Atypical Turner Boards

Adam Trahan · Post by **Adam Trahan** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 12:34 am

Howard, or anyone else...

I have had a bunch of Turners. One of my favorites was a "Blackbird" a early model, very FAT with wheel wells. Bob Frias now owns it. I've also seen a few different variations of shapes in regards to "classic" models in full and cutaway.

Would it be possible, for those of us in the know, for those of us not in the know to post a few of these boards from Turner Summer Ski? Blackbirds and one offs?

John Gilmour has or had a downhill Turner, very spear like and stealthy. I think Tommy Ryan even had a Knee Ski downhill board or something like that???

It might be fun to see some of this and it's all slalom related.

Howard Gordon · Post by **Howard Gordon** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 2:17 am

Here are a couple of shots:

We took this photo of Paul Dunn's quiver at the beginning of the FCR race season. On the left is a 70's vintage unfinished white needlenose with Gullwing split-axles that won at Cambria, followed by a 2001 black/green cutaway, a 2002 "blackbird" low camber cutaway (special team board built by Bobby Turner) that won the Catalina tight slalom, a 12 year old blackbird, a prototype gs/hybrid that won the Catalina hybrid, and a monster prototype blackbird with wheel wells that Bobby Turner built in 2001 for the Donner race. Paul's current quiver actually looks quite a bit like the photos I posted earlier, though he still has the rest of these boards in his collection.

Here's the downhill board you mentioned that Bobby Turner built for John Gilmour for the Pyrenees competition. It was approximately 40" long, and definitely would have done some damage if it got loose.

Here's one of the "Pollock" boards that Bobby Turner created last winter - standard white cutaway with resin art on the bottom.

I'll look around for other photos. Ed Economy has the best collection of classic Turner boards, including race winners belonging to Piercy and Ryan, skate cars, downhill boards, etc, but the link to his photos is currently broken.

Wesley Tucker · Post by **Wesley Tucker** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 10:27 pm

I've asked this question elsewhere and will ask it again. My full nose Summer Ski dates from 1982 (Actually, I got my hands on it in early 1983.)

What interests me the most are the dimensions. The board is 29-1/2" long and a full 9 INCHES wide. None of the new boards that I have seen come close to this width. A width, I might add, that is ideal for a parellel foot placement. Both Gilmour and Curt Kimbel have commented they haven't seen another full nose like it.

Is this board a one-off? Has anyone else seen a Summer Ski Full nose matching these measurements? The new boards that I have seen belonging to ur13, Noah and others look to be closer to what Bobby was making in 1977 as opposed to 1982. Anyone know why when Turner cranked up again last year he reverted to an even older template instead of starting where he left off in '83?

Howard might know the answer to all this and for the most part it could be considered trivia. What isn't trivial, though, is the board's performance. Set up with new Avolons and new RT-Xs and this board still howls on a big hill.

Adam Trahan · Post by **Adam Trahan** » Fri Sep 06, 2002 11:06 pm

Hey Wesley,

I had a fullnose "Blackbird" that was at least 9" plus. I had mounted magnesium sixtracks on it, Seismic 135mm were ok too. But that board got away from me (in a moment of weakness!) Bob Frias has it and it is a sweet board, one of the best I have ridden. Turner has been making wider boards for quite some time albeit I got this board a little latter than you, like in 1994.

Maybe if Bob Frias reads this, he will post a picture of it for old time sake.

[please?]

Bob Frias · Post by **Bob Frias** » Sat Sep 07, 2002 1:24 am

If someone will host the pic I'll send em one or two.

Adam misses his old board.

=(

_________________
Still skatin, after all these years.

ed note: Yes Bob, after seeing these pictures, I do miss the old 'bird. She and I had some really good rides. Thanks for sending on the pictures.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: adam trahan on 2002-09-08 21:43 ]</font>

Howard Gordon · Post by **Howard Gordon** » Sat Sep 07, 2002 4:35 am

I've seen a number of older wide blackbirds, and the new gs/hybrid xl is 9.25", which for me is very comfortable, but I haven't actually seen any extra wide cutaways or fullnoses in the rolled rail construction, or for that matter, templates for such. It's quite possible that Bob built some as custom order, as he was actively building production and custom boards from 1974 though 1979, and continued to build small batches of boards thereafter.

Henry Hester · Post by **Henry Hester** » Mon Sep 09, 2002 6:51 pm

I never saw a wide rolled rail Turner.

