Dick Van Straalen Closes The Factory

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

"Lack of colour is poverty of the mind."

Yesterday the shutter on Dick Van Straalen's Gold Coast shaping bay was closed for the last time.

Born in the Netherlands, raised at Avalon on Sydney's Northern Beaches, Dick moved to Burleigh Heads in 1968 as a 24-year old. It was there he hooked up with locals such as the Harris brothers, but he also put boards under the feet of fledgling pros Peter Townend and Rabbit Batholemew. Dick was often considered an Antipodean Dick Brewer as both shapers excelled at sleek, built-for-speed outlines.

In 1979, just as his sleek pintail single fins were moving out of favour, a factory fire swiftly ended his career as a production shaper. However, Dick kept at it, albeit with vastly reduced output. The other change was he appeared happy to shun the limelight as a new generation of shapers sought it out.

Despite operating in the apparent shadows, Dick's ideas kept evolving. As his peers settled on 6'0" Thrusters, Dick was a pioneer or early adopter of the Steve Lis Fish, stringerless blanks, epoxy resins, EPS foam, carbon wraps, concave decks, while also playing around with the extremes: short, stringerless surfboards and long strait-crossing paddleboards.

Concave deck, carbon wrap, Dick was never afraid to test new ideas - Aviso fish from fifteen years ago

These last two led to a revival in Dick's career when in the late-nineties he hooked up with ocean paddler Mick di Betta and teenage alt-pilot Dave Rastovich. A 1999 spread in The Surfer's Journal showed Rasta riding a stringerless 4'9" board made by Dick from the deck cutaway of an EPS paddleboard blank.

Though he's pulled the shutter for the last time, Dick says he'll continue shaping the odd board "when he feels like it."

The opening quote is a personal favourite from Dick; it exemplifies his holistic approach to surfing and shaping. It's pulled from this interview.

Comments

adsi's picture
adsi's picture
adsi Thursday, 31 Oct 2024 at 12:02pm

Legend, always wanted to try one of his hydro hull twinnies. Guess i better grab one 2nd hand when it pops up.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Thursday, 31 Oct 2024 at 12:19pm

All the Best to you Leendert
Shaping the Odd Board when i feel like it ... Great Stuff
How about a Tribute comp Held at Burleigh on DVS Hydrohulls .

Denyer's picture
Denyer's picture
Denyer Thursday, 31 Oct 2024 at 12:46pm

I have been worried about this day for a long time. My wife and I have enjoyed many boards from him over the years.

Thank you DVS!

gnomen's picture
gnomen's picture
gnomen Thursday, 31 Oct 2024 at 1:46pm

I had a Hydro hull, 5'10", what a board, traded for a NPJ quad, equally great board. Wish i still had the Hydro hull. Thanks DVS.

GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley Thursday, 31 Oct 2024 at 2:03pm

I’m gutted, a true legend, gentleman and family man. Thanks for the boards Dick … hoping you have a long and healthy retirement

Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean Thursday, 31 Oct 2024 at 2:49pm

Some one else will fill his place ,yet there will never be another shaper like DVS .
Pioneer .

Roadkill's picture
Roadkill's picture
Roadkill Thursday, 31 Oct 2024 at 3:15pm

I have a reef runner...superb board

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Friday, 1 Nov 2024 at 10:04am
hahnsolo's picture
hahnsolo's picture
hahnsolo Friday, 1 Nov 2024 at 3:18pm

I had a board shaped by him for Bali in 1983 ( it was part of a package deal) and it was incredible My mate had one at the same time I borrowed it off him when mine got stolen and I was reluctant to give it back it went even better than mine.

B.B.Blitz's picture
B.B.Blitz's picture
B.B.Blitz Friday, 1 Nov 2024 at 4:29pm

A real character, with a great philosophy on life.
All the best for the future!

Roystein's picture
Roystein's picture
Roystein Friday, 1 Nov 2024 at 4:56pm

Managed to inadvertently pick up one of his shapes last year in a rush. Totally undersize for me, went to sell second hand and was inundated as I had it listed for big unders. Knew something was up and had a potential buyer suggest I keep the board (good karma) and still have it. Glad I do.

Gra Murdoch's picture
Gra Murdoch's picture
Gra Murdoch Friday, 1 Nov 2024 at 10:08pm

The Brian Eno of shapers. I actually don't know what I mean by this.

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Friday, 1 Nov 2024 at 10:13pm

a person everyone admires and respects, but verbalising why, lessens whatever the fuck it is?

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Friday, 1 Nov 2024 at 10:38pm

Imagine if Brian Shaped Boards

Down the Stringer

~ Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno for Graham ~

Jelly Flater's picture
Jelly Flater's picture
Jelly Flater Friday, 1 Nov 2024 at 11:01pm

;)

https://m.

&pp=ygUQYnJpYW4gZW5vIGF2YWxvbg%3D%3D

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Saturday, 2 Nov 2024 at 7:58am

I was at an early Fish Fry in Currumbin, and somehow Rich Pavel had noticed my little 5'8 fish (probably the best board I've ever shaped). Led to a long chat with him, and to some extent DVS.

Eager me asked lots of fanboi questions about shaping, and DVS just said "I shape by vibration...", then went silent. Pavel just stared into the distance. Thus endeth the tutorial :-)

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Saturday, 2 Nov 2024 at 8:01am

haha! love it : )

GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley Saturday, 2 Nov 2024 at 8:21am

Yes that sounds like Dick, classic. As to his music if my memory is right he liked to talk of his shaping and jazz and the form of surfing that evoked.

Gee you were blessed @IB, Pavel and DVS in the one conversation!

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Saturday, 2 Nov 2024 at 10:15am

So many bad stories going round about Rich Pavel, but he was very generous with his time and ideas.

no-eye-deer's picture
no-eye-deer's picture
no-eye-deer Saturday, 2 Nov 2024 at 3:14pm

Just picked up another hydro hull (my second) from DVS about 6 weeks ago, it is a true work of art from a master.

It was bittersweet knowing that it might be among the last boards he ever shapes, but I've kept his number in the hope I can convince him to do another one for me in the future.