Mark Riley and the Surf City Exhibition

Mark getting the blank ready

Mark from Riley Balsa wood Surfboards has been invited to shape a solid classic balsa board for the opening night of the Surf City Exhibition.
From the arrival of Californian 'malibu' surfboards in the 1950s through to the unleashing of the triple-finned 'thruster' in 1980, Sydney was Australia's surfing capital, its 'surf city'.
It started with a young, restless generation - with their 'finned' fibreglass boards, rock 'n' roll, cars and bad attitudes - hitting the surf and clashing with an outraged alliance of surf-club officials, councillors, police, disapproving parents, a spellbound media and a wide-eyed public. Before long, surfing was 'king' and as its fashions and new-found freedoms were ignited, Sydney produced a line-up of top riders and cutting-edge board designers. The evolution of surfing in the 60s and 70s saw Sydney surf writers, publishers, film-makers, bands and businesses gain international attention as innovators and stirrers.
Surf city at the Museum of Sydney will return to the beaches of the 50s, 60s and 70s and show how Sydney's love affair with surfing has left an indelible, salt-stained mark on this beach-crazed city.

September 23rd - 5pm to 9pm
www.hht.net.au/whats_on/exhibitions/exhibitions/surf_city

in, Wooden Surfboards