Joistik Surfboards by Nick Blair

6’8”, 6’0”, 5’9”.
Fresh from

Modified Cab Sav II …

Wrapped in Tiffany Blue 🩵 ✖️ 🌸 The Everlasting Flower…

I first met Cyril Budd in 1991, at the top of the stairs leading up to the Surf Toy factory on Stamford Hill road in Durban. Cyril was the Gatekeeper to the factory he shared with his business partner, the late Peter Daniels. I had R745 in cash in my pocket to pay for my first custom surfboard and was ready to hand it over. But my grandfather, who had given me a lift to the factory, insisted I gave him the cash, and he would pay Cyril by cheque. I was so embarrassed- I wanted Cyril and Peter to know I had worked hard and saved up to pay for my own board, and it wasn’t paid for by anyone else!

Still remember that 6’3” custom that PD had shaped and Cyril had glassed- it made me fall in love with board building.

The photos above are ones I took of Cyril in their last Durban factory, before him and PD relocated to Pukas in Spain. They were for PD’s website and I also took pics of PD, the late Errol Hickman and Cyril’s son Luke (an incredible and experienced board-building talent himself) shaping in the bays.
Cyril was one of the world’s best board builders- and he has influenced and touched many who he passed skills on to.
To me he was straight-talking and unapologetic, but humble and warm, a generous guy. He made everyone feel welcome and he lifted people up. Bloody great sense of humour and a gentleman when it mattered. For me, he only left good memories.

To Jenny, Luke and Simon- Big Love 🙏❤️

R.I.P. Cyril, and thanks for the ride 🌊🍻😎🤙

It’s WAckY WEdnEsDaY and a massive day dawns in my home country.

IYKYK.

Let’s hope everyone behaves themselves and that peace, common sense and ubuntu all prevail.
🙏 🌈 🖤 🤎 🤍

Some image throwbacks to some of 🇿🇦’s favourite skabengas.

🙏 📷

Double 6 deck with big laps for this Detonator slab model

9’2” x 21” x 3 1/4”

It’s International Women’s Day…

Look, I’m not a paragon of exemplary behaviour. Like all of us I’m on a journey. But I can tell you I was raised to treat all people with respect. Including- and especially- women. Maybe that’s why as a generalisation I still don’t see men and women as equals. Women are far superior.

And today is about the women!

Women’s sport and demand for equal footing is experiencing a massive push in history right now. In fact surfing and the WSL was one of the first sports to offer equal pay amongst their female/male counterparts. Whilst there were many involved in this, and not to take anything away from their efforts and work, let’s be clear: it was the strong, courageous women athletes over the last several decades who fought bloody hard for this. At what looks to me to have been as a result of huge sacrifice and in many instances at an immense personal cost.

So not just today, but every day, let’s remember and celebrate IWD. If you have a daughter, or a niece, empower them. If you have a son or nephew, show them. Honour and respect the women in your life. Support and follow women’s sport (don’t know where to start? Give Chloe and Bez over at a follow and go from there) And let’s take this momentum and push it over the f* #$in’ edge!

At the very least, let’s all try to remember to always be kind. Or like the say in my home country 🇿🇦, “Don’t be a Poes, be Lekka!”

P.S. Shown above is - one of the women I was privileged enough to work with in the last couple of years of her stellar career. A fantastic human.

She surfs better than me. And you.

📸:

9’2” lurking in the bay.

Last customs out the door for 2023 👊
Thanks to al our customers and partners for the year.
Be Merry, be Safe 🌊🌴😎🤙

Seven O-oooooooohhh 😍🔥🔥🔥

South Oz speed run, on a 6’0 custom 📸: 🙏