Simon Anderson Recreates 1981 Winning Bells Board
COASTALWATCH | ORIGINAL CONTENT
Video by Matt Johnston
Featuring Simon Anderson & Cooper Chapman
With additional footage from Alan Rich archives & Tim Bonython
In 1981 Simon Anderson paddled out at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach with a board that changed the path of surfboard design. He rang the bell that year as the winner of the event.
Cooper Chapman is a Qualifying Series surfer from the infamous North Narrabeen beach in Sydney. He has been working with and riding Simon Anderson's shapes for six years and had never surfed Bells Beach.
Over the last fortnight, Simon shaped a replica of this 1981 winning board for Cooper and the pair made their way down to Bells Beach in the lead up to the 2017 Rip Curl Pro. On the first day of the waiting period, the swell was rolling into Bells and Winkipop, it was the perfect opportunity for Cooper to test out the board and experience the difference in design to the modern high-performance boards he's been riding his whole life.
Read Simon's complete story in THRUST available through the Coastalwatch Store.
VIDEO BELOW, The Final Scene Outtake

Simon gets started on replicating the 1981 board

Simon photographs the original for his records

Cooper and Simon check out the original board

Simon measures the exact dimensions of the original board

Cooper & Simon arrive at Bells Beach on Wednesday 12th April 2017

Carpark comparisons between the original and the replica

Cooper's first wave at Winkipop, Photo by Brendan Boxall

Making the board move, Photo by Brendan Boxall

Simon's paddles out at Winki with Cooper

Watch the Epic New Lid Vid – Tales of the Boogie Men
Plus a great interview with the GOAT Mike Stewart

Watch: Rip Curl's Eccentric New Search Movie, 'Postcards From Morgs'
Starring Mick Fanning, Tyler Wright, Owen Wright and more

Watch: Torren Martyn's Motorcycle Surf Roadie Through New Zealand, Exclusive New Surf Film
‘Lost Track’ is yet another, soulful wanderlusty classic from Torren and needessenials
Five Rides (And a Wipeout) From New South Wales Super Session
Pipeline comes to Australia's East Coast, featuring Paul Morgan, Laurie Towner, Matt Dunsmore and more
Five Rides (And a Wipeout) From New South Wales Super Session
Pipeline comes to Australia's East Coast, featuring Paul Morgan, Laurie Towner, Matt Dunsmore and more
A Ripping New Rage Vid, Pete Mel's Stoke Is Everyone's Stoke, and Maverick's on Skis? What?
This Week In Surfing: Ten Things from Surfing & the Internet on the Week That Was January 15 2021
RIP: Gordon James Philipson (1938-2021)
Long-serving and legendary stalwart of Australian and Queensland surfing passes away at 82
Swell Alert: A Powerful South and SSE groundswell is about to Rock the East Coast
Get ready, the East Coast is about to rumble.
A Ripping New Rage Vid, Pete Mel's Stoke Is Everyone's Stoke, and Maverick's on Skis? What?
This Week In Surfing: Ten Things from Surfing & the Internet on the Week That Was January 15 2021
Padang Comes to Life as Late Season Swell hits Bali
Golden hour at perfect Padang Padang - it's been a good week to be in Bali... Photo: Childs
Daydream The Indo Season with Riley Laing & Crew's Swell Expedition
Offshore barrels and dreamy setups
Video: The Fizzlot kids – SW Grom Bash
A stoked out portrait of Australian Junior Surfing in the year 2018.