After surfboards went multi finned in the latter 70’s, Paul designed the STAR SYSTEM box for twins and tri fins while he was production manager at Gordon&Smith Surfboards. His handmade fins that fit into this system were the most unique fins of their time.

Paul was a super shaper in the 60’s at G&S, shaping hundreds of the famed Mike Hynson Model. His perfection mentality scored him the Production Manager at G&S for 20 years. During this time as G&S produced up to 250 boards per week, Paul trained a majority of the San Diego Surfboard industries workforce. Teaching the trade in all aspects of construction, his students went on to saturate other factories with the knowledge learned from Paul. A handful became entrepreneurs of their own businesses and labels in the surf world.

After Gordon&Smith closed their production facilities, Paul began working at KKL, a computer shaping machine company.

Paul noticed many inconsistencies in the system, that was the result of Clark Foams glue up technique. Working with Gordon Clark, the problems were solved. Clark Foam mentioned Paul’s assistance in this effort in an industry wide memorandum.

Paul Bordieri was a surf industry giant, a mentor to many as a shaper, all functions of surfboard construction, and an innovator to an industry worldwide that has produced hundreds of thousands of surfboards, sailboards, and other watercraft, and a whole bunch of craftsmen that have made a career from working under Paul’s mentorship.

Surfers owe a lot to Paul Bordieri, and he is a San Diego Beach icon.

Hank Warner

More on Paul Bordieri....
It is my honor to nominate Paul Bordieri to have his name engraved on the Tourmaline Park Surfing Memorial. I’m nominating Paul for his many contributions to surfing, original ideas, hard work and dedication to the surfing industry and to the surfing/surfboard community.

Paul is part of surfing history, as well as part of the history of Gordon & Smith Surfboard Co. I want to speak about Paul, simply and plainly, and to the best of my knowledge. I know that there is so much more about Paul that I don’t know.

Paul helped many people in the surfing community and the surfing industry with their careers; shapers, sanders, glasses, and many others. At G&S, Paul mentored and taught many facets of the craft to others, over the years. Some went on to become shapers, etc. I was told that, “Paul knew a lot about everything, not a little about everything,” at the G&S shop. With Paul’s knowledge and assistance, he helped improve their lives, which opened up other avenues and future opportunities.

Paul was a native San Diegan; born, lived, and died in San Diego. He surfed from Crystal Pier to P.B. Point. Paul and I surfed together, mostly at Law St. and the Pumphouse.

When Paul was 20, he worked at whatever surfboard shop would hire him. In the early years, Paul worked with Carl Ekstrom, a leading innovator and designer of surfboards. Carl’s early influence was the legendary surfer, surfboard shaper, Bob Simmons, considered to be the father of the modern surfboard. Paul worked with Carl in Carl’s garage in La Jolla. Carl mentored Paul. Paul told me that he learned a lot from Carl, and that he had a lot of respect for Carl.

Paul started at the bottom at G&S, in the very early 1960’s. He worked his way to the top, as production manager and shop manager, at times, and was one of G&S’s top shapers. Paul was, also, one of their first shapers. Paul ended up teaching many workers/employees many skills, some were future shapers in the industry.

At a Pacific Beach Surf Club event; “Shaper’s Forum,” as I recall, there were 4 well-known shapers on the panel. Each one was asked who influenced them the most regarding their shaping careers. Three of the 4, answered, “Paul Bordieri.” Hank Warner was one of them. The 4th, was indirectly influenced by Paul.

Paul’s first day at G&S was quite amusing. Paul was in a Clark Foam delivery truck with George Draper, delivering Clark Foam blanks to G&S. Larry Gordon came out and asked George if he knew of anyone to work for him who could drive to Dana Pt. every weekend for G&S business. But, he must have experience and own a car. Paul popped up from inside the truck and said that he did! Larry hired him on the spot. Paul had a wife and a new baby. Paul had no experience and no car. Paul took the bus every Friday to Dana Pt. He returned by bus on Sunday night.

Paul worked with Mike Hynson, at G&S. Among other things, Paul glued the redwood stringers in the board blanks. Paul told me that, once, he waited too long for it to set up, and the blank warped. Mike wasn’t happy. Paul learned a hard lesson! Paul spoke highly of Mike Hynson as a mentor. Later, Paul shaped many of the Mike Hynson, “Red Fin” Model Surfboards. One is currently owned by John Bishop, and is displayed at The Oceanside California Surf Museum. Paul’s, Hynson Red Fin Model, was also displayed at The San Diego County Fair, featuring old surf photos and vintage surfboards from The Oceanside California Surf Museum. The Fair theme was, “Summer Sports.”

