Greg Brown, celebrated Australian competitor and renowned big wave shaper from Victoria, is the man behind the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast trophies - totems of fine craftsmanship emblematic of the focus, commitment and talent it takes to attain one.
The ASP caught up with Greg to get his take on the hardware:
I grew up in Lorne with Wayne Lynch and started competing in the 70s and 80s with the State Titles and the Aussie National Titles. I had a relationship with Maurice Cole and Kym Thompson and there was always an opportunity to take up shaping and learn from him. In 1986, I founded my surfboard label "Roar". In 1990, I changed the name to "Gash".
...it wasn't going to come out looking like an anvil or something
I started crafting the trophies in the third year of the Pro I think - 2005 or 2006. Simon Buttonshaw from Quiksilver approached me and wanted me to build a trophy for the event. They wanted something tribal like a spear, but they obviously couldn't do that. So next we thought about a shield and in the ended we blended those elements into the surfboard trophy. I guess that should have been expected as I build boards for a living...it wasn't going to come out looking like an anvil or something. It's not based off the boards I build as the blend of the spear, shield and surfboard concept requires a specialized approach. Machine won't do so all the trophies are shaped by hand.
It always feels amazing to see your work up there celebrating such great surfers. It's a real honor. A friend of mine and I were talking about it last night actually and when we were listing everyone who has one - Kelly Slater, Mick Lowe, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Stephanie Gilmore, Carissa Moore - it's a very distinguished honor to be a part of it.
When asked if we could send people to a website for him, Greg politely responded with, "I've never turned a computer on in my life. I work with my hands, not my fingertips." However, if you're in the State of Victoria, ask around for Gash Surfboards.
Highlights from the Roxy Pro Quarterfinals
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Kelly Slater hoists the Greg Brown trophy during last year's Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.
- WSL
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Tyler Wright holding some hardware from Greg Brown at the 2013 Roxy Pro Gold Coast.
- WSL
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Snapper Rocks - the venue for the opening event of the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour.
- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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The Superbank through the trees.
- WSL / Kelly Cestari
Talk Behind the Totem - Gold Coast
WSL
Greg Brown, celebrated Australian competitor and renowned big wave shaper from Victoria, is the man behind the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast trophies - totems of fine craftsmanship emblematic of the focus, commitment and talent it takes to attain one.
The ASP caught up with Greg to get his take on the hardware:
I grew up in Lorne with Wayne Lynch and started competing in the 70s and 80s with the State Titles and the Aussie National Titles. I had a relationship with Maurice Cole and Kym Thompson and there was always an opportunity to take up shaping and learn from him. In 1986, I founded my surfboard label "Roar". In 1990, I changed the name to "Gash".
I started crafting the trophies in the third year of the Pro I think - 2005 or 2006. Simon Buttonshaw from Quiksilver approached me and wanted me to build a trophy for the event. They wanted something tribal like a spear, but they obviously couldn't do that. So next we thought about a shield and in the ended we blended those elements into the surfboard trophy. I guess that should have been expected as I build boards for a living...it wasn't going to come out looking like an anvil or something. It's not based off the boards I build as the blend of the spear, shield and surfboard concept requires a specialized approach. Machine won't do so all the trophies are shaped by hand.
It always feels amazing to see your work up there celebrating such great surfers. It's a real honor. A friend of mine and I were talking about it last night actually and when we were listing everyone who has one - Kelly Slater, Mick Lowe, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Stephanie Gilmore, Carissa Moore - it's a very distinguished honor to be a part of it.
When asked if we could send people to a website for him, Greg politely responded with, "I've never turned a computer on in my life. I work with my hands, not my fingertips." However, if you're in the State of Victoria, ask around for Gash Surfboards.
Highlights from the Roxy Pro Quarterfinals
Roxy Pro Gold Coast
Carissa Moore belts a 9.90 at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast.
Gilmore teamed up with Darren Handley to design a Magic Board that would earn her a sixth World Title.
Stephanie Gilmore notched a 9.00 in a highly anticipated match-up against Carissa Moore.
When the world's best surfers meet the best Atlantic barrels, amazing things can happen.
Deputy Commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer looks at what pundits are calling the 'best day of women's surfing in history.'
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