We hope to one day get an interview out of a Byron Bay surfing legend and pioneer Gary Timperley. I’m not sure how old he is now or what he looks like, but I know he was one of the best surfers in the world in his day, ranked as high a no #3, was born in Byron and turned his parents’ “SERVO” into a “SURF SHOP” and then sold it along with three others to Billabong for heaps of $$. But, for now what I have for you is some cool super 8 footage of GT surfing very fast and loose. If you are out there Gary I’m still holding out for that interview.
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Hi,
I have 1 of his Bay Area 8 foot, Malibu’s,shaped by him with his signature on the bottom.
I bought it long ago when I was a teen i am now 51 and looking to get back to using it soon.
Last time i rode it was 10+ years ago and before that probably another 10.
I use to surf everyday when I was young but due to work and life in general I got torn away from my loved beach life and have missed it very much since,I was a Bondi boy originally and went to Byron on surfing trips with my mates,The Pass was the best surf I had ever experienced in my time,thats how I bought this board whilst on one of those trips.
Great board !
STEM.
Gary Timperley, HELL the guy was the ultimate G.T. (SPEED and POWER). I’m 67yo. As a Mullum, Lizard, Ballina, Suffolk local, GT was, on his day, the BEST I have ever seen. So much back foot power that sent out sheets of water at every turn. Mid/late 70’s at Lennox Point winter surf I sat in the line-up in awe. From the rear/back of wave vantage point I was never sure where he would appear, head, then half body, near full body and bloody sheets of water that would drown ya. I was a regular spectator to the STUBBIES Contest at Burleigh Point. Not sure of exact year but circa 77. GT was surfing the Stubbies Classic along with Kealoha, MR, Shaun Tomson, Peter Harris (GC) plus a bunch of others. I think Harris won that year, when Gary was surfing the whole crowd (hill & all) went “nuts” in disbelief at his every manoeuvre. I think GT may have won a Bells Easter Trial. He (GT) shaped one of my boards purely for Lennox Point winter. He asked me what I normally rode (5’9″ twinny) which I found too hairy in big Lennox. So he shaped me a 6’1.5″ twinny that really worked at the point. The guy really knew his stuff, and was always so humble. In my book, GT is a REAL LEGEND.