International Surfboard Builders Hall Of Fame Inductee Details
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| Inductee Name Lance Collins | Event Year 2022 | Inductee Location 1777 Placentia Ave. Costa Mesa, CA 92627 USA | Inductee Contact (949) 631-0887 wavetoolss@yahoo.com |
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| Inductee Boardshop Wave Tools Surfboards |
Boardshop Link https://www.wavetoolssurfboards.com/ |
| Inductee Bio
Lance's Autobiography. I got married just before I turned 21 years old to my wife Terralea, now 56 years married, the woman behind the man. I didn't have a job, I was born hard of hearing so couldn't keep a job, she worked but was not enough for us both. I told her I wanted to buy a new surfboard and she said, no, why don't you make one. In 1969 I made my first surfboard in my garage on Broadway in Costa Mesa, a little small for me so sold it to my sister-in-law's boyfriend for I think $35.00 and made another one. Before I made another, I dreamed what to name my boards. I was brought up racing cars & boats, my step dad was Clay Smith, of Clay Smith Cams, still in business today but new owners. So I figured they were Tools for Waves and I came up with the name, Wave Tools.. Tools, checkers, colorful colors, geometric designs, all in the long run came into play with my boards from being in the racing business. My wife did some sewing for a lady making a patchwork quilt and made $100.00 doing it. With that money we had rented a garage, $10 a month, dirt floor, did a Penny saver ad, a blank and resin and got our first Resale Number and City License, and sold another $50.00. From then on, I just made one sold it and made 2. A few months later we moved to Pismo Beach and had our first retail store, it was huge, living space 4 bedrooms in back, no heat, we would congergate in the big kitchen, stove heated us up. It was originally a carpet & tile store, on the corner of Dolliver and Main (?) I think it was, now a shoe store. (how we got there is a story in itself) we split the store front in half, making it smaller since we didn't have much inventory, used bamboo reed fencing with 2 x 4's behind it, we put a sofa in, made it into a living room sort of and a place for our babies to play, a sewing area, to make patch work long dresses for the store. We opened it with probably 4 to 6 used surfboards, about 6 Surfer House, wet suits, a box of wax. We'd sell out everything and I would make a run down to Costa Mesa and buy more supplies. I actually still have a ledger with the inventory but it's all in storage. Bob Rogers, "Rogers Foam" and Dale Velzy would drop off blanks once a month or so and spend the night with us, we were mid way to Santa Cruz. Had a great story time with them. I hand shaped the first batches of boards with a sheer form, rugged but could not afford a electric planner. My wife drew on rice paper the logo and hand painted our logo on JC Penney T-shirts. 1971, I bought my first Skill planner. The building sold so, Nov 1971 moved back to Newport, shaped for Dyno, then made boards in my moms garage, Terralea laminated and hot coated, while I surfed and got orders from friends. 1972 opened our 2nd store on, West Coast Hwy in Newport Beach. 1973 we opened our 1st glass shop on 1777 Placentia Ave Costa Mesa where we still are today. 1974 we opened our 3rd store on the ocean front on the north side parking lot of the Newport Pier. Building sold again so we moved out and just did our retail out of our glass shop. Since 1980's, over the years we sold all over the US and world. It's long winded, so just use what parts you want. I left a lot out of course but you get the basics. Thank you! Lance | |||
| For the complete biography, go to: POSTED 30/09/20192 COMMENTS ON LANCE COLLINS / NEWPORT BEACH SHAPERS | |||
Thanks to: https://oldschool-resistance.com/2019/09/30/lance-collins-newport-beach/ for the photo | |||
Links Wave Tools Surfboards - Home Facebook Lance Collins (@wavetoolssurfboards) • Instagram photos and videos Lance Collins (@wavetoolssurfboards_lance) • Instagram photos and videos |
