Does anybody know the history about Holmsey boards from the 70s, which I see from Google searches emanate from south Florida. My friend is fixing up an 8'4" board for me that's pretty beat. He is putting a custom-made wood big fin in there and patching it up to make it surfable. Is it an old sidewinder board?
Does if have the distinctive Sidewinder rails near the tail? Holmsey was based out of South Florida. The company gained notoriety with their somewhat unique Sidewinder noserider, but the short board revolution was dawning at the same time and you don't want those rail scoops on a shortboard. My first paipo was made from a Sidewinder snapped in half at Bridges on a 4-foot day.
Matador make a board just like that . I never ridden one but very interested in doing so. If you have facebook and need more info. you can try to contactr Bird Huffman he is he Vintage Surfboard Guru
It doesn't have the rail scoops like that board in the picture, but otherwise it is similar in design and length. It has a real small fin that is being replaced with a bigger one and it will get a plug for a leash. I can't wait to take it out in remembrance of my buddy Earl who rode it until he died on the way to the beach in Avalon on his motorcycle in the pine barrens 15 years ago. His surfer buddies called him big fly, which will be painted on the board. Next up will be his Linden shortboard if I ever get good enough to ride that - rock on Earl.
I can't imagine how that board in the picture would work. IMO those big notches would act like a break and slow that board way down.
Believe it or not, noseriding isn't about speed. The Sidewinder was one of the niche designs during the noseriding fad era (there were tons of special designs). The Sidewinder did ok at that but wasn't very maneuverable and was def too slow for my tastes. The board has value to you, Yambo, but aside from that, without the Sidewinder rails, it is an ordinary board in terms of monetary or collectors' value, unless it is in pristine condition. Hang on to it and enjoy it. Now the Linden has potential!
Looks to me like those wings in the tail would funnel water up the rails onto the deck, holding the tail down, and lift in the nose.