Bob Frias · Post by **Bob Frias** » Mon Sep 09, 2002 7:02 pm

This may be one of only a few Henry. I am lucky to have it. It rides like a dream and is a Med/Stiff flex. I now have Extracks and Avalons on it. I'm having one of the Extrack hangers made into an offset by Geezer-X. I'll bet this thing will be the shit when I'm done.

Wesley Tucker · Post by **Wesley Tucker** » Mon Sep 09, 2002 9:35 pm

Bobo, don't take this personally, but I think Henry is referring to the "classic" Summer Skis with the rolled top. The Blackbirds have the flat top and rail sides that are a premonition of the "white birds" that came along 12 years later.

Henry, my board is a classic summer ski, just glass and foam and a full 9" from rail to rail. As I said earlier, I placed the order with Bobby Thanksgiving, 1982 and got it in March, 1983. It's a gorgeous design that I someone should emulate today (hint, hint.) I wish I had a digi-cam. I'd take a picture and send you one. Although I have to add this is no myster board. As it is, you might just have to wait til Morro Bay to see it:-)

Wesley Tucker · Post by **Wesley Tucker** » Mon Sep 09, 2002 9:37 pm

I meant to say, "although this is no mystery board as most everyone on the East Coast ha seen it and a few have ridden it."

ur13 · Post by **ur13** » Wed Sep 18, 2002 10:34 pm

Wesley's black fullnose is the widest classic turner I have seen yet. I would say compared to the new GS/Hybrid XLs being 9.25", Wesley's is about 8.75-9". Comfortable under foot, a bit wide for my tastes. I know youa re proud of it Wesley...it is a rare deck!

Ed Economy has a few really older summer skis, Randy Smith's, Tommy Ryan's and Bobby P's personal boards that are ultra narrow. Two stick out in my mind, one of Bobby P's needlenose turners, probably around 6.25" wide...the other is one of Tommy Ryan's old fullnose turners at a soild 6.25" wide.

What do you say howard...a fullnose around 27" long x 6" wide for ULTRA tight/tech euro style slalom...

I can dream

(cs)
Team Turner

John Gilmour · Post by **John Gilmour** » Wed Oct 02, 2002 5:15 am

That downhill deck is 36" which was chosen as 36" was the cut off for many deck size categories and so it could be run in either class.

It is a truly unique deck as it is quite thick and riding it was describe to me by Jeff Caron of Catek Bindings as "Pure meditation". There is no other board like it. It feels extremely stable and even with Tracker Six tracks as pictured it is stable at well above 50mph. I'm sure with Randals it would be even sicker.

Bob did make a giant version of a turner Full Nose which I saw in New Hampshire- so Wes... you are not alone... but this deck was well over 33" long.

Turner decks were "Summer Skis" and indeed one could emulate a ski stance and run quite stable- wider decks with a slight "hump" near the nose helped a person riding with a parallel stance. Having the peak of the cember of the deck well behind the riders balls of the feet is not as good for parallel riding and that is what most of todays current decks have.

Though I haven't had to ride parallel in competition yet I do enjoy it as it gives the quickest response in the tightest cones.

Some riders ride "offset parallel" which gives the adittional advantage of a wider front to rear balance zone.

Bob Frias- that Blackbird looks to be one of the special ones (those wheel wells look familiar). Bring it to the next race I am at. My favorite deck of all time was a wide Blackbird as it cruised effortlessly and had ridiculous traction on the steeps- I met PSR riding on a 8 foot slalom course with huge offsets down a ski slope access trail- something I wouldn't have dared to do on another board.

Jim Slater · Post by **Jim Slater** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 9:20 am

This is a 9.5 inch wide 29.5 inch long Custom fullnose hot off the press, ultra stiff
I gripped it 70's style as the decals were on the deck when i got it undrilled.
and originally made for Tommy Ryan, but was too stiff for him so Steve Church let it go.
The first set i am going to try out is RTS/X 139's with Gripping 92a front 88a rear.
I have a Turner TTC and Tracker offsets to try and will keep you all posted.
I think this baby will do well in the wider sweeps. My 70's cutaways and fullnoses were wayyyy slimmer (So was I) The build quality is excellent and alongside a hybrid proto she looks awesome
Is this one of the widest yet?
I am looking forward to a classic Cutaway soon as I love to slalom offset parallel.
Regards
Jim Slater

Wesley Tucker · Post by **Wesley Tucker** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 6:31 pm

Jim,

I'm sorry to tell you there's nothing "atypical" about your Turner: I've had one since 1983!

