.
Steve Boehne; owner of Infinity Surf in San Clemente; had custom built a limited number of these Gordie boards that were short, wide and thick with the idea they would still provide the necessary "float" but be much more maneuverable than the longer boards.
The board worked for Andy; the news clippings with pictures of him in a blazer and tie with a tandem surfing partner on his arm receiving trophies at surf contests were testament to that.
I was shocked and honored when Andy offered to me that I could "store" the board for him if I like as he hadn't got it wet for years.
I took it home, cleaned it, ‘fixed little dings and pondered all the places it had been, the waves it had ridden and the people who rode upon it.
The first sunny day that came I put wax on the deck and headed out in the water. I loved it.
I surfed the board for over 5 years. Everywhere it went people asked: "what is that"? Some folks who claimed to be experts on old boards told me how rare the board was and asked permission to take pictures of it.
It became apparent the board was probably of some value and I returned it to my friend. He un-ceremoniously laid it on the garage floor again; that was 5 years ago.
Recently, I have had the urge to ride the Gordie again; perhaps trying to stand-up paddle with it. I left a message at my friend’s home but did not receive a reply.
I called again and left another message that I would be "glad to store the board again" if he still had it.
I received a phone message back from his wife in the evening. She said she had asked Andy about me borrowing the board again and he said that I could.
She said she actually thought it would make him feel good to know the board was being enjoyed.
What she said next hit me like an outside wave: "I don't know if you know; but Andy was diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's syndrome, last year".
I was devastated; I had already lost one friend to ALS and know what a cruel neuro-muscular disease it is that only ends in death.
The following day I was digesting the news. It was then while thinking "what can I do" that I recalled my friend’s wife telling me "it would make him happy to know someone was enjoying the board".
I went up to Andy’s the next day. I visited with Andy in his front room where he was seated in a recliner; surrounded by medical supplies; but enjoying an awesome view of Torrance Beach and the entire coastline.
We talked about his disease but mostly talked about surfing. He told me about surfing “Killer Dana” before there was a breakwater. He said he was on a new board and had ridden a 20 foot wave all the way from the outside when he fell going through “Bone Yard” on the inside.
He said he didn’t want to lose the new board to the rocks so he hung-on going up-side-down across the sea urchin covered rock reef. When he landed on the beach, the board was untouched but he had to be rushed to the hospital to get ‘stitched-up and the spines removed.
He leaned forward and pulled up his shirt showing me his back: “see, I still have the scars”!
Andy told me he couldn’t swallow anymore so he had a “g” tube in his stomach to feed him. He said: “come back for lunch sometime; I’ll buy a pizza, I can’t eat but I’d like to watch you eat one”.
That’s something a surfer would do.
I got the family e-address and promised to send them pictures and story about where the board was going.
The next day the board was in the water at Torrance Beach and the Riviera Wave Riders were taking turns riding it and taking pictures.
We sent the images and story to Andy’s family that night; we dubbed our project of documenting the boards travels as “Gordie’s Adventures”.
Yesterday; we took the board out on a hot, Santa Ana conditions afternoon for a long paddle up the beach to Redondo Pier and back.
When we got back in; we learned that while we were out enjoying Gordie; Andy had passed away…
Andy is gone; but “Gordie” will live on ‘gliding the waves and we know that Andy will be watching and smiling.
We love you Andy, aloha brother…
A Riviera Wave Rider bringing Gordie in from a surf session. 10'X28"X4"; 45 lbs.
June 15, 2009 Update -
On June 3, 2009; the Riviera Wave Riders took "Gordie" home. We enjoyed the board and in the spirit of Aloha felt it was time to pass it on to be enjoyed by others.
After checking in with Andy's family; we took the board to Dana Point and returned the Gordie Assassin to the man who built it, Steve Boehne, owner of Infinity Surfboards.
Steve told us he built this board for himself in 1966 when he was about 20 years old and working for Gordie. Steve said he rode the board tandem with his wife Barrie from 1966 until 1969 at which time he sold it to Andy.
Steve and his wife Barrie were happy to see the old board; their son who was looking for one of these boards was even happier. How cool must it be to have a board that your dad built and rode with your mom before you were even born?
We say, way cool...
The Gordie Assassin; back in the hands of the man who created it and the couple who rode it tandem over 40 years ago...
A Riviera Wave Rider bringing Gordie in from a surf session. 10'X28"X4"; 45 lbs.
The Gordie Assassin; back in the hands of the man who created it and the couple who rode it tandem over 40 years ago...