Tommy Nellis “Outside Gator” gun by Lightning Bolt
Creator
Lightning Bolt Surfboards
Contributor
Nellis, Tommy
Date Created and/or Issued
1978
Publication Information
Pepperdine University Libraries Malibu, Calif John Mazza Historic Surfboard Collection, Pepperdine University Special Collections and University Archives
Copyright to the photograph is retained by Pepperdine University. Physical rights to the item are retained by John Mazza, the John G. Mazza Loving Trust Dtd 5/17/90, and the Malibu Surfing Museum. Images are intended for educational and research use, and may be used for non-commercial purposes with appropriate attribution. Organizations and individuals seeking to use images for publication must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright, patents, trademarks, and other service marks.
Description
Hawaiian surfboard shaper Tommy Nellis was one of several board-makers drawn to Lightning Bolt Surfboards, a surfboard and surf accessories company popular during the 1970s. This board is in the “rhino chaser” class of guns, or big-wave surfboards used by paddle-in surfers in the days long before tow-in surfing. During the 1970s, Nellis and a few friends scoped out a cloudbreak called Outside Alligator Rock that would break a mile or so outside of the surf zone of Oahu’s North Shore. These elusive monster waves, called “Outside Alligators,” appeared only in the right conditions and might go years between appearances. In order to tackle these 25 to 30 foot waves, Nellis designed and built six Outside Gator specials. He kept two, and gave the rest away to his friends. With these boards, this group of surfers was the first to surf this spot successfully. Outside Alligators are awesome waves that often require special equipment and, over the years, have claimed lives and made big-wave reputations. Of the six boards that Tommy made, only three are known to exist today and this board is one of the survivors. Note also the leash plug near the base of the tail. The surf leash, originally invented in 1970 by Pat O’Neill, was standard on surfboards by the late 1970s. 10 ft., 3 in.
Surfboard collection exhibited at Payson Library, Pepperdine University. The collection is owned by John Mazza, the John G. Mazza Loving Trust Dtd 5/17/90, and the Malibu Surfing Museum. Mazza (John) Collection of Historic Surfboards 0172: https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8j67q1b/
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