Early Media Rumblings

In the spring of 1968, before the shortboard had hit US shores with any force, American manufacturers were dipping their toes in the water with early offerings that were shorter than the norm.

Hobie broke the ice with the Corky Carroll Mini Model. It was mixed in with two long pintails (Corky Carroll and Gary Propper), and a couple of longboard signature models (Joyce Hoffman and Gary Propper) that now featured V in the tail...

Harbour continued to push their thin, lightweight Rapier longboard model...alongside a shorter V Bottom with the same name. (The V Bottom was anything but a stubby!)

Gordon and Smith went so far as to provide sizing charts tracking the projected decline of board lengths over the next year...

How long ago was that?  The heaviest imaginable surfer in the G&S paradigm was ... 185 pounds!