This is the full nose I wrote about earlier in this thread. Seeing your new board got me to get out my digi-cam and snap a pic

Curiously enough, back in 2003 I discussed this board with Peggy and she was very intrigued by its design and history. One of the things I did was get a big piece of poster paper and trace the board's template and mailed it to her. Now I see you have a new Turner Summerski full nose that is very similar to mine.

Understand that I'm not taking any credit for its design or shape. It's just that I've had one for 22 years and now you have one identical to mine. I'd really be interested in knowing if Peggy forwarded my tracing to Steve so he'd have an idea of what a "wide" full nose looked like?

Oh, one other thing to make note of, Jim: our board are almost identical in plan to the modern Blackbird. As I described it to Peggy and Steve, the only difference between our Full Noses and the Blackbird is if you put an imaginary 1/2" "gap" down the middle of our board and made them a tad wider.

Jim Slater · Post by **Jim Slater** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:16 pm

Yes Wesley but I see yours is the same width front to rear I will put some better shots on as mine is much wider at the front than the rear by 1 inch.
I see yours is the same width all the way or by the pics looks like it.
Thats a nice board indeed but it is 100% different to mine mate
Will post better pics soon
I got my first fullnose in 1978 and it is about 3 inches narrower than this, I will post underside pics to show you what I mean, Tommy Ryan blueprinted this one according to Steve Church!!!
At 9 and a half inches wide its the widest board I have ever owned, What are the stats for your deck mate? she is a beauty.

Jim

Wesley Tucker · Post by **Wesley Tucker** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 9:54 pm

Jim,

I forgot to ask you: what was the delivery time? How long did it take to have the board in your hands after you gave Steve your money?

Just curious as to the turnaround time for the new Summerski production facility.

Jim Slater · Post by **Jim Slater** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 11:41 pm

Hi again Wesley,
This board had already been built and was already in the UK.
I cannot speak for production times but it was in my hands 3 days after the money exchanged hands. This board was actually an Xmas present from my Fiancee but she has told me Steve Church said i could have a black bird custom made within 2 months.
Does this help?
its made with the new (stress crack free) construction and seems to be more solid than they used to be. though I accept this may be due to the fact that it is ultra stiff and doesnt flex at all.
I wish the rain would go away as i am really keen on giving her a go.
more pics on the way

regards from across the pond
Jim

Jim Slater · Post by **Jim Slater** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 10:52 pm

Sorry guys but i neglected to add that this 2 month quote was for a custom weight and colour order!!!!
I dare say that the standard decks have a much faster turn around.
What price perfection?
Jim

Paul Keleher · Post by **Paul Keleher** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 10:10 am

Jim,

i gotta say, that is a supurb looking board!!

Are we going to see it at a HP session this year

Paul K

edwin james brockman · Post by **edwin james brockman** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:20 am

Seeing the griptape on Jim's board brings it all back when I saw my first Turner back in about "78.
Of course Jim will bring it out.
You can't keep a thing of beauty hidden away.

Looking forward to skating this year with everyone.

Edwin (LSD)

Christopher Bara · Post by **Christopher Bara** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 4:27 pm

Hey Jim....before you race that board, you may want to put a rubber washer under those screws on top. 3/8" faucet washers work well, just put a thin flat washer on top of it so you can tighten down. That board is still fiberglass and you can crack that top sheet if you have the metal tightened down against it.

nice board

Jim Slater · Post by **Jim Slater** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 4:52 pm

Yes Paul and Ed it will be at HP and CP and Brands this year.
It has a 1 and a Half inch camber and doesnt Give under my 250lbs plus.
Thanks Chris for the advice but I drilled her myself with a 3mm drill bit and tapped the screws into the deck. They are clamped down deadly tight and the deck hasnt given in at all.
Thats how we used to drill hem here in the 70's as the bolts were even narrower then.
Thats why I liked this board so much I got it untaped and undrilled so I had free licence over wheelbase etc.
All you guys will get a go
Roll on summer

Christopher Bara · Post by **Christopher Bara** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 1:10 am

NO COMMENT REQUIRED

Steve Morris · Post by **Steve Morris** » Sat Jan 30, 2021 10:00 am

Hi ive just purchased a TURNER BLACKBIRD im looking for more info can anyone help Regards Steve

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