A lot of people still don’t know much about Clive- i didn’t either but thanks to gurus like Bruce Gold i have come to know a bunch of South African icons of the early surfing era. The first time i heard or saw Clive’s name was on a poster for a Surf movie in the 60′s called ‘African Vibrations’ with this long list of surfspots from Llandudno to Buffels bay, it’s framed in the Godfrey’s house in Seal Point, i stared at it for ages…until Juliet, Ed’s wife-( another legend!) who tunes me in: it turn’s out that’s all that’s left of the movie, as the original reels were lost somewhere on their way, or in Australia you see Clive, from what i gather was in the prime of his surfing career, with a successful surfboard label, surfshop in Cape Town and movie under his belt- who wouldn’t be? but Clive strepped away from it all right there- maybe he took it as a sign when they lost the film? i’m not sure exactly how the scenario played itself out but fast forward nearly fifty years and we’re here! Clive’s in his surfboard factory in the industrial part of Jeffrey’s bay, fresh out of hospital with internal bleeding, asthma(obviously…) but perky- that’s when i saw him last about a month ago i was lurking in the bay with Bruce Gold and asked how Clive was- he broke it down but also mentioned something about a part fish, part spaceship disk thing that Clive had made- one of his last boards maybe- that everyone was scared of buying or trying it looked so weird…

the poster


So we popped around there- and i was smitten…posed for the shot with my two legends and went straight to the nearest ATM and drew pretty much the last scraps of my travel budget with RVCA and gave it to Clive- i wish i could have paid him more for it- but now i can!!because in the spirit of silly season i have decided to auction the bad boy- still unridden! how i managed not to succumb to it’s sweet looking lines and ol’ school finish is a wonder- i actually dropped it at Robby Mac’s shop in Cape Town so it wasn’t in my room anymore…

Bruce Gold, me, and Clive with the board...


if anyone wants to get involved, or help set up something like a Help The Legends fund for all the goebat’s out there- who like most of us have dedicated our lives to the pursuit of surfing and the ocean, it’s a rough road- and ocean, there are many out there who need our help- who’s to say you wont end up a long way down the road- or sea, pretty crusty and forlorn- and there’s this Help The Legends fund that you might be eligible for- and it’s all you might have as well…think about it

for more check:http://www.switch-foot.com/view_photographer.php?creative_id=174&image_id=1368