Paul designed surfboards and fins for G&S. Many were displayed in Surfing magazines under the G&S brand name. Just one of the boards that Paul designed was, “The Little (Lil’) Gypsy,” It was their best seller around 1970, per Balsa Bill Yerkes, Paul told me that he, also, shaped a few boards for Kelly Slater. I don’t know if it was directly or indirectly through a surfboard company or through KKL.

At G&S, Paul worked with Skip Frye, Mike Hynson, Butch Van Artsdalen, Barry Kanaiaupuni, Bill (Billy) Hamilton, John Holly, Bobby “Challenger” Thomas, Hank Warner, Gary Cooke, Dale Dobson, and many others.

Paul was listed as one of the designers instrumental in helping G&S with the transition from longboards to shortboards, 1968-1973. With a lot of work and help from Paul and others, G&S was one of the companies from the 1960’s that survived the shortboard revolution (article in Longboard Magazine).

Paul managed the G&S surf team. One of the team riders was Joe Roper. Joe rode the Pipeline. Paul had the old slides of Joe’s famous ride, now in picture form.

Paul created many fins, but the best known was the, “Star System Fin.” Paul had the idea for the first fin box. (G&S 50th Anniversary book, “One Long Ride,” page 147). Star System Fins: Removable fin system for the side fins, which didn’t exist. Paul Bordieri came up with the idea, and with the help of Robin Prodanovich, they collaborated on the fin box that Robin constructed, while Paul created a fin template, cut and foiled the fins to fit the new box. They created the ‘pop-in’ fin system. Star Systems was one of the first multi-fin removable fin systems. The idea came up, after Mark Richards, Australian surfer and World Champion, came to G&S with his twin fin board. His fins were glassed in. A removable fin system for the side fins didn’t exist.

Another example of Paul’s creativity, inventiveness, and experimentation, is when he, and others would climb over someone’s fence when they weren’t home and use their private swimming pool to test new surfboard ideas. Paul and the guys pushed the boards across the pool to see the glide, rocker, floatation, etc, I believe that some boards were honeycomb, hollow, etc. (Paul loved sharing his many stories).

Paul Bordieri was featured, by name and photos, in one of the first books about how to build a surfboard. The book/manual is, “The Surfboard Builder’s Yearbook.” Paul is pictured in various stages of shaping and sanding a board. Paul’s photo is said to be in the, “Library of Congress,” in this book, or possibly another.

At a, “Sacred Craft,” exhibition, (now called, “The Boardroom”), the theme was dedicated to Surfboard Shapers, past and present. On display was a large wall chart with a graphic of the Shaper’s Family Tree. Paul Bordieri’s name was on the family tree near the earlier years.

At the G&S 50th Anniversary party at The Wave House, Paul was honored with praise and gratitude from Larry Gordon. Larry presented Paul with a plaque of Appreciation, acknowledging his “unique and important contribution to the company, the (surfing) industry, and the History of Both.” “We recognize your effort and the differences you have made.” Signed, Larry Gordon and Floyd Smith. In another area of the Wave House, there were vintage surfboards and large murals with old photos. There were several pictures of Paul, along with a list of their most prominent shapers, of which, Paul was one, listed at the top with Skip Frye and Mike Hynson. There was another list of those at G&S who made the most important contributions to G&S. Paul was listed at the very top, along with Skip Frye and Mike Hynson.

Paul, later, worked a KKL (Kahua Kalani Limited), translation: “Master Shaper,” in Hawaiian. I believe that he was the supervisor. He operated the computerized, surfboard-shaping, machines; a high-powered router with a 3,000 pound planer. The machine shaped the foam blanks to specific, customized, specifications. Then, delivered to surfboard shops and shapers.

The Union Tribune, Terry Rodgers, wrote an article about Paul when he worked at KKL, in the, “On the Water,” section. The article was titled, “When Art Meets High Tech.” He quoted Paul saying, “We really don’t make any money at this craft. We do it for the Love and the Art.” Terry Rodgers called Paul, “a shy genius when it comes to the principles of surfboard design.”

