Sunset Surfboards in Encinitas

MWROBERTSON · Post by **MWROBERTSON** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:12 pm

Did anyone out there own a classic fish design in the late 70's from Sunset Surfboards in Encinitas? I had the cleanest light blue 5' 7" with the wide based fins, hard rails and the deep swallow. Man was I bummed when I snapped it in an Oceanside closeout tube one day.

Ironically, I just returned from Tavarua Island and I ran into Tim Bessell. Tim shapes most of Jon Rosemans boards and a host of others. Tim was the shaper for all the kneeboards for Sunset back in the 70's. He was so stoked to hear about the board and that I remembered his name. He is also super stoked to see that my brother Danny, Bill Lerner and myself are still kneeboarding. He was blown away and says he wants to start shaping kneeboards again!

We had a long conversations about the current KBing scene, the website, contests gatherings etc.

Check out his site http://www.bessellsurf.com

He's in the La Jolla area. Welcome back Tim!

ezak · Post by **ezak** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:40 pm

Tim Bessell shaped me my first KNEEBOARD this past summer. He seemed
to me a little surprised when I ordered a kneeboard at first but told me his brother kneeboard(s)(ed)?

A 5'10" fish with a red fade and extra glass on top! It also has
hard rails, and a deep swallow tail.
I'll post pics when I get my camera from home (at work now).

It took a while but was worth the wait. I like taking it out when the waves are hollow. Hopefully it won't meet it's demise like your's did (at least for a while anyway).

skansand · Post by **skansand** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 6:42 pm

i remeber reading about his fish in last years surfer boards edition....looks sweet

DarcyM · Post by **DarcyM** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 8:08 pm

I've run into Tim quite a few times surfing and photographing in the La Jolla area. He's a nice guy (for a longboarder) but tends to talk a bit of story. Still, he shapes awesome fishes for the stand-up kids (lots of rippers), and it would be interesting to see if he could use his extensive knowledge and experience to shape some kneeboard style. No doubt they would be Big Rock ready.

This is one of his ... (I'm pretty sure)

W.G. Facenda · Post by **W.G. Facenda** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 8:33 pm

I remember Buzz Blodgett made alot of kneeboard fish for Sunset in the seventies...

markgnome · Post by **markgnome** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:12 pm

kneemor · Post by **kneemor** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:19 pm

that looks like a mitven logo not bessell. i have a board just like it.

BillL · Post by **BillL** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 3:47 pm

Definately a Mitzvin.
Tim shaped me a classic fish in 1979 when he was shaping with Tom Eberly at Lightning Bolt Surfboards. It was a 5'7" concave into vee "Big Wave" board. The thing flew and looked like a bumble bee, Black and yellow with a red bolt. The board was unreal, why did I sell it!! Tim has been shaping since he was 13, professionally since he was 16 or 17. The guy has a lot of experience and can surf really well too.

wino · Post by **wino** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:29 pm

Bill, I remember that board and the round pin twin you used to ride as well.

I believe Jacks first board was this red Sunset fish. It has red plastic fins in boxes. He must have ridden that board for 5 years. That was a long time ago.

ezak · Post by **ezak** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 6:00 pm

Here are some pics of my Bessell kneeboard

ezak · Post by **ezak** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 6:04 pm

Notice the wax on the rails.

album_showpage.php?full=true&pic_id=6452

I need 12 beers please
Then I'll take the 12 steps, well no I won't unless I'm grabbing a rail.

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