Alan Duke

Alan Duke grew up in Northern Ireland. His first experience surfing was bellyboarding on an ironing board. Other people were surfing plywood boards but the first time he saw a real board was in a Colgate advert on TV.

Interview: Dominica Williamson 19/02/12 Ref: AV4049

Full interview available in The First Wave Archive.

Surf spots

Timeline

Talc or fairy bubbles

A vest with a skirt

Wax?! What’s wax?

Surfing and ‘The Troubles’

Running up the longboard

Local doctor’s advice

Footwear and coffee

Surfing ironing boards

The Colgate ad reveals all

School library helps out

First wave headache

Surf music

Potato farming for a Bilbo