John Bishop, of the Oceanside California Surf Museum, said that he is going to write an article about Paul for the Surf Museum’s Newsletter.

Paul was interviewed on a National Sports channel via live satellite feed, while at KKL Machine (Kahuna Kalani Ltd.), regarding computerized shaping of surfboards. I believe that Skip Frye was, also, interviewed on the same segment at a different location regarding shaping surfboards.

TRIBUTES to PAUL BORDIERI:

Balsa Bill Yerkes (Sales Rep. for G&S. Now owns Balsa Bill Surf Shop in Florida). “Yes, (Paul) a very important part (of G&S). One of the best surfboard designers/shapers, ever.”

Bird Huffman (Bird’s Surf Shed). “A man amongst men and a quiet Hero!”

Debbie Gordon (G&S Surfboards). (Her) “family will always cherish Paul and his role as a craftsman in the surf industry. He (Paul) was one of the great ones.” “Paul was a treasure. There are still reminders present of his influence and his craftsmanship standards here at Gordon & Smith even still today.”

Mike Gallagher (Was a Sales Manager at G&S). “The most knowledgeable craftsman I ever knew.”

Gayle Gordon (G&S Surfboards and wife of Larry Gordon). (To Paul:) “Just a note to let you know our thoughts and deep affection for you and your contributions to our company and to the whole surfing community is never ending. Larry appreciated and admired your craftsmanship skills, but he, and so many others, have been blessed because they had you as a friend. You are cherished deeply by all the lives you have touched. Love and appreciation, Gayle Gordon.”

Hank Warner (Hank Warner Custom Shapes Surfboards. A California shaping legend). I’m paraphrasing what Hank told me at the induction ceremony for Larry Gordon and Floyd Smith, at the California Surf Museum. Hank put his hand on my shoulder and led me to a place overlooking the main room with everyone in it. Hank swept his arm from left to right over the crowd and said something like this: “Paul was everything to everyone in this room.” In other words, Paul had impacted everyones lives in some way. “He (Paul) didn’t just know a little about some things, Paul knew a lot about everything.” Paul shared his knowledge and expertise, and taught everyone in the shop at G&S whatever he knew.

“One Long Ride,” Gordon & Smith 50th Anniversary Book. (Page 121). “Paul Bordieri, considered as ‘knowing more about building boards than anyone’ and the fiesty backbone of Gordon & Smith for over 3 decades. He (Paul) was the unsung hero of Gordon & Smith in so many ways. He worked with shapers, glassers, and sanders, perfecting their techniques and even teaching some of the best shapers how to shape. (Paul) One of the company’s first shapers. His hard work and expertise in so many areas earned the respect of his fellow workers. Larry Gordon considered himself lucky to have had Paul Bordieri working with him as Gordon & Smith went from a small local factory to an international company.”

There is an old photo of Paul, in his early 20’s, with Larry Gordon. They are working on a surfboard together. The photo is featured in the 2018 Movie/Documentary, “A Line in the Sand.” The movie is about the 50 year History of The Tourmaline Canyon Surfing Park.

IN CONCLUSION:

There is bound to be so much more about Paul Bordieri that I don’t know, and of how he impacted so many people in a positive way, since he was in the surfboard business for over 40 years. But, I do know, that Paul is part of surfing history and San Diego’s surfing history. Paul cared about the art of surfboard making. He believed in the purity and the art of surfing and surfboard making, and helping whomever he could along the way.

Paul never sought the limelight or fame. He never bragged. Paul worked diligently behind the scenes, inventing, and creating things that are now part of surfing history.

Paul had a compassion to teach and help multitudes of people and employees in the surfing industry to become better at their craft, and to help them succeed in their personal lives. Many became shapers and shop owners.

Paul surfed Tourmaline, and all along Pacific Beach. He didn’t surf as much in later years, due to health and family. Surf clubs and contests are important, but just as important is someone’s individual relationship with the ocean and their love of surfing and the craft. And, in Paul’s case, his many accomplishments.

Paul believed that the art of surfboard making was a, “Sacred Craft.” Paul Bordieri passed away on August 24, 2018, of cancer.

Thank you very much for your time, and your serious and thoughtful consideration of Paul Bordieri to have his name placed on the Tourmaline Park Surfing Memorial.

Sincerely,

Barbara Bordieri-Hoffman.