Duke board replica off to Hawaii
One of the main events during the Duke's Day Centenary Celebrations will be the re-enactment of the legendary surfing exhibition which Duke Kahanamoku undertook at Australia’s Freshwater Beach on the 10th January 1915.
To ensure authenticity of the re-enactment, an exact Replica of Duke’s 100 year old board has been painstakingly made by master craftsmen, Glenn, and his apprentice son Tom Myers. The Original Duke Board is too precious a world surfing icon to ever again be exposed to any possibility of danger or damage.
This true Replica has recently travelled to Hawaii to take part in the annual Waikiki Duke's OceanFest. Members of the Duke's Day committee including Steve and Judy Bennett, Naomi Wilson, Tim Hatton, Eric Middledorp along with our photographer Gemma Pigott, volunteered for the daunting task of approaching appropriate Hawaiian Surfers to play the role of the Duke during the re-enactment.
With the help of legendary Hawaiian Surfers such as Brian Keaulana, several Hawaiian surfers were approached to trial the Replica. All indicated that riding the Board was no easy task and were in awe of the abilities of the Duke, who was able to ride that style of board with consummate ease.
It remains to be seen who will be asked to undertake the role of the Duke in January 2015.
To ensure authenticity of the re-enactment, an exact Replica of Duke’s 100 year old board has been painstakingly made by master craftsmen, Glenn, and his apprentice son Tom Myers. The Original Duke Board is too precious a world surfing icon to ever again be exposed to any possibility of danger or damage.
This true Replica has recently travelled to Hawaii to take part in the annual Waikiki Duke's OceanFest. Members of the Duke's Day committee including Steve and Judy Bennett, Naomi Wilson, Tim Hatton, Eric Middledorp along with our photographer Gemma Pigott, volunteered for the daunting task of approaching appropriate Hawaiian Surfers to play the role of the Duke during the re-enactment.
With the help of legendary Hawaiian Surfers such as Brian Keaulana, several Hawaiian surfers were approached to trial the Replica. All indicated that riding the Board was no easy task and were in awe of the abilities of the Duke, who was able to ride that style of board with consummate ease.
It remains to be seen who will be asked to undertake the role of the Duke in January 2015.
Thanks again to Hawaiian Air for their support in transporting the valuable replica of Duke's Surfboard to Duke's OceanFest at Waikiki August 2014.
