Richard Trewella

Richard Trewella spent his childhood on Great Western Beach in Newquay. He and his friends started with ‘chicken run boards’ until the late 50s when his friend saw a demonstration at Porthtowan Surf Life Saving Club. At first he and a friend built 14 ft longboards from plywood but in ’62 he built his first lightweight board.

Interview: Emily Whelan 31/08/12 Ref: AV4011

Full interview available in The First Wave Archive.

They took some riding

Building boards

Fistral SLSC comp

Newquay insurance

Riding to the end

The start of Gul

Surfing as a threat

Bilbo beginnings

From reel to surfboard

Auzzies bring boards

Trewella’s boards

Knowing everyone

Cutting the neoprene

Chicken runs to SLSC

